Burson Soloist 3X - A Heavy Lifter!

My written review can be found here: soundnews.net/amplifiers/head...
Get the Soloist 3X from here: www.bursonaudio.com/products/...
Video Time Stamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:56 - Build Quality
01:26 - Controls
02:09 - Tech inside it
03:00 - Preliminary Sound Impressions
05:19 - Noise Floor
06:39 - Power Output
07:51 - Detail Retrieval
09:00 - Transient Response
09:53 - Soundstage & Depth
10:55 - Preamplifier section
11:53 - Bass
12:21 - Midrange
12:51 - Treble
13:17 - Comparison with Flux Labs FA-10
13:29 - Conclusion
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
📱 www. Soundnews.net/
📷 / soundnews.net_
🐦 / soundnews_net
🏠 soundnews.net/
Desktop headphones I’m using:
🎧 Hifiman Susvara: bit.ly/3a39pm2
🎧 Audeze LCD-4: bit.ly/35LFYAK
🎧 Kennerton Wodan: bit.ly/2LkHLGN
🎧 Hifiman Arya: bit.ly/2W4RDGM
🎧 Erzetich Phobos: amzn.to/2SbbMcQ
🎧 Quad ERA-1: bit.ly/3fE50pV
Portable headphones I’m using:
🎧 Meze 99 Classics: bit.ly/3bjTqwX
🎧 Sennheiser Momentum 3: amzn.to/2SrzzWf
🎧 Sony WH1000XM3: amzn.to/35b9pfa
IEMs I’m using:
👂 Meze Rai Penta: bit.ly/3j2EhVa
👂 FiiO FA9: bit.ly/3nh9pDf
👂 FiiO FH7: bit.ly/3iwZeqm
Loudspeakers I’m using:
🔊 KEF Reference 3: amzn.to/2y3IPIP
🔊 Buchardt S400: bit.ly/2xTOCkt
Integrated/Power Amps I’m using:
💪 KECES S300: bit.ly/2XL8sHT
💪 Kinki Studio EX-M7: bit.ly/3gEoVVJ
💪 Hegel H190: bit.ly/2yQboK8
Best DACs I have tried:
🥇 Audiobyte HydraVox: bit.ly/2VXJjZM
🥇 Matrix Audio Element X: bit.ly/2xU6hbC
🥇 Gustard A22: bit.ly/2WExwPK
🥇 Topping D70S MQA: bit.ly/3pnLgM0
🥇 Topping D90 MQA: bit.ly/2zHWSo2
🥇 Audio-GD R7 (2020 Version): bit.ly/3fpNUfl
🥇 Denafrips Venus: amzn.to/35kgHh7
🥇 Musician Pegasus: bit.ly/30eTGeg
Best Mid-Fi DACs:
🥈 Topping DX7 PRO: bit.ly/2Lh5S67
🥈 SMSL M500: bit.ly/2WlPbwC
🥈 SMSL SU-9: bit.ly/3syrK1f
🥈 Soncoz SGD1: bit.ly/36IUQ5r
🥈 Mytek Brooklyn DAC+: amzn.to/3aHGuAw
🥈 Benchmark DAC3B: amzn.to/2KC5saf
🥈 Chord Hugo2: amzn.to/2Y88T05
Best Entry-Level DACs:
🥉 Soncoz LA-QXD1: bit.ly/3gf8ONt
🥉 Topping E30: bit.ly/35OWW1p
🥉 SMSL Sanskrit 10th MKII: amzn.to/3cSe1tC
🥉 SMSL M200: bit.ly/3cCtFsw
Best DAC + Headphone Amp combos:
🎶 Flux Lab Acoustics FCN-10: bit.ly/2Y74daK
🎶 Burson Audio Conductor 3: amzn.to/2xcfSKx
🎶 Audio-GD D.28 Full: bit.ly/359E6S5
Best Headphone amps:
💣Benchmark HPA4: bit.ly/2xb6hn5
💣Sparkos Labs Aries: bit.ly/2xcOps1
💣SMSL SP400: bit.ly/3sAUEO2
💣Topping A90: bit.ly/2YBwCnZ
Best DAPs:
🎵 FiiO M15: bit.ly/3lcFA4N
🎵 FiiO M11 PRO: bit.ly/36vuwvF
🎵 Shanling M6: bit.ly/38xW7g9
My Video/Photo Gear:
📷 / 🎥 amzn.to/2VHeNnf
🔍 amzn.to/3eTCsZp
🔍 amzn.to/2yPR6A5
🔭 amzn.to/2zAuGn1
💡 amzn.to/2VEDC3l
☂️ amzn.to/2VETyT6
🎤 amzn.to/3aLjYXv
These are my honest opinions in different categories. Some of them are affiliated links that help me manage this KZbin channel at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
#BursonAudio #Soloist3X #Review

