Burson Timekeeper 3X GT - In Dual-Mono We Trust!

[@ANGEL90004]

I currently own the Burson Timekeeper 3i and am wanting to upgrade to separates. For the amp I have narrowed down the choices to the Timekeeper 3x gt and the benchmark AHB2. My concern is that the AHB2 has better SINAD and SNR measurements, would you say that the Timekeeper 3x gt is just as resolving when it comes to detail retrieval when compared to the benchmark AHB2?

[@richtubby5022]

Thank you for the detailed review. I have a question for you about Burson Timekeepers versus Kinki EX-M7 as you have reviewed both positively. I just bought an ex demo Burson 3GT at a massive 50% discount direct from them and now need to go up chain and start replacing my breaking Peachtree amp and then my Martin Logan Motion 40s. Firstly, which amp would you suggest? The Burson mono amps are about $1200 more unless I can get a discount, both products have a 3-year warranty and ship direct which I like. I prefer rock and music that sounds live if that helps. After the speakers, any ideas for suitable speaker upgrades for around the $7K to $10000 mark? Being in Japan I cannot test equipment so need to make good decisions. I hope you can help.

[@Flavius7]

Even from a distance A BURSON IS A BURSON! Shiny, elegant, unique. Not a speaker guy myself, but I appreciate well done gadgets. By the way, 0 CHANNEL CROSSTALK sounds amazing! :))

[@frederf69]

As MB's you can't get crosstalk 👍👍

[@hhsymons3866]

As usual, this was a great and through review in which your subject matter expertise really comes to the surface. I do have a question. You mentioned that crosstalk can limit the width and depth of the soundstage, and that is why monoblocks can help deliver a better soundstage. Can the quality of the preamplifier also limit or increase crosstalk?

[@Soundnews]

Short answer would be: Yes! Even if we have an XLR cable that goes to a power amp and another cable goes to a secondary power amp, those cables already carry the errors of the source and preamp. They will will definitely carry some crosstalk, THD and SNR that happened in the DAC and preamp stages. The only advantage when it comes to crosstalk is that the power amps themselves won't further increase it anymore...

[@SergeySedlovsky]

@@Soundnews You should try Holo Audio Serene/Bliss as Preamplifiers :D

[@mimofi]

Great upload, thanks for sharing! I have a question though, re preamping, ie what did you use? I ask as in large part due to your reviews (and my personal experience with Burson), I upgraded my Soloist to the GT and I also purchased a pair of Benchmarks that I use as monoblocks and OMG it is heaven and gobs of bass. I was surprised to hear your comments re bass/sub-bass given my experience so wondering is preamping with the Soloist GT helping? I came very close to buying the Timekeepers vs. the AHB2s and in the end went with the Benchmark amps due to power rating. My speakers are Canton Reference 5K towers and these have a lot of bass too so maybe that is a synergy thing where I am not seeing the lower bass. Anyway, sorry for long email but please do share how you were preamping the Burson amps (I'll check your online article as well as it may have this detail). Have a great day and thanks again for these uploads! Michael

[@hemispherecompensation]

There isn't an explicit mention of what he uses as a preamp. But he gives glowing reviews of the Burson Soloist 3X GT such that it replaced his Benchmark HPA4. Similar situation for the Timekeepers replacing the AHB2 monoblocks. I would think it's same to assume he used the Soloist 3X GT as pre though.

[@mimofi]

Oh, forgot to mention this but I went with Speakon connectors and very short speaker cable (~1.5ft) runs and may be my imagination but damn I think it is even faster and slams even more!

[@aceofspades6667]

sweet these monos look amazing! I'd love to add a pair and soloist GT into my chain and likely will at some point. Did you try driving the Susvara with them? 😉 I know you always mention the dual ahb2s have been the amps that have driven them best previously (outside of Trafomatic). Looking forward to reading the written content.

[@Soundnews]

Soloist GT with Timekeeper GT sounded in such a way that a week later I sold both my AHB2...I will update my article when Burson Mothership will be delivered, touching base on this exact pairing. Short answer: Soloist GT seriously improved the TK GT's performance.

[@aceofspades6667]

@@Soundnews did you get getting your mothership? Has any of your opinions changed on this chain?

[@hemispherecompensation]

@@Soundnews High praise for the Bursons! From reading your written review, the Bursons and Benchmark monoblocks are neck and neck, but the Bursons being $2000 cheaper led you to swap them out.

[@psysword]

How big is your tv and which one? I bought the time keepers. Insane amps

[@mmmadog]

What sucks is so many speakers like my Buchardt s300 are 4ohm meaning you cannot run most monoblocks with them.

[@jharismaiden]

Thanks for the review! I really enjoyed that. Did you try the Soloist GT as a preamp? Burson seems to give the option to buy it as a combo with the Timekeeper GT amplifiers so they must think it’s a good pairing. Was wondering if it would he a “bottleneck” given that Soloist GT is first and foremost a headphone amplifier.

[@Soundnews]

Yes, I did and I was surprised that suddenly TK GT had even more power on tap. The biggest difference was felt with bass intensive music, as there was a much better control of the low-end. I will be updating my article at some point with this critical information

[@dougg1075]

The tiny blue LED’s in the front should be a lesson to others on how to implement them. Perfect. The vertical stands kind of bug me , maybe a tasty rack that frees them up in all directions while maintaining horizontal position.

[@mitchhifi9192]

Burson mothership stand is awesome!!

[@neilsnyder7915]

can the amps be used with headphones such as the susvara or are they to powerful. I would use the soloist GT as a pre-amp.

[@psysword]

Try it. I'm using Vincent audio preamp and I can barely cross 11 o clock position with Polk reserve 700 and kef LS meta. Great bass from both

[@Paulisrock]

Hi, I have a B&W 702 S2. Do you think it is a good match with Timekeeper 3xGT with Soloist?

[@goodsound4756]

Which Preamp did you use and was it connected by XLR or RCA to the mono blocks?

[@frederf69]

Good review, but that's a lot of money for an op amp. I doubt the first 30 watts in class A; probably 15 watts each (MB), which is still good if accurate.

[@RyuMasterEX]

Bursons can always scale higher with better op amps :)

[@gleamtarrest6310]

Fans= No Go!

[@stoicar]

Tray purifi amps with valve input

[@tarquineous]

Those are innovative class D amps. Have you heard them ?

[@Tealc2323]

$4k? Now I understand how they can afford to go with Noctua fans.

[@Shorby99EK]

4K for these seem crazy. I hope someone sends a pair to ASR for a test.

[@tarquineous]

How good is the stereo system at ASR ? I know he does tests, but does he have a great sounding high end system ?

[@nicktan4530]

Cost two kidneys