Burmester 933 speaker amplifier clone - first look video

This was one of the interesting amps from my bucket list: Burmester 933 clone called "Berlin 933".
There are also clones of 909 and few others available, but I was wondering about quality of this one in particular because its AFFORDABLE (with capital letters!)
And this baby has some impressive numbers - low thd, high snr and impossible looking damping factor.
Stay tuned for full review as it just had finished 2 weeks of burn-in.
You can get yours from the same shop I got mine from (so tested as safe and reliable - and thats not always the case, but you do not get to see the reviews for the equipement that was damaged or lost on the way, obviously):
s.click.aliexp...

[@БояровАндрей]

Клёвая середина, ВЧ на среднем уровне

[@peterst-uh5me]

Very much looking forward to your sound quality review

[@word2RG]

looking forward to the review!

[@berndtwagner189]

Danke fürs zeigen, bin sehr auf den Klangeindruck gespannt.

[@clarencehoover6748]

3:41 Nice to see heat sinks on the rectifiers.

[@MarkSWilliams27]

At last! Someone on youtube that knows how to use a pointer to show us stuff.

[@k4syx]

And thats just a beggining of things I can do with pointer :D

[@thinkIndependent2024]

100 years of HiFi designs sent to China now coming back as refined equipment... Thanks I'm waiting for the Full ...

[@MasterofPlay7]

They sound good too

[@edverbeek6292]

Thank you very much.

[@ruslanmulyk8601]

Looks good 👍. Waiting for a first impression 😀

[@rmzidann]

Interesting amp. Would you consider the Sugden 21SE Class A clone for a review? Thanks! 👍

[@foblivio]

I could only find Sugden A21 and IA-4 clones at Aliexpress. But would love to see a review of any of these!

[@rmzidann]

@@foblivio… I believe you are right. I may have misspoken about the existence of an SE version. Thanks. 👍

[@foblivio]

@@rmzidannyeah, pretty sure the patent has not run out (if it exists) on the SE circuit. Too new.

[@k4syx]

A21 is on my cheap amp bucket list :)

[@rmzidann]

@@k4syx . Thank you! 👍👍

[@faithhopelove6945]

Du U think this Kind of Clone Amps can compete with the good old Vintage Sansui, Marantz, Pioneer, Yamaha Stuff?

[@k4syx]

@@faithhopelove6945 absolutely. We're talking serious hi end here. Even if you'd say these provide just like 80prc of the original sound quality (which I think is lowered) it's still serious stuff. Gotta try to believe - I took a risk with D5PRO (DartZeel) and it's been crazy good ride since then

[@faithhopelove6945]

@@k4syx Hi again 😄Ive recieved my 933 clone yesterday....I must say WoooW ! 👌👌👌 My NAD 2155, Sansui Au 217 , SMSL AO 200 MKII are all a League below ! The Details of the 933 are phenomenal..., i can hear Things now...ive never heard before....thats crazy,, also the Seperation...i have also a bigger Picture of the Stage ! And at last Thing: the Dynamic is also much much better ! , would say thats the biggest Point...Music is jumping out of my Speakers..., haha Ive paid 300eur incl. Shipping and Tax...Will sell my other Amps now...., deont need them anymore. But Sometimes, must say, the Dynamic is really too much...so i use my Bus Compressor to tame the dynamic Movements.....My Chain is: PC USB - GUSTARD R26 DAC - Audient ASP 800 (Mixer for all Inputs) - Drawmer 1974 EQ - Tonefarm Bus Compressor - Audio-GD Master 19 Preamp - Burmester 933 Amp - JBL L80T Speaker, Revox Forum MKIII Speaker, Monitor Audio STUDIO 20SE Speaker

[@faithhopelove6945]

@@k4syx Ive recieved now my 933 Clone...and its actually the best Amp ive ever owned...! its really crazy...much much better than NAD, Sansui AU xxx...., SMSL,....((::

[@ThatLoudF-150]

Excellent review, I am looking to use a pair of these clone amplifiers to power my midtweet & super tweeter in my fully active 4 way speaker project. Out of all the clones you have tested are their any that you would say perform the best in the high frequencies? Currently I think the A1 clone may be the best option but your opinion is valued, thanks.

[@k4syx]

I'd say D5Pro (DartZeel) and A1. First one conveys more detail in treble, second one is very airy and sweet (and like two times cheaper!) :)

[@GeBiCon-2019]

Is there any hint for a preamplifier for the 933? Thank's!

[@k4syx]

Not yet, I havent done (yet) any pairing test so far for it - but I will in time (I do these in my free time atfter my regular work hours :))

[@wdsoft]

Nice review. Do You have any options for loudspreakers from china?

[@k4syx]

Not yet. First pair that I've purchased is on the way here, but its like 3 months for railroad shipping!

