Burson Conductor 3XP

Official AMP/DAC/DAP Model Discussion
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I was surprised to find no thread for this product when I was researching prior to purchase so I thought I would get one going.

While I have steadily upgraded both my headphones and amps over the past couple years my DACs have pretty much stayed mid-fi. Part of this was because I just wasn’t sure if there was an actual difference in DACs as I hadn’t really heard much of a difference, if any, between my Aune X1S Anniversary, my Pro-Ject Prebox S2 Digital, and my SMSL M500. And as someone approaching geezerdom I wasn’t sure I could actually hear a difference even if there was one.

I’ve acquired a couple amps I LOVE so very much - the Hagerman Tuba and the Flux FA10. These two drive my Clears, HE6SEv2, and Aeolus (and pretty much anything you plug into them) to levels of quality that I hadn’t imagined possible. The next logical upgrade was a DAC. I have been casually and hesitantly looking for a few months, researching, reading, and watching our community reviewers.

The thought was to get something I perceived as an upgrade I would hear if at all possible. I finally decided to pull the trigger when I found an almost new, one owner, used Burson Conductor 3XP for $950, saving a nice chunk of change over new.

So let me state this directly. I hear a very large difference from this DAC when listening through the Tuba, the FA10, and the internal amp. Size, space, impact, the “reality” of the struck string or skin - it is just a massive, yes massive, upgrade from what I have been listening to. And yes, I am hearing the cliched “details I have never heard before” in albums I have been listening to for +45 years. If it is simply placebo as some will argue, then sign me up cuz I loves me some placebo! This is some absolutely killer placebo.

One last thing. The amp in the Burson is able to drive the HE6Sev2 quite well through the balanced outputs - which is quite an accomplishment.

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There is not much to hear about 3xp, so i it is good to see a positive review.

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I love this quote!:smiley:

I am happy you’re enjoying the Burson. You’ve also got a nice collection of headphones - too cool!

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Hello
i have a couple of questions i hope you would answer for in love for the Burson conductor. I have a verite closed and my life sutation forces me to move every few month, wich make a 2-in-1 inportant, i want the analog smooth tube sound but that isnt easy to throw into a suitcase.
so i arrive to the Burson conductor 3(x) performance.

I have noticed you talking about the DAC part of things.
do you think the DAC part of it the standalone composer ? because the price is not much higher than each of those.

how does the AMP part compare to your other amp ? i heared it being described as smooth, analog, musical. Tube adjectives. is that coming from the DAC or AMP or both parts ?

i think i might have found what i needed, a 2 in 1, with a non-steril non-analytical sound

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Hello Seif,
You raise some interesting questions. I’ll try and share some of my thoughts.

First, the 3xp as a DAC… I actually bought the 3xp to primarily use the dac output. The amplifier was an ancillary benefit. I have found the dac to have a very real sound. My context is live music and the texture of live music. The 3xp just creates a more realistically textured sound than other dacs I have heard.

The amp output… This is where I was very surprised by the Burson because I was most interested in the dac and the amp was, essentially, just a throw in. I have two amps that I absolutely love when paired with my favorite 'phones. I use a Hagerman Tuba (a relatively low powered tube amp with Lo & Hi impedance outputs) to drive my Focal Clears (Lo) and my ZMF Aeolus (HI). I also have a Flux FA10 (a high current, high wattage, class A solid state) that I use with the Hifiman HE6se V2, and also the Clears & Aeolus. For me these pairings are simply sublime. I have never before found myself getting lost in music like I do with these. I LOVE these pairings!!
Now, what I I have found is that the 3xp’s amp output is an almost perfect audio midpoint between the Tuba and the FA10. Smooth, clear, lots of punch, detailed and substantial. It can drive any 'phones I own very well. In short, if I was needing to cut back on gear and just have a 2 in 1. I could be very happy for a very long time with it.

As I write this I am listening to Sting’s My Songs album using the 3xp’s balanced output driving the Aeolus. THIS IS MUSIC! :grinning: :grinning: :grinning: :grinning:

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thanks for the great explanation, ive been doing some reading and Burson seems like a serious competitor that makes Lovley products.

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Hi there! I just received my BURSON AUDIO Conductor 3X Performance. I’m testing it now in the following setup: Laptop wired USB to a BURSON AUDIO Conductor 3X Performance, wired output to the Mark Levinson No5909 and using Qobuz. I’m frustrated with the distortion at higher volumes, and looking at the source of the problem. Could be the headphone itself of course. At lower volumes great sound by the way. Any solutions, hints. Going to test it later with the Audeze LCD-XC. Thanks for any good advice :slight_smile:

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I have Soloist 3 with no distorsion what so ever. Clean, resolved and fun is my view of the Burson. Signal from computer running jriver into a Benchmark dac3 into the Burson.

Mike