[@pchlars5666]

Nice! Thanks for another great review :)

[@robertnoblitt518]

Great review, thanks. I seem to have collected a few headphone amps lately. I rate them in this order: (1) Burson Soloist 3X, (2) Singxer SA-1, (3) HeadAmp GS-X mini, (4) Topping A90. To my ear, the Burson beats these others by a significant margin. But the Singxer SA-1 is amazingly great for the price. I'm using the Burson with a Chord Qutest DAC and Meze Empyrean headphone.

[@karsynyusuf6979]

sorry to be so offtopic but does anybody know of a method to log back into an Instagram account? I somehow forgot the password. I would appreciate any tips you can offer me

[@karsynyusuf6979]

@Grady Gavin i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. I see it takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@karsynyusuf6979]

@Grady Gavin It worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thanks so much you saved my ass!

[@gradygavin9917]

@Karsyn Yusuf no problem =)

[@life_in_solace]

How is it better than the gsx mini? In terms in Soundstage, imaging, slam, detail?

[@edwardolugbile3207]

Great review!

[@HiFiGOAudio]

Woah looks sleek, awesome review from you like always!!! This looks really powerful!!

[@bigjt37]

I want this amp, hands-down..I've been eyeballing it for awhile. 😅 Good vid

[@Soundnews]

It's currently one of the most powerful And clean sounding Class-A amp. Can't go wrong with it

[@saadi703]

@@Soundnews By currently do you mean that it would soon by dethroned by something which you are reviewing at the moment?

[@saadi703]

Hi Sandu, For Hifiman Susvara, is this noticeably better than FA-10 for overall detail retrieval and treble information? Is this still worth it when one owns the FA-10 as well.

[@Flavius7]

Another day, another Burson. Lovely industrial design, shinny and clean, exactly my type of monster. The price is right too for that power and I find no reason for someone searching for a strong musical amp not to get this.

[@blejzerosamigos6115]

Thanks for the great video, I have one and been wondering if there is a audible difference between single ended and xlr inputs, cheers

[@photoipster]

Loved the review! I just ordered! What dac would you recommend to pair with the burson?

[@PreBlazed89]

How would you say this campare with the kinki thr-1 amp? Im deciding between getting one of them but there arent many reviews of the thr-1... I have hifiman aryas at the moment.

[@digitalnation2876]

vs Jotunheim 2, in sound quality, thank you so much,

[@slsmaster274]

I have bought a Soloist 3x after seeing your review, however I was wondering what is the best approach for volume control? Should I max out my DAC+Preamp (Questyle CMA Twelve Master, PreAmp can be set to "fixed" volume) and control volume via the Soloist or should I do it the other way around and put the Soloist into Power AMP mode and control the volume via Questyle? Also the Questyle has two PreAmp Modes -> Normal with 14 dBU & 5.084V and Studio with 20dBU & 8.887V , which would be better?

[@goldwerger]

@soundnews - if cost were no object + the sole purpose would be getting the ultimate sound quality for headphone listening only - across multiple headphones (both easy and hard to drive) - would you the Benchmark HPA4 remain your top choice, or would the Burson Soloist 3X (or another unit) be your first pick?

[@djhmax09]

Nice vid! I have the same volume quirks with mine so I asked Burson about this and they said it is a glitch with the volume chip. They sent me a new one and volume is linear! Not sure how widespread it is but it is an easy fix!

[@SupraBecks]

What are you talking exactly, can you explain?

[@djhmax09]

@@SupraBecks the change in volume wasn't linear so if I turned up the volume (at a certain point), it wouldn't actually get louder. changing the chip solved the issue.

[@SupraBecks]

@@djhmax09 oh, I got it. It's nice from them to send you the new chip. How is your Solist doing right now? I want to buy it next year, so I'm looking for potential problems people have with it)

[@djhmax09]

@@SupraBecks I've upgraded from the soloist long ago so I don't really use it now

[@SupraBecks]

@@djhmax09 what did you get? And how it is compare to Burson?)

[@slsmaster274]

Would you pick the Soloist 3X or the SP400 for the HE6SE? I am planing to combine one of the mentioned AMPs with my Questyle CMA Twelve Master as an DAC/PreAMP, which has over 8V on its XLR Outputs.

[@Soundnews]

Soloist 3X would work better. It pumps more power and more importantly it pairs much better with the dry/bright nature of the HE6SE.

[@Curry.N]

Does this amp distort on high volume? my previous class a amp does this, only linear like thx or topping a90 didn't distort regardless how much volume i pumped out.

[@datdudeinred]

Wait a second you loved it so much and on yor site your gave it ONLY silver award and 91 points why?

[@SkeledroMan]

Have you tried the Singxer SA-1? A non-opamp class AB amp that measures just as well as topping a90.

[@robertnoblitt518]

The Singxer SA-1 is a great amp, much better IMO than the Topping A90. But I also have the Burson Soloist 3X, and it is by far my favorite headphone amp. If you can't afford the Burson, get the Singxer, it's amazing for the price.

[@saadi703]

@@robertnoblitt518 Have you heard all three? A90, Singxer and Burson? Do you own all three? Why you think Burson is best?

[@robertnoblitt518]

@@saadi703 Yes, I had all three for a while. I rank the Burson first due to its wonderful transparency, detail and build quality. I's not analytical or fatiguing, just a delight. Plus, you can swap out the op-amps to tune the sound if you wish. However, the Singxer SA-1 is amazing for the price, has a warmer sound, and is certainly preferable to the Topping, which to my ear, had a fatiguing high end.

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

9:00 _"In terms of transitory response, if poopy pants is something that you are chasing for with your rock and electronica music"_ Surely I'm mishearing that??

[@Soundnews]

"In terms of transient response" the rest is 100% accurate :D

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

@@Soundnews lol. Makes sense in retrospect. I have a Soloist arriving today; better double up on my underwear.

[@damgar]

how you compere Flux to Burson Soloist

[@lonestar1664]

Is it an upgrade for Topping A90 in SQ is it more warm sounding and pairs well with Arya and Empyrean , will you be getting schit Jotunheim 2 as well?

[@Soundnews]

Considerably warmer sounding to the A90, it throws the stage farther away and slams harder with bass intensive music. Can't say much about the Schiit gear

[@lonestar1664]

@@Soundnews thanks for your feedback

[@plt9999]

Jot2 is unreliable and failed for me. Until it failed the sound was fine.

[@robertnoblitt518]

I'm using my Burson Soloist 3X with my Empyrean, and they sound amazing. I had a Topping A90, and yes, the Burson is warmer-sounding and quite an upgrade.

[@marcfoss7687]

@@robertnoblitt518 Thanks, I'm seriously thinking of the same Meze Emps and Soloist combo. I won't have a chance to demo them so hoping it will be the right long-term choice!

[@ecodelta3732]

With which player can I use this burson, they told me that I couldn't use it with iPad because there are no cables, I have a Sony nw wm1am2 DAP with USB type C port

[@malinyamato2291]

costs 1500 EUR - waaaaay too expensive. I was so sad when I found out the price of this one that I immediately ordered a Singxer SA-1 instead for 500 EUR - getting it soon.

[@suhaib1249]

That was an awesome and a very timely review. I just bought a Chord Qutest and was looking to replace my Monolith THX amp to something more appropriate. I was looking at Violectric HPA V280 and SPL Phonitors and was leaning towards V280 until I saw this review and thinking if this is the better pairing with Qutest. I like airy sound, with good SS, don’t like THX like sterile sound but with some character. What are your thoughts on pairing this with Qutest? In terms of headphones, I have Ananda, 6xx, Beyer 880, HD800S, Emu-teak so a fairly wide gamut. Thanks once again for this amazing video. Cheers

[@kopkila]

I'm running the burson soloist x3 with the hugo 2. I absolutly love the sound from the hugo 2 and this amp just goes deeper, sounds more 3 dimensional and just smoothes the edges off some of the high notes if they are bordering on being a little sibilant. Doesn't change the clarity or musicality you get from the hugo 2 but gives it more authority and depth. Had a violectric hpa v200 before but the soloist is much better in every way !

[@suhaib1249]

@@kopkila cheers, this is very useful. Appreciate your feedback. Sounds like the perfect pairing for Qutest and the amount of power it has will be future proofing if I get more power hungry headphones.

[@kopkila]

@@suhaib1249 Build quality is fantastic as well. Im running a pair of meze empyreans and the amp makes them sing. They are easy to drive anyway but the soloist just seems to have an additional level of control over them that improves them in every department. I've found myself listening to my favourite tunes and albums again, only to suddenly realise I've just lost myself for two hours !! The control this amp has is astounding, nothing feels out of place, everything just sounds perfect. Very easy to just relax and listen in awe at what is being presented to you !!! If you haven't guessed I quite like it !! If you get one, it sounds much better after it has had time to warm up for an hour or so.

[@suhaib1249]

@@kopkila Empyrean is something I definitely want to checkout once lockdown is lifted in the UK. I have heard so much about it and it sounds right down my alley so definitely need to check it out soon. Good to know Empys pairs well with Soloist and Hugo/Qutest if I decide to go for it at some point. Right now I have a THX amp which is just too sterile, I bought in to the hype thinking measurement is all that matters and as I am growing in this hobby I am finding out that's not the case. I listen to wide range of music from Jazz to Indian classical or even some good old rock n roll so something versatile and fun is what I want. I think I will go for it, you have sold it well :)

[@kopkila]

@@suhaib1249 I phoned around different shops in the UK to try and get a deal but proved difficult. Just happened to notice on the Burson website that they have only one official dealer in th UK, Elite Audio. They had them in stock and looked after me much more than I thought they would be able to if you know what I mean ! Deffinitly reached my endgame with the hugo 2, empyreans and soloist x3 ! ........unless chord release a balanced hugo 3 !

[@user-kl5op4jz5f]

32ohm 4W at balanced output according to official specifications. But it is a great susvara amplifier. Is Flux volot review next? :)

[@Soundnews]

Can't say the V word in here, its forbidden. Shush. It's incoming soon. The only thing holding me posting that review is its official webpage that isn't ready...

[@user-kl5op4jz5f]

@@Soundnews Thanks for the quick answer :) I'm just waiting

[@kix-s]

와우~~~~^^ 이 앰프도 무척 튼튼해 보이는 외관이고...탱크같이 튼튼해 보이고 ^^ 볼륨노브의 감촉도 묵직해 보이고 돌리는 감촉이 튼튼해 보여요 !!! 아름다운 외관 !!!!!!!!!!! 아름다운 디자인 ^^

[@Daveyboii87]

Whats a good DAC combo with this amp?

[@gauravgoel8092]

I would also like to know. If R2R is better DAC or D/S is better DAC with this AMP for planer headphone thanks !

[@RenRenification]

How much of a step up over a thx 789 would you say this is?

[@Soundnews]

Depends on the headphone, with harder to drive ones, there is no comparison. If you need more warmth, a larger soundstage and a better impact, it is on a higher level no doubt.

[@RenRenification]

@@Soundnews would you say it has a more 3 dimensional sound stage?

[@blejzerosamigos6115]

@@RenRenification yes

[@djhmax09]

It's definitely an upgrade...I was in the same position looking for an upgrade to my 789, and I don't regret my purchase!

[@petervanderham4725]

Great review! How would these pair with a Verite Closed :)?

[@user-sg5ri4st5m]

Any news on that pairing ?

[@petervanderham4725]

@@user-sg5ri4st5m i bought the 3XP last week. Love the pairing

[@user-sg5ri4st5m]

@@petervanderham4725 cool. I just bought the soloist 3xp and VC still waiting for their shipping. Can you elaborate on the experience please ? Also can you tell me which DAC you're using ?

[@petervanderham4725]

@@user-sg5ri4st5m I bought them both second hand. The 3XP locally and the VC via Head-Fi.org from a guy in Finland. So shipping was fast for me, no waiting times. I am currently using a streamer/dac from Bluesound, the Node 2i. Works perfectly with MQA and is just so easy to use. There are probably better DACs, but it's really convenient AND sounds great to my ears. It has a Burr Brown DAC, which is highly regarded. I recommend the unit!

[@user-sg5ri4st5m]

@@petervanderham4725 what about your listening experience ?

[@yctai6151]

Made in kangarooland, enough said. Down under value for money!