[@wdsoft]

@@k4syx what did you order ?

[@k4syx]

@@wdsoft the b&w 805 lookalikes. Check my community feed for photo, it was a while ago

[@mddawson1]

Do you think that this is a clone of the Burmester 933 Mk1 (1993-1996). I haven't been able to find any info or photos of the Mk1 while there are plenty of the Burmester Mk2 (1996-2004) that match the clone version with the XLR inputs.

[@k4syx]

@@mddawson1 the PCBs are marked with "MK2", so maybe it's rather MK2 than MK1. On the other hand you can print there anything really :)

[@mddawson1]

@@k4syx While the clone XLR 933 circuit board layout looks almost identical to the genuine 933 MK2, the are differences like the clone has both XLR and RCA inputs while the genuine 933 only has XLR. The genuine 933 also has a chrome finish front panel with possibly vents and there may be differences in what the front panel LEDs indicate. I am still waiting on mine. The expected delivery date is Oct 4 so it must be coming by ship.

[@k4syx]

@@mddawson1 Please share your thoughts on it when it arrives. SE input can be easily added using integrated balanced IC converters - just a few simple elements on PCB more. What counts here is that internally this was designed as fully balanced!

[@marcinwasilewski5414]

Original Burmester 933 has no volume control and is balanced with XLR inputs only. The clone seems to be completely different design.

[@k4syx]

Yes these are "based on" meaning there can be some changes like adding volume control (which I will bypass). BTW there's a version with XLRs and no volume control that sells for 500$

[@marcinwasilewski5414]

​@@k4syx OK thanks. About topping B200, from youtube comparison seems that it is light and clean, sort of uninvoinving sound. I love their Pre90 preamp and D70s double AKM DAC but their speaker amplifers not so much. I am very curious however about FM111 monoblocks (clones). That could be a real gem of solid state though I'm devoted tube lover, I've been using 845 triode monoblocks for 10 years...

[@shj-v6c]

@@k4syx Can we just remove both connectors from PCBs to bypass volume pot on the burmester 933 if we are using the tracks on the PCB edge? Thanks for the great review!!

[@zizendorf]

Just Wow! All this talk of inflation. Name me one product/commodity that's gone down in price? Okay, how about stereo components! Just wow! For a really simplistic, one source system, this looks amazing!

[@sonusancti]

That is a good clone but one tweak I can tell you is the hookup wire from the speaker binding post to the PCB. Consider that the first mile in the signal journey from the amp to your speakers. No matter how short it is, changing it to a quality wire such as a Supra classic cable, makes an audible difference! Those filter caps will also benefit from an upgrade, definitely.

[@k4syx]

Yes, I will probably replace it with something way better. If the listening tests will show that this has good potential (meaning it sounds good right out of the box) then I will play a little with some easy mods :)

[@singleshotjunkie1107]

Hmm... "Burmster" - smart move to avoid the lawsuit.

[@k4syx]

@@singleshotjunkie1107 yes what a happy coincidence with that typo:)

[@cruise2023]

Had a look, 44% off and sitting at $349au ( $230us ) surely that's a steal ?

[@k4syx]

That's why I got it, it's very cheap but the build seems fine and the original design was excellent. So this may be another bargain (especially with Ali coupons)

[@ABC-rh7zc]

Seems to be USD 283 now. Pretty steep inflation after just two days :(

[@k4syx]

@@ABC-rh7zc there was a sale just a few days ago, and on top of lowered price you could add coupons. I think the next big sale will be on 11.11 unless they will do something earlier

[@김바-b4z]

If you replace it with a discrete op-amplifier, the sound will be better.

[@k4syx]

I've read about that on the web, but I'm not sure about that. Will have to try I guess. This opamp is not in the signal path, its used in dc servo circuit. It needs to be fast and precise, I was thinking about replacing it with something more modern, not necessarily discrete one

[@justasimplefox]

Is it me but they all start to look the same 😅

[@k4syx]

They are very similiar, some of them have even same chassis (thats why I wanted this one in different). Internally they are usually two mirrored PCBs on two mirrored heatsinks, with transformer and capacitor banks in the middle. I think thats for practical reasons and the result is that yes, they start to look the same :D

[@Carl-yx1ww]

Change your name to clone zone instead of hifi zone. I have a1 clone and nap 250 power amp clone . Both sick and amazing I love them both. I'll be selling my audiolab 9000a and keeping these absolutely amazing . All because of clone zone ...

[@k4syx]

@@Carl-yx1ww Lol thank you.. I guess...? :D How do you find NAP250? I just got that and finished burn in, haven't heard it yet though!

[@Infozavr]

Could you please share the exact link for nap 250 power amp clone, which one have you got? Because there are few different models of nap 250 on Aliexpress, don't know which one is better

[@k4syx]

@@Infozavr I got this one s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCiyWrt