Terry’s Burson Conductor 3X Reference with Wharfedale Jade 5 Driven BY ATI AT6000

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Sales Burson
September 7, 2022

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beyerdynamic T1 (2nd Generation), Burson Conductor 3X Reference, Focal Clear, Focal Elex, HiFiMAN HE6se V2, Shure SRH1540, Wharfedale Jade 5 Driven BY ATI AT6000

7th Burson product I have purchased. They just keep getting better somehow as the previous models were amazing.

The System

Listening with

Wharfedale Jade 5 Driven BY ATI AT6000

beyerdynamic T1 (2nd Generation) · Headphones: open-back (Beyerdynamic: semi-open), dynamic (Tesla), circumaural · discontinued

Impedance: 600 Ω
Sensitivity: 102 dB SPL (1 mW / 500 Hz) ≈ 104.2 dB/V (calc.)
Frequency response: 5 Hz – 50 kHz
Plugs / cables supplied: double-sided detachable OCC cable with screw-on jack plugs

Matching notes: At 600 Ω and 102 dB/mW, the T1 (2nd Generation) is a high-impedance load that needs voltage more than current: about 1.9 V (6.3 mW, 3.2 mA) for 110 dB SPL (calc.). Burson does not publish a 600 Ω rating for the Conductor 3X Reference; its nearest published rating is 0.58 W XLR / 0.3 W SE into 300 Ω. The Conductor 3X Reference’s 0.5 Ω headphone output impedance is 1/1200 of the load. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

HiFiMAN HE6se V2 · Headphones: open-back, planar magnetic, circumaural

Impedance: 50 Ω
Sensitivity: 83.5 dB (reference not stated by HiFiMAN)
Frequency response: 8 Hz – 65 kHz
Plugs / cables supplied: not published (HiFiMAN spec page lists no connector)
Other: weight 470 g; HiFiMAN labels the figure “Efficiency”

^[5]

Focal Clear · Headphones: open-back, dynamic (40 mm Al/Mg M-dome), circumaural · discontinued

Impedance: 55 Ω
Sensitivity: 104 dB SPL / 1 mW @ 1 kHz ≈ 116.6 dB/V (calc.)
Frequency response: 5 Hz – 28 kHz
Plugs / cables supplied: 4-pin XLR; 6.35 mm; 3.5 mm cables supplied

Matching notes: At 55 Ω and 104 dB/mW, the Focal Clear is a low-impedance load, and an efficient one: about 0.47 V (4 mW, 8.5 mA) for 110 dB SPL (calc.). Burson does not publish a 55 Ω rating for the Conductor 3X Reference. Its 32 Ω and 100 Ω ratings (5 W XLR / 2.5 W SE; 1.75 W XLR / 0.88 W SE) fall either side of it. The Conductor 3X Reference’s 0.5 Ω headphone output impedance is 1/110 of the load. ^{[6] [7] [8] [2] [3] [4]}

Burson

Burson Conductor 3X Reference · DAC / headphone amplifier / preamp · discontinued

Output power (XLR / SE): 16 Ω 7.5 W / 3.75 W · 32 Ω 5 W / 2.5 W · 100 Ω 1.75 W / 0.88 W · 150 Ω 1.16 W / 0.58 W · 300 Ω 0.58 W / 0.3 W
Output impedance: 0.5 Ω (headphone); 1 Ω (pre out); 25 Ω (DAC out)
Output voltage: RCA 2 V (DAC out)
Gain: High / Low; dB not published
Inputs: 2x XLR; USB (XMOS; PCM to 768 kHz/32-bit, native DSD512); Toslink; coaxial; Bluetooth 5.0 aptX HD; microphone
Input impedance: 40 kΩ
Input sensitivity: line level
Outputs: XLR pre out; line-level DAC out; 6.35 mm + 4-pin XLR headphone
DAC / chipset: 2x ESS ES9038Q2M
Other: Model R180X (3XR); THD <0.0015%; FR ±1 dB 0-58 kHz

^{[2] [3] [4]}

Also in the system

Focal Elex · Headphones: open-back, dynamic (40 mm Al/Mg M-shape dome), circumaural · discontinued

Impedance: 80 Ω
Sensitivity: 104 dB SPL / 1 mW @ 1 kHz ≈ 115.0 dB/V (calc.)
Frequency response: 5 Hz – 23 kHz
Plugs / cables supplied: two 1.8 m cables: 6.35 mm and 4-pin XLR (Neutrik)
Other: THD <0.3% @ 1 kHz / 100 dB SPL; 450 g

^{[9] [10] [11]}

Shure SRH1540 · Headphones: closed-back, dynamic (40 mm neodymium), circumaural

Impedance: 46 Ω
Sensitivity: 99 dB/mW (@ 1 kHz) ≈ 112.4 dB/V (calc.)
Frequency response: 5 Hz – 25 kHz
Plugs / cables supplied: dual-exit detachable MMCX cables; 3.5 mm plug + threaded 6.3 mm adapter
Other: impedance @ 1 kHz; max input 1,000 mW; 286 g without cable

^{[12] [13]}

Specs from manufacturer data unless a source below says otherwise. “calc.” values are worked out from those figures (V = √(P × R); 110 dB SPL used as a loud reference level). Gear listed without specs is not in our spec library yet.