Opamp Rolling
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Burson Audio is not only famous for their DAC/AMPs but they are also highly prised for their (rollable) Opamps (like in the FUN).
The Conductor Performance comes with Burson V6 Vivid discrete Opamps but the Conductor encourages Opamp rolling with gold plated DIP8 sockets along its signal path. With hundreds of audio Opamps out there, you have the freedom to tailor your listening experience to your preference.
You can find out more about Burson’s V6 Opamp right here: https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/supreme-sound-opamp-v6/
Pricing & Accessories
Even though high end, Burson never sells its units for ridiculous amounts of money. They go with the following philosophy: “We don’t advertise, buy reviews, nor attend trade-shows, and we certainly don’t markup prices to cover such costs.”
The Burson Audio Conductor 3X Performance (what a name!) sells for $1,344 USD, and you can get it directly from them via their online shop here: https://www.bursonaudio.com/product/conductor-3x-performance/ or from one of their dealers.
Inside the box you will find:
The 3XP unit (with Vivid V6 Opamps)
A small footprint remote
An OTG USB to USB-C Adaptor
A Power cable
A USB-Cable
An external 24V power unit
We unfortunately can’t show you any pictures of the final package as that wasn’t available yet when the unit was sent to us.
Design & Build Quality
I like the 3XP’s design: it’s simple, elegant and it works well. You could even say they have an industrial look with the typical cool case they are using in this series (the case serves as a unified heat-sink keeping the Class-A Conductor cool and optimized).
The amplifier also has a small footprint and it measures only 35 X 30 X 15cm. It’s 30% smaller than the original Conductor Reference and it disappears on your office desk. It’s the kind of unit of which your wife will ask herself if it was there before or not. With its 5Kg it’s not the lightest but don’t forget this is a Class-A design with a case as heat-sink. It also means the unit won’t “move” on your desk when you’re plugging headphones in and out, and that’s always a good thing.
The build quality is extremely good. Burson Audio only delivers top quality units, and that’s been the case since the beginning. There’s nothing to worry about in this regard when ordering a Burson device.
Lay-Out
On the front you on the left side have tiny power button and next to it the balanced XLR headphone output, the 6.3mm single ended headphone output and the 3.5mm single ended headphone output. In the middle you have a small screen and next to it the volume dial/option selector. The tiny button on the right of the volume know is to enter the unit’s menu. Below this button is the remote control IR eye.
The back is were you can find all the connections and you will find from left to right: the power plug, the BT-antenna, the USB input, coaxial/optical input, RCA Preamp/DAC output and the XLR Preamp/DAC output.
This means you can’t bypass the unit’s internal DAC section and you can only use it as a DAC/AMP or a preamp/DAC. The P-version doesn’t feature any analogue inputs. In this review we’ll only look at the 3XP’s qualities as a DAC/AMP.
Tech Specs
Input Impedance: 39KOhms
Frequency Response: ± 1 dB 0 – 58Khz
THD: <0.0015%
Output Impedance (Headphone amp): 0,5 Ohm
Output Impedance (Pre Out / DAC out): 1 Ohm / 25 Ohm
The full list of specs and the measurements can be found right here: https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/conductor-3x-performance/#tab-7f3447633d2e748d210
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Mike I
Very nice review, Lieven, especially the comparison between all those excellent headphones.
I’m glad to read that you will do the same comparison with the Topping DX7 Pro. It would be very nice to do this again in the future in the Headfonia reviews of desktop amps and DAC-amps !
Lieven
Thank you!
I can’t promise I can or will cover them all, but some fir sure will be mentionned in the test report.
Alfred
Love the review. Will this be a huge jump from my ifi micro iDSD ( non- Black Label)? I’m deciding between the 3XP and McIntosh D100. No DSD.
Lieven
The Mc and Burson will be quite the upgrade, but also a different sound signature. Where iFi is more digital sounding, these sound more analogue to me.
Radosław
Thank you for the reviews. Is Zmf a good connection to Burson? Thank you
Lieven
I don’t have any ZMF here to test with, but Burson in general is really great for Planar magnetic headphones (as well as with Dynamic drivers). SO I would not worry
sgcoolguy
Great review as always. If I have HD800S, you suggest this or the Xduoo TA30 that was just reviewed?
Catalin
Hi there
Any clue if this would be a good match for my denon ah-d7200 please?
Buffalobilious
Thanks for sharing your detailed review! I really like the Schiit DACs and amps with their corporeal, sweet sound, but I find myself craving a touch more air and microdetail with them. Conversely, although they bring the detail, I find Topping/SMSL’s timbre to sound kind of artificial and dry.
It sounds like Burson might find a good balance between the two ends of that spectrum.
That said, Linus mentioned in his review of the Conductor 3X Reference that there was an audible hiss when using more sensitive headphones. Given that you mention there was never any noise through the 3XP, would you maybe recommend the Performance over the Reference for more sensitive phones?