Burson Soloist 3X Headphone Amp Review - New tech + old classic = wow!

[@ShanulSharma]

Took delivery of this about an hour and ago and been listening for about 45 mins or so. I can't tell you how emotional I feel listening to my favourite music and performances on this. I can't believe how lifelike it feels; despite being so detailed. I feel like I'm in the recording studio with AC/DC, Peter Gabriel and performing on stage with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra/Orchestra Victoria. It's also super revealing and I can feel the level of compression and pre-delay on individual tracks within a song, while also getting an accurate feel of an opera theatre. Truly mind blowing and it's only going to open up more as time passes! Thank you for your recommendation and 100 points to Burson for such an amazing product!! Bravi tutti

[@PassionforSound]

Yay! So glad you're happy with your purchase. They've worked some magic into the Soloist, haven't they!? 🙂

[@ShanulSharma]

@@PassionforSound Downright sorcery mate :)

[@PassionforSound]

@Shanul I shared your feedback with Burson and they loved hearing how much you're enjoying the amp. They asked if they could share your feedback on their website. Is that OK with you?

[@ShanulSharma]

@@PassionforSound More than happy for you to do so. Thanks!

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Shanul! I'll let them know

[@photoipster]

I continue to love your reviews. I think I’ve watched this review 3-4 times. Given the longer lead times of the jotenheim, I believe I am switching my order to the soloist. I can afford the difference in price, and your review is compelling! I didn’t see a reference in this review to the test tracks that you used. You mentioned a track, ‘a man is not his ???’ But I couldn’t quite catch it, and didn’t see it listed. Can point me to the track?

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Jim, I think you'll be very happy with the decision and I'm glad you're finding the reviews helpful. I use lots of different tracks for testing, incl. just my favorites on random to give me lots of genres and recording qualities. The track I mentioned was "A Man is not his Song" by Feist. I've also got a video called "Top 5 Audiophile Test Tracks" or something similar that might give you some other examples of my playlists

[@r00s.]

Just bought one of these as an upgrade over the Singxer SA-1 at your recommendation. I AM BLOWN AWAY!!! Best headphone amp and preamp I have heard, hands down. I am slightly concerned about the DC offset issues that folks have mentioned, but I always let it warm up for at least 15 minutes before plugging in my headphones on mute with no music playing. Anyways, I very much appreciate the advice Lachlan! A winner in every way. Cheers from USA!

[@PassionforSound]

So glad you're enjoying it so much. I wouldn't worry too much about the DC offset issue as there have been very, very few cases of damage. That said, if you can let it warm up, please continue to do so to keep your precious headphones safe so you can continue enjoying the music 🙂🙂

[@gygevl]

Could you share your usage experience? Does your soloist continue to please you?

[@alexhdw]

To echo many other comments, just placed an order myself after your very thorough and thoughtful review. Very excited to hear it and experiment with rolling Opamps! Thanks for your help!

[@PassionforSound]

Great news, Alex! I hope you love it 🙂🙂

[@raymcnamara7843]

Hi Mate, I thought that I would drop you a note to say that I am extremely chuffed with the "Burson Audio Soloist 3X" I purchased from Addicted to Audio a couple of weeks ago. I am using it with a Raspberry Pi 4B 4Gb, fitted with a UStars Digital Board, feeding a Cambridge StreamMagic6 in DAC Mode. The DAC Output is fed to the Soloist via XLR Cables. I am feeding the Line Level Signal from the Soloist via XLR to a STAX SRM-353X, Energizer powering a pair of STAX SR-L700MK2 Electrostatic Earspeakers. I am using the Soloist to power the following Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT1990 Beyerdynamic T5 Meze 109 Focal Elear Focal Clear Mg It's little wonder to why Burson Audio Products receive so much praise. All aspects of the build and sound are exceptional. It just goes to show that a "Little Aussie Company" can excel on the Word Stage with such a product when meticulous engineering standards are adhered too... --cheers Ray P.S. Thankyou for your hard work.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks so much for letting me know! So glad to hear you're loving your setup. You've got a nice range of gear there.

[@Sam_CL350]

Hi, I know this is an old video but would you still recommend this headphone amp or is there something newer out that would be better sounding in this price range. I'm thinking of adding a headphone amp to my setup and am unfamiliar with current technologies. It would be in line with a Eversolo A8 which I'm currently using as my Preamp, DAC, and streamer and out to a power amp. Thanks for any feedback.

[@PassionforSound]

Depending on the headphones you're driving, the Geshelli Labs A3 Pro and Aune S17 Pro are both excellent options too, but the Soloist 3XP is still very good. I think it improves a little by changing a couple of op-amps (I've got separate videos explaining this) if there are specific features about the Soloist that you want.

[@Sam_CL350]

Thank you for the input. I’m going to go with the HiFiman Arya Organic. Would those recommendations still be a good choice?

[@PassionforSound]

Yes, any of these will be great with the Organic. You can't go wrong, although the Soloist 3XP would need a couple of op-amps changed to beat suit the Organic, IMO. (The other two amps will be great straight from the box)

[@Sam_CL350]

Thanks again for the information. I decided to go with the Aune S17 Pro. Although not many reviews, the ones out there were impeccable. Can’t wait to hear the combination. Now, don’t review something better in the next few months. 😂 Take care.

[@PassionforSound]

Haha. Nice choice. Don't worry, I've got nothing better in the current pipeline. I do, however, have the S17 Pro for review soon so we can compare notes once you've got yours and my review comes out. 🙂🙂

[@eLcHiNoChannel]

Just ordered it. Watching this review on repeat!

[@PassionforSound]

You're in for a treat! Enjoy 🙂

[@gygevl]

Could you share your usage experience? Does your soloist continue to please you?

[@eLcHiNoChannel]

​@@gygevlabsolutely! It is my daily driver. I use it for work, music listening, and gaming. It is extremely true to its source. If you lean towards the professional sound, this is perfect for it.

[@nunoferraz5426]

Ordered... and in bound. Thank you for a brilliant indepth review.

[@PassionforSound]

Very exciting! Enjoy your Soloist. Glad I could help with the decision

[@grahamstrahle4010]

Intriguing theory on possible timing errors introduced by the capacitors in ICs and why discrete circuit design might ultimately be better. I feel you're onto something here.

[@PassionforSound]

Maybe. Just for clarity, it's capacitance, not capacitors. The idea being that certain sections of the IC may be holding the signal a fraction longer than they should

[@fabiokelm]

@@PassionforSound Do you have any studies indicating this correlation between capacitance and soundstage? I'm really curious about this. Also, I'm an Analog IC designer and, in my experience, you should expect higher capacitance in a discrete design more than an integrated one. What may happen is, because the amplifier designer is the same for the discrete ones, he may "tune" his design better for any parasitics and other variations in the PCB manufacture. In contrast, someone using a shelf IC component may not be familiar with the full design characteristics, and will just follow the IC manufacturer specifications and tweak with some experience. That however is not the same as when you designed the topology from start to finish, as is usually the case with discrete components.

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Fabio, no I haven't found direct studies. My current theory is an extrapolation from an article I read about guitar effects pedals using discrete vs integrated components and why they sound different. I'm still looking for specific info related to amps, etc.

[@caseyodonnell6621]

Thanks for your great and detailed reviews! I popped the V5i opamps into a Topping A30 and it completely transformed that budget amp and got me interested in Burson's offerings. I'm leaning towards the Soloist with maybe an D90 but I'd be very interested in hearing your impressions of Burson's DAC offerings (and others) as well. The more 3 dimensional sound stage presentation is definitely something that I'm chasing after. Your review of the D90 gave the impression that it is amazing bang for buck but am curious if the D90 flattens out that 3 dimensional presentation quality as you noticed with the A90 as well? Keep up the great work!

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Casey. Yes, the D90 does tend to flatten things a bit - it seems most delta-sigma DACs do. I'm currently finishing up my Denafrips Ares II review and would say that it is a great alternative to the D90 if you're looking for better soundstage depth. I'm also expecting to receive a Burson Composer DAC to review when I receive my Soloist amp so you can also watch out for that one to see if Burson have some more voodoo in their bag of tricks...

[@caseyodonnell6621]

@@PassionforSound Excellent, I'll be curious to see what you think. I'm learning, over time, to trust my ears instead of a spec sheet but it's nice to have objective reviewers like you to help save me a buck on dead ends and wrong turns. Cheers!

[@Nephilim-81]

Hi Lachlan! I gotta tell you something. I still, after 7 years, own the very first Soloist SL dedicated headphone amp. I find that pairing it with the Qutest DAC from chord set at 3V RMS is an incredible pairing and has been my amp and DAC pairing for nearly 5 years now. :) I have no aspirations to upgrade yet, but maybe you can change my mind. :) Anyhow. A terrific test track is Peter Gabriel’s “Signal to Noise “ track from the album UP. It is a wonderful mix by Tchad Blake. You’ll love it. It is a powerful track that builds, which tests speed, accuracy and detail retrieval. :)

[@cybergod77]

Thks for the review. I wished they gave u the Soloist 3X / Composer 3X combo (which they r currently promoting) to compare with the Conductor 3XP, 3R and 3XR.

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Gilbert, I've got a loaner Composer coming when my purchases Soloist arrives. Not sure I can go as far as comparing to the whole Conductor range right now, bit perhaps in the future.

[@aceofspades6667]

Soundnews has reviews on both the 3XP and 3XR of the Conductor if you find the comparisons helpful... he does both youtube and written reviews that go further in depth both are actually quite good when used together.

[@cybergod77]

@@aceofspades6667 Yes , thks, I'm aware...just wanted to hear another reviewer's take on it.

[@flitcroftLA]

I just pre-ordered the Soloist & Composer 3X Performance Combo after hearing your review. The Conductor (Amp + DAC) and Composer 3X already had amazing reviews so this was icing on the cake. I'm upgrading from an iFi iDSD Micro Black Label with Audeze LCD-3 and Focal Elear headphones and to get to a new level of detail to do the headphones justice.

[@PassionforSound]

That's great news! Thanks for letting me know! (To be clear, I get no benefit from the sale, I just like knowing that I've helped you make a good decision in some small way). You'll love what you hear from the upgraded source chain - it'll be brilliant!

[@flitcroftLA]

@@PassionforSound Absolutely - I've seen your comments and just wanted to let you know that I both enjoyed the video AND got real value out of your hard work. Thanks for all your efforts on the channel!

[@albertguev]

@@flitcroftLA did you get the Burson stack? How does it compare to the ifi micro? I also have the micro BL and looking at getting the Conductor 3 Reference.

[@flitcroftLA]

@@albertguev I’m still waiting for them to ship. They’re about two weeks delayed and counting but I hear the first sets have gone out.

[@flitcroftLA]

@@albertguev The stack is absolutely fantastic. I'd say it's 25-30% better sound quality, focused on detail retrieval and treble with my LCD-3's. I am a fan of iFi's bass and 3D switches and find that I don't need them with the Burson stack. Everything is crystal clear, detailed, and complete with copious bass and slam. The whole audio spectrum sounds better, more complete, and more fun. Highly recommended.

[@MistaLova-Lova]

Great review. Is this the same product as the Soloist 3 XP? I've looked at their website and it only features the latter. Would you say that in 2022 this is a good upgrade path for the Topping A90 or are the differences not noticeable enough (or perhaps there is a better product to upgrade to)? Thanks!

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Michal, yes it's the same. I made an error in the naming of the video (I should fix it, actually), but it's the same amp and it's a significant upgrade over the A90 - better resolution and better soundstage depth/layering

[@MistaLova-Lova]

@@PassionforSound Thanks very much for your reply. 👍 Is it also a good match for the Susvaras (the "controversial" topic of the Sus requiring a loudspeaker-like amplifier to sound dynamic and punchy)?

[@PassionforSound]

It's got plenty of power for Susvara for sure. You might benefit from an even better amp like the Soloist GT with the Susvara due to its incredible capabilities as a headphone, but the regular Soloist 3XP will still sound great

[@djhmax09]

My unit finally arrived two days ago and based on first impressions, sounds pretty fantastic paired with the rme! I was looking for an upgrade to my thx 789. As great as it is, it can be harsh-sounding and too analytical. Also, I was looking for an upgrade that has better aesthetics and a better build; I definitely got it with the soloist. This thing is even more gorgeous in person! I first tried this with my trusty 6xx, as many of you know, scales really well. On the 789, I find the 6xx can be boring at times. The soloist, on the other hand, make these headphones sing! My 6xx never sounded so good. I'd say the soloist is very dynamic and transparent whilst being non-fatiguing. Highs came through beautifully without ever being harsh, but will the details still intact. Mids are very natural and transparent. Bass, I think, is the main highlight. It's very fast while being very controlled and precise. An amazing track I tested this on was from the princess principal soundtrack, "shadows and fog." Overall, it definitely made the 6xx shine and I would even say it sounds better than my sundara, which takes the cake when using the 789 for both. I also tried the soloist briefly with my focal clears. The clears don't benefit that much in terms of scalability, but it sounded great from my brief listen. However, it did make my clears hiss a tiny bit on medium gain. So, to mitigate this I put it on low gain and raised the reference level on the rme. Hopefully, it's not damaging the unit. I'd have to ask burson about this. Now, for some minor complaints I have with the soloist. The volume knob feels great, however, it is not as precise as the rme. I find that the soloist does not register every single turn of the knob, so I'd have to give it a decent amount of spin. Whereas, on the rme, it's very responsive and I can turn the volume all the way up or down fairly quickly. The other complaint I have is with the blue led when it's off, and the display of the actual screen. Both, to me, are kind of a little too bright. I wish they had a brightness setting on the menu. Blue, in my opinion, is one of the worst colors you could put as it stands out during the night. The only reason I don't mind it being blue this time is because the rme standby color is red, so it matches it quite well. As a side note, I love that the soloist has a locking mechanism for the balanced headphone out. Very easy to remove compared to the balanced port on the thx 789, for example. Oh, and I can't forget about the hex driver that came with the unit. It is so fragile and is already unusable! I tightened it with the same force as when it arrived and now it is already worn down. Fortunately, I had another one lying in the tools kit. I was not planning on opening the soloist often, but it is pleasing to look inside it once in a while. Hopefully, none of that happens to any soloist owners. Not a big deal, but just sharing my experience so far. Thank you for the recommendation! Enjoying it so far, and I hope I will continue to do so over the next weeks.

[@PassionforSound]

Glad you're loving the Soloist! Interesting feedback on the tool and the lights. I didn't notice either because I have SO many of those tools that I didn't open theirs and the unit was in my office where it's always light (if I'm in there). I did notice the volume control thing, but found I was rarely adjusting in small steps because their steps are SO tiny. I soon learner to grab and spin like it was the wheel of fortune! 😉

[@djhmax09]

@@PassionforSound Haha that's a good analogy! I guess the volume knob does benefit from a little learning experience. You can't turn it too fast or too slowly; has to be just right. Another thing I just noticed was that in between volume 51 and 52, the jump in volume is kind of dramatic (enough to make you jump a little). I let Burson know about this so hopefully, it's not faulty. Any news on when yours will be arriving?

[@PassionforSound]

I am expecting it any day now. Hopefully it'll be soon because I've got a couple of amp reviews coming up that I really want the Soloist for as a comparison!

[@djhmax09]

@@PassionforSound Ooh, looking forward to those videos. Hoping it will arrive soon for you!

[@PassionforSound]

Me too on both counts!

[@nathan518]

Incredible review. Your descriptions and comparisons are very informative and have helped me understand different gear a lot better. If you ever review the Jotunheim 2, comparing the Jotunheim with the Soloist would be really interesting as they both seem to have similar design goals (both fully balanced, fully discrete, transparent, with lots of power).

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Nathan! I'm glad you found it useful! I expect to have a Jot 2 review coming soon and it will definitely involve a Soloist comparison.

[@nathan518]

@@PassionforSound That's great to hear! I'm really looking forward to it. I also loved your interview series with Jason from Schiit. I learned a lot from those videos.

[@PassionforSound]

Glad I can help!

[@nothingelse1520]

This review is 2 years old now, is the Burson Soloist 3X still considered a panicle balanced amp?

[@PassionforSound]

It's one of the best at the price point, but they've since released the more expensive Soloist GT range. I'm still a big fan of the 3XP for the price though.

[@razuu]

Hi. Thanks for all your very detailed reviews.

[@PassionforSound]

My pleasure, Corey

[@d.b.c.t1m059]

I got a Burson Playmate and its the cleanest nicest sounding DAC/amp or amp in general I've ever heared.

[@PassionforSound]

Nice! They definitely make good products

[@mclement052164]

I bought this on your rec. Your review absolutely nailed it! 100% agree on everything. Drives all my headphones with transparency, authority & ease, HE6SE, Arya, HD800S, HD6XX, LCD-4, NEVER sounded better. This amp is my endgame. Even in light of the new GT that was just released. As far as I can tell, its still pretty much the same amp, with a bit more power that I don't need, and a few more features that I probably won't use.

[@PassionforSound]

So glad you're enjoying it, Mark. It's a really wonderful amp! Nice to see that you're enjoying the HE-6SE with it and not getting dragged into the "more power" myth 🙂

[@maddog7397]

@mark clement & @Passion for Sound :With your Soloist 3XP do you hear a pop in your headphones (connected via balanced 4-pin XLR) when powering on/off the Soloist with vol=0? Do you also get an even louder pop when changing gain levels (also with vol=0)?

[@mclement052164]

@@maddog7397 no. No pops at all. At any volume level.

[@maddog7397]

@@mclement052164 Thanks. Then I must have a defective unit. Bummer.

[@PassionforSound]

I agree with Mark. There should be no pop based on my unit. I do hear a pop through my active monitors, but never headphones

[@adrianwindo]

I just bought one of these amps, it’s excellent, it’s made a huge difference; a bigger sound, better soundstage, more realistic, terrific base slam and control. The RME ADI-2 FS is doing the DAC duties alongside Arya Stealth Magnet headphones. Cables are chord epic rca and Atlas Zeno headphone cable. The RME’s amp was the weakest link. Maybe a Chord Qutest next. Thanks for the great video.

[@PassionforSound]

So glad you're liking the amp! Sounds like you've got a great setup going there. I think the Qutest will be a great upgrade when you get to it.

[@jorisconte9180]

Hi! I have the RME and the Arya SE like you and I also want better sound. May I ask: would you still buy this Burson today? I have the Hifiman EF600 in mind and now I see your text. Thank you for your ideas!

[@jorisconte9180]

I decided and bought and today it will be delivered: the new Lake People Violectric HPA222! I'm happy! Now there are two top devices from German development and production.

[@PassionforSound]

Nice. Enjoy!

[@jorisconte9180]

@@PassionforSoundThank you! I will. It is clearly an added value. Now the ARYA SE sounds like a world's best. This is an unparalleled pleasure. The much denounced sharpness in the heights of the ARYA is completely gone. Spectacular.

[@revelationsoundstudio]

Thanks for a great review. This seems like a fantastic headphone amp. But for this price, I'm inclined to go for the clean but smooth McIntosh 200 headphone amp which is about the same price range.

[@PassionforSound]

Glad you liked the review! I'm yet to try a McIntosh amp so can't offer any comparisons for you, but I hope you love whichever you go for.

[@kevin26exe]

Purchased mine today. This review contributed a lot to my decision, I hope you can also make a video in the future on how to replace opamps.

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Kenshin, glad the review helped. I'm sure you'll love your new amp. As for changing the op-amps, it's very easy. Burson provide the hex key required to remove the four screws holding the case together. Once they're removed, the op-amps can simply be pulled out and replaced. The only extra things to know are that the Soloist uses dual / stereo op-amps (most manufacturers will offer mono/single channel and stereo/dual op-amps). It's also important to align the op-amp properly by noting which end of the socket has the notch cut out (you'll know it when you see it) and aligning the mark on the op-amp (normally a dot or groove) with the notch end of the socket. I'll see if I can whip up a quick informative video for you...

[@kevin26exe]

@@PassionforSound Thank you so much!

[@kevin26exe]

@@PassionforSound Btw I tried swapping v6 classics to my vivids and to my surprise there is no sound coming from the soloist, when I swap back the vivids which are originally preinstalled, all is working properly, any advice/suggestion? Thank you so much

[@PassionforSound]

My guess is your other op-amps are mono instead of dual

[@kevin26exe]

@@PassionforSound you are right, thank you so much! Btw where do you advice to the classics on the soloist, on the input stage or on the volume? :)

[@Villaboy78]

Mine came today ! It’s so lovely 🥳

[@PassionforSound]

Awesome! I'm very jealous!

[@djhmax09]

I'm still waiting on mine........

[@PassionforSound]

Oh no! Hope you get it soon 🙂

[@djhmax09]

@@PassionforSound You'll probably get yours before me!

[@PassionforSound]

Perhaps...

[@JE-tn5tc]

I'm itching to pull the trigger on this amp. I recently purchased a pair of LCD-X headphones and want to pair it with something "better" than my THX 789. I love your videos by the way.

[@PassionforSound]

That'll be a wonderful pairing! Glad you like the videos!

[@JE-tn5tc]

@@PassionforSound I purchased the amp and have had it about a week now and man what an upgrade! It does need time to warm up for it to sound its best. Thank you for your review!👍

[@PassionforSound]

No problems. Great to hear you're enjoying it. They've worked some magic on that one

[@Reeeepicheep]

I ordered a Burson Soloist 3xp open box w/ supercharger and did not like it all, which leads to me to believe something might have been wrong with mine. Or it could be that the Burson sound just wasn't right for me. I like warm amps like the Jotunheim 2 and listen mainly on tube amps like Lyr 3, etc and well, the Burson seemed to lack warmth overall and sounded more cold and vivid in an unnatural way. The tonality seemed a little hot and uncontrolled in the treble and to me was very fatiguing. I imagine swapping the op amps would make a huge difference, but that's not something I have any interest in dabbling in. Returned it and just ordered a Mjolnir 2 instead which could be endgame for me.

[@PassionforSound]

If you're used to an amp like Jotunheim 2, the Soloist can have a slightly cooler, more analytical sound (particularly in the treble as you say) so that makes sense. Depending on your headphones and preferences, the Soloist can be a great amp, but it's good that you're clear on what you enjoy and you're going for that. The Mjolnir should be excellent too

[@rioblast]

Great reviews as always. The D90/A90 and the Conductor 3 Performance (without XLR) are similarly priced. I'm just concerned that buying an all-in-one product without balanced capability is something I will regret in the future. Also, the Burson Conductor 3P is rated at 160mW @ 300 Ohm for SE which is less than half of what the Schiit Magni 3+ I'm using now is rated for.

[@PassionforSound]

Yeah, I generally like to keep my DAC and amp separate to prevent getting locked into anything. The D90/A90 stack is excellent, but I'd probably look at the Soloist and Composer from Burson, even if it means buying one at a time. I haven't heard the Composer yet, but I expect good things and should have a review coming soon...

[@rioblast]

@@PassionforSound Looking forward to your review. I took the plunge and bought the Soloist & Composer 3X Performance Combo since there was a 20% discount at the moment. Also Pre-ordered the Focal Elex for $550 since it has been price reduced due to Black Friday or something. Since I'm turning 40 in December I consider this to be a much cheaper present than a Porsche.

[@PassionforSound]

Awesome! I'm sure you'll love them. The Porsche might have been fun, but there's always Christmas coming! 😉

[@ying27]

Upgraded from a THX789 to the Soloist 3XP after watching your video and I absolutely love it! Thanks for the review! I am also planning to upgrade my Topping D70 to the Composer 3XP. Have you had chance to listen to the Composer 3XP too?

[@PassionforSound]

Glad I could help you make that decision! I actually just recorded my Composer review today. It'll be released in a couple of weeks (3-4 reviews from now)

[@ying27]

@@PassionforSound that's awesome! I am looking forward to see it! I cannot wait ☺️ thanks for replying me back!

[@PassionforSound]

My pleasure

[@gerard3797]

Great review. This seems to be a great amp/preamp for desktop use together with the something like the Denafrips Ares 2 or Bursons own composer DAC. Also nice that you can update the DAC in a few years time, as I am sure developments will continue really fast, especially with R2R dacs. Too bad though that the preamp section does not have an unbalanced RCA out as well. This seriously compromises the flexibility and not sure why they did that...

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Gerard, yeah I'm not sure, but I'm guessing it's a question of cost, size and components. It's an amazing amp though - can't wait to receive mine!

[@djhmax09]

@@PassionforSound Ordered one too! I hope I won't be disappointed

[@PassionforSound]

Me too, David! I'm pretty confident you'll love it!

[@djhmax09]

@@PassionforSound I'll try to remember to come back to this vid to give some feedback!

[@PassionforSound]

That would be great! Or you can comment over at Passion For Sound on Facebook (PassionforSoundAU)

[@poker2341]

Many thanks for another great review. I bet the Soloist is a beautiful match for the Empyrean, right?

[@PassionforSound]

Sure is! It's honestly a great match for everything I've tried so far

[@poker2341]

@@PassionforSound Watching this channel is becoming rather expensive..!

[@PassionforSound]

Haha. You should try running it 😉

[@MaZEEZaM]

I really like the idea of the Burson Soloist 3X, but my main source is my PC, I don't understand how you connect a digital source when the amp has no optical, USB, USB c input? I am currently using IEM's I'm pretty sure you recommended awhile ago, the Meze Audio Rai Penta. I'm really enjoying them and would like to experience the benefits of listening to them with the benefit of a quality headphone amplifier. The Burson products really interest me but I don't know how to connect my PC and do they have Bluetooth for my phone?

[@PassionforSound]

Ideally, you'd need a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) between the computer and amp. You could take an output from motherboard sound output, but the quality won't be great. Burson also make the Conductor which might be more what you need because it's a DAC and amp in one. I have reviewed their top of the line Conductor GT models, but they also make a Conductor 3XP that's more affordable and will still be excellent

[@ekjellgren]

What DAC with volume control would you recommend for the Soloist 3XP in 2023? Or without.. Qutest?

[@PassionforSound]

Qutest, Bifrost 2/64 and Geshelli Labs J2S with AK4499EX are all excellent options, but none have volume controls. You'd need to look at the EverSolo DAC-Z8, Burson Composer 3XP, etc. if you want volume control.

[@airidaslaugalis74]

Thank you for review. Do you hear any hum through speakers then you use Soloist 3X as preamp on high gain?

[@PassionforSound]

I wouldn't personally use it on high gain based on the speakers I have here - too loud and not enough usable volume steps. What speakers are you using that need high gain output?

[@musicxxa6678]

Very nice amp. I love the precise volume control and the display. Are there cheaper amps with these qualities ?

[@PassionforSound]

Interesting question! I've not come across other amps with this type of control that I can recall. It's mostly all-in-one devices with DAC and amp that offer this because the digital volume controllers are required either in the DAC or as a dedicated (and expensive) chip in the Soloist.

[@TontNZ]

Thanks for the recommendation. Based on this I've just purchased a Soloist 3X (with black Friday discount!) as it was much cheaper than buying yet another pair of 300B's for my valve (WA5LE) headphone amp!

[@PassionforSound]

Awesome! You'll love it, Peter. I can't wait for mine to arrive

[@TontNZ]

@@PassionforSound Haven't got it, heard it yet, but to put it's price into some context, I've just paid quite a bit more than TWICE the price of this amp for a pair of 300B's!

[@PassionforSound]

Are they extra special 300Bs or have they become super rare?

[@TontNZ]

@@PassionforSound I was offered a NOS original boxed matched (and date matched) pair of STC 4300A's from 1965. STC were a British branch of Western Electric. So in essence these are British made Western Electric 300B's! A bargain at the price. The only problem is they are so rare I don't know if I actually want to use them!! I also bought a matched pair of NOS boxed ECC32's (6SN7's), same problem, damn things are so rare I don't know of I want to use them!

[@PassionforSound]

That's always the challenge with tubes like that. I've found myself buying great tubes and then listening to the basic ones to "save" the good ones, but for what? Plug them in and enjoy them! 🙂

[@TontNZ]

Did you ever get an opportunity to try the Sparkos opamps in the Soloist 3X? Happy New Year and I hope your channel goes gang busters!

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Peter. Happy new year to you too! I haven't yet tried the Sparkos op-amps because I need the dual version and only have the single. I'll get around to buying some dual ones at some point...

[@SolitoTepic]

Excellent review, burson synonymous with quality, if my taste were a detailed clean soft analog sound, burson products would be my choice, excellent sound at reasonable price. Thanks for the review.

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Erick, you're right about them making great products, but don't think of the Soloist as soft or overly analog. It CAN be with the V6 Classic op-amps, but it's standard configuration is clean, resolving and not at all smooth, soft or "analog" (in the negative sense of the word). I think the Soloist is actually one of the most neutral and revealing amplifiers I've heard so far in my journey

[@Leon-nr1mu]

What about something like Mytek Liberty II AAA THX? How do you think Soloist 3X compares to top-level THX amps? I believe Liberty II is close to Benchmark THX amp and some even prefer it over the Benchmark THX. Having a hard time picking between the Liberty II amp and Soloist 3X...

[@PassionforSound]

The THX modules bring a few characteristics to the sound that I don't always like. The HPA4 does a great job with it, but it's the exception to the rule of what I've tried so far. I would expect the Soloist to be a more natural sounding amp with better depth and layering compared to the Mytek, but that's the most I can say without hearing them side-by-side

[@josephmcclure1621]

Picked up a used HE 1000 v2. Would that be a better match with the 3x over the Arya with the Bifrost 2? Also, have you tried Nightshift by the Commodores as a test track? Thank you for your time.

[@PassionforSound]

I haven't tried the HEKv2 so I can't compare, but most reports would have me think that the HEKv2 will be a wonderful match with the 3X. I don't think I've ever tried Nightshift as a test track, but the Commodores and Lionel Ritchie in general tend to have good quality production.

[@josephmcclure1621]

@@PassionforSound Nightshift is usually my first go to with new equipment/headphones. I have the 3x coming this week and am excited about it. Might try and use my Jot 2 as a preamp to check out all the functions.

[@PassionforSound]

Awesome. Hope you love it

[@davidparkes1508]

Thank you for being so open (and dare I say "transparent"?) in your review of this product. I think other reviewers can get a little "too cool for school" if they find something they really like, but don't want to sound too fanboy about. It's great to see someone truly reveal their enthusiasm for a product when they really believe it deserves the attention. I look forward to the time when I can scrap the cash together to hear it for myself.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for the feedback, David. I'm glad you liked my approach 🙂

[@TheVeganVicar]

That mechanical keyboard looks amazing! What is the make and model, Lachlan?

[@PassionforSound]

I can't remember the exact model, but it's a Corsair wired/wireless one. It wasn't bad, but I much prefer my newer Drop CTRL

[@jimfarrell4635]

Not immediately relevant to the soloist but perhaps of interest to some people considering a Burson DAC/amp and I see interest in the Composer and Conductor below. I have just received a Conductor 3XP and as far as I can tell it will not work with my Auralic Aries Femto streamer over USB. Certainly using Roon. This may be due to its requiring a windows xmos driver though usually DACs which dont need OSX/iOS drivers like the Burson, will work with Auralic streamers. I do have an Aries G2 as well but have not tested that combo yet. It works fine over optical or coax but that means sacrificing sample rates over 24/192 and all DSD. Not a deal breaker for me but may be for some users. Sound wise it is sublime and I am delighted with my purchase but thought potential buyers should be aware. I have reached out to Auralic and Burston to see if there is a workaround and will update if they find one. It could be a Roon issue but I doubt it.

[@jimfarrell4635]

OK. Now I feel like an idiot. All I had to do was perform a new setup on the Aries and now the Conductor is recognised over USB and working perfectly with Roon. Thanks to all those who gave me advice on the Auralic forums and also Hans Beekhuyzen - incidentally if you like watching this channel you will enjoy Hans' channel. Very different styles but they complement each other. Apologies to Burson. I can't praise the Conductor enough. Using it with Oppo PM2, Verum Ones and Beyerdynamic T90. All sound great. Also feeding a PrimaLuna Prologue 2 and kef LS50s and it sounds sublime.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Jim. I'm glad you got it working! I agree, Hans' channel is excellent

[@jimfarrell4635]

@@PassionforSound Thanks ! Incidentally Burson got back to me first thing today. Excellent customer service. Always a good thing.

[@PassionforSound]

Great to hear

[@sebanambrus9265]

Hi please compare this vs topping A90 in transient response and bass or they are the same only the soundstage is better as you mentioned?

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Seban, the Soloist had to be shipped out so I can't directly compare with your specific questions in mind, but the ability for the Soloist to produce the sound stage that it does will directly relate to its transient reproduction so I'm pretty comfortable saying that it's better than the A90 there. I can't really comment on the bass other than saying that it went toe-to-toe with the TT2's onboard amp and was a match for it on bass reproduction. The A90 may be at the same level for bass reproduction, but the Soloist is definitely the better overall amplifier

[@ssjyash]

Great review answered so many questions I had. Recently the topping A90 Discrete released and I was wondering if you could compare them? I’m very curious on your thoughts. Or at least a response to my comment would mean a lot. Im looking to purchase a set of dac and amp shortly.

[@PassionforSound]

I've got the A90D here now, but I haven't unpacked it yet. I'll definitely be comparing it to the Soloist. I'm not expecting it to sound as good because Topping apply a lot of feedback in their designs to improve the measurements and it doesn't always result in the best sound, but I'm open to being wrong so we'll see as soon as I can get to the review

[@Stimpo7]

Hi Lachlan, great video once again. They’ve been so useful in finding my way through the complex market of this tech - so thank you. Perhaps quite a specific question, but is there anything else out there that matches the soloist for a similar price that includes RCA outputs? The soloist seems a step above the £400 odd amps, and I don’t mind paying, but I really want to use it as a pre into RCA, and it seems the Burson kit requires a transformer to function this way. Another expense and box for this basic functionality! It’s a shame as it looks great. Thanks

[@PassionforSound]

Glad you're liking the reviews. I haven't found another amp yet that I'd rate quite as highly as the Soloist (for the price) which isn't too say that it doesn't exist - just that I haven't yet tried it. The best I can currently recommend would be the Singxer SA-1 which is a little more versatile, but not quite as good sonically.

[@TheRevoR]

Excellent review, really appreciate the comparisons 👍 ! I’ve ordered one to try with mHugo2.

[@PassionforSound]

You'll love it! Enjoy 🙂🙂

[@TheRevoR]

@@PassionforSound So your review is spot on: this is a very smooth headphone amplifier. It’s really, really good - actually it’s great! I’ve been searching for a SS amp with the qualities I appreciate in my tube amps like an ”organic” smooth sound and excellent staging. And now I’ve finally found it, thank you!

[@PassionforSound]

So glad you're liking it so much! 🙂🙂

[@TheRevoR]

@@PassionforSound quick question if I may. With mHugo2, any suggestions on V6 Vivid and Sparkos 3602?

[@PassionforSound]

I'd recommend a pair of SS3602 in the volume stage of the Soloist and keep the Vivids in the input stage. Check out my op-amp roundup that I posted a week ago for a full explanation. 🙂

[@Jeffryh2005]

Hey Lachlan, would you say the Burson will be an upgrade to the THX-789? Or are they too different that you could keep both?

[@PassionforSound]

HUGE upgrade. There's absolutely no point owning the 789 once you have the Soloist as it does everything the 789 does only better. 🙂

[@junglist82]

Have you heard the Conductor 3x Performance yet? I'm wondering how it compares to this. They look very similar in teams of amp stage, but with the Conductor having a built in ESS DAC and streamer.

[@PassionforSound]

I haven't tried the Conductor. It's essentially the Composer and Soloist combined with some compromises to fit them in a single chassis. There's no streamer though it think, just Bluetooth

[@junglist82]

@@PassionforSound got it. Thanks mate.

[@houwc01]

Very nice review (as always)! I am considering buying the Soloist. At the moment I own the AG NFB-1amp and the THX 789. I like the NFB -1 amp much better because of the 3D sound comparing to the rather flat sounding 789. How does the Soloist compared to the NFB 1-amp, as you owned the latter ?

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Leo, I never owned the NFB-1 - it was the single ended equivalent (I can't remember the name). Based on that experience, the Soloist will be a very nice upgrade, but I can't directly comparable l compare to the NFB-1

[@ignishun]

I've been racking my bloody brain to figure out a headphone amp upgrade from my Vali 2. Mate, you've solved my issue. Thanks so much! This is definitely on the cards for 2021 to go with my LCD-2C (and any other sneaky headphone purchases in the FAR FAR future). Definitely swearing off purchasing anything audio past this financial year, Aussie first home deposits aren't the greatest! Anyways, a track recommendation. Got 3: For clarity, fun panning, vocals and highs: Track: Dos Uno Nueve (219) Artist: Omar Apollo For something to test your low-end amongst some brassy tones, you cannot go past this classic tune: Track: Summer Dreams Artist: Skream Just something I've been listening to lately and been having fun with: Track: Less Artist: Matthieu Faubourg Keep going with the stellar videos my man!

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Michael! I think you'll be very happy with the Soloist and good luck with your deposit - it's a big goal, but a good one! Thanks for the song suggestions. I'll add them to my playlist.

[@mjjm6220]

Lachlan, would this Soloist 3X or the GT version be good choices for the Empyrean?

[@PassionforSound]

Both are an excellent choice!

[@ranelime]

Thank you that way wonderful! Would love to hear a review of the SMSL SP400. With stepped R2R volume control, I suspect it will give the Burson a hard time.

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Astro, I didn't know it had a stepped volume control - that's great as it's a much better option (if done well) than traditional pots. Is it discrete or op-amp based though because that's also very important.

[@melvinsng2292]

i love your reviews and the detail you provide. Incredibly informative and helpful. I have the Chord TT2 but was thinking of getting the Soloist based on your review so that I can run a balanced signal to the Soloist and get a balanced out through my headphones or pre-amp. That is not currently possible with the TT2. Would you advise that? Thanks

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Melvin, the TT2 single ended headphone output is still the very best I have tried of any headphone output so I wouldn't recommend the Soloist for the sake of the connector. You can always run the TT2 as a pre-amp and it's also possible to get an adapter cable to run a headphone off the rear XLRs of you want to (although my tests proved to me that there is no benefit). The Soloist is a great amp, but the TT2 is better by a decent margin.

[@nuwanliyanage5684]

Hey Lachlan. I’m currently using the ath-ad2000 with the bifrost 2/jotunheim 2 combo and I think it’s very good. Also getting the zmf auteur soon. But how would you compare/contrast the jotunheim 2 with the burson?

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Nuwan, check out my Jotunheim 2 review for that exact comparison (and with Singxer SA-1 too)

[@force330]

Is it worth to upgrade from A90? Am using Arya and M17 as my DAC. In some tracks I feel a bit too cold with those combinations. And am looking for a warmer AMP/DAC.

[@PassionforSound]

I think it's absolutely worth the upgrade. You'll get all the detail and resolution (probably more) as well as better soundstage size and depth plus a healthy dose of soul (but not colouration)

[@albertguev]

Great stuff! I hope you can review the Conductor 3 Reference too!

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Albert, I have a Composer coming on loan when I get my Soloist so I'll see about a Conductor after that

[@Afireinthesun]

Hi, I am guessing you didn't have time to try the Sparkos opamps in this device? I just bought one of these and I'm wondering if the Sparkos might partner well with it.

[@PassionforSound]

Stay tuned. I have a full op-amp rolling video coming very soon! 🙂🙂

[@Afireinthesun]

@@PassionforSound 👍

[@yayasgoal]

Great review sir. How do you think this would pair with the Audeze LCD 4 headphones?

[@PassionforSound]

Glad you liked the review. The best thing about the Soloist is how well it works with everything so the LCD-4 will be great with it

[@yayasgoal]

@@PassionforSound Thank you.

[@laardvarkzilllions7955]

Great review! Any other great headphone amps that have a power amp mode? I want to connect to the pre-outs on my Audiolab 6000a integrated amp.

[@PassionforSound]

None that I'm aware of, I'm afraid.

[@djhmax09]

Have you tried them with your focal clears? If so, how is the synergy? Would you pick the soloist or some other amp for the clears?

[@PassionforSound]

Hi David, I'd buy the Soloist for pretty much anything - it's neutrality makes it very versatile. It suits the Clears very well. 🙂

[@djhmax09]

@@PassionforSound Thanks for the response! I was afraid the clears might not be a good match so thanks for your input!

[@JulienBourjault]

Hi, Great review, i am actually going to buy one. I plan to use a denafrips ares 2 with it. Did you get the chance to listen with the Empyrean with this set-up in particular? thanks

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Julien and sorry about the slow response! Your comment was in the "held for review" section for some reason... To answer your question, I don't think I had the Ares II at the same time as the Soloist (although I might have). I think the combination would be great though. The Soloist is clean and transparent which will prevent things from sounding too thick, but it's also smooth enough to not undo the qualities of the Ares II. The Empyreans then are so good with everything that they'll work a treat - nice and smooth, but with lots and lots of detail retrieval.

[@Ali_Shafai]

Hi @julien I just noticed that you were going for the same combination of Soloist and Ares II, which is what I am considering. Did you end up going for it? If so, what are your impressions? Thanks!

[@rulerofrecords1]

Thanx for the review - critical question for me: does this drive the bad boys like HE-6, Susvara, HEDDphone beyond just okay to their full potential? keep 'em coming

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Uli, yes it drives the Susvara at around 50/100 in high gain and does it very well. I expect the HEDDphone will be fine too

[@rulerofrecords1]

@@PassionforSound good to know, thanx

[@RenRenification]

Are you planning to review the flux lab fa-10 or fa-12? I’d love to hear you opinion on how it compares to the soloist.

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Ren, I did email Flux, but have had no response. I might try again in the future once the channel is a bit bigger...

[@djhmax09]

Hi again, I know you don't have the burson anymore but wanted to ask how the volume knob feels. Is it easy to turn or does it have some resistance? It looked like there was no resistance based on the video

[@PassionforSound]

Hi David, that's a good question. There's a little bit of resistance, but it does move quite freely and that's because it has a slightly notched movement to it because it's driving a switching circuit rather than being a normal potentiometer like we're used to. In short, it feels great and you want it to move freely because the volume steps are very small so I often found myself giving it a quick "spin" (not that it spins freely - I just turned it rapidly(

[@djhmax09]

@@PassionforSound I see, thanks for the response!

[@1oldson]

great review! looking at the power spec into 300ohms and it states only 150mw via SE! what is considered enough? this seems very low compared to a lot of alternative amps. i only buy high impedance headphones now as i also own an otl tube amp, hence my query.

[@PassionforSound]

I'm yet to find a 300 ohm headphone that requires more than about 20-25mW to reach 110dB so if you're listening at safe levels (75-80dB) you've still got WAY more power than required to cover transient peaks in the sound with headroom to spare.

[@1oldson]

@@PassionforSound having watched for a 2nd time, the volume bypass mode is interesting me. as i mentioned, i do have an otl amp which can be used as a pre-amp also. no saying it will sound better, of course, but could give me a "very good" hybrid combo in theory. unless i am missing to point?

[@PassionforSound]

Not missing the point at all. That could be an excellent option

[@1oldson]

@@PassionforSound sorry, i meant to ask is the vol bypass available from both xlr and rca inputs?

[@PassionforSound]

Yes. Once in power amp mode, either input is played at full volume.

[@ranelime]

I bought this unit (and the composer dac) because this wonderful review, and I'm very happy with that decision. May I ask what digital source did you use (feeding the dac), and will you consider reviewing digital sources (streamers in particular vs computers)? Love this channel, keep up the good work!

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Astro, glad you're enjoying the Burson stack! I have the Composer here at the moment for review. I use a PC almost exclusively as my source. I would like to review some streamers when I get the chance so just waiting on the opportunity to get some demo units. I do have a review of the Matrix Element H USB card coming soon. Not exactly a source, but relevant to the whole discussion

[@ranelime]

@@PassionforSound sounds Exciting! I myself yet to determine if a dedicated streamer (and which) is better from pc, because it feeds a different input (optical vs usb) to my dac and would love to hear your thoughts, as usual. Please consider adding a comparison between pre-out from the composer vs from the soloist. Looking forward that review!

[@PassionforSound]

I'll definitely be comparing the pre-outs because they handle volume quite differently so there should be audible differences. Stay tuned! 😉

[@Coztomba]

Do you know the dimensions of the actual amp? Burson listed it at 35x30x15cm... but it doesn't seem near that big. I'm thinking that's the package dimensions? Also does the display orientate to vertical like some of the other Burson gear?

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Coztomba, I'm afraid I've already sent it back to go to the next reviewer Soni can't check either of these for you ☹️

[@curlmythic]

Hi Lachlan, great review. I have a Burson Conductor V2 amp and I was wondering if you feel there would be tangible benefit in going to the Soloist 3XP? My DAC is the Composor 3XP, and current headphones are LCD2 (2020), 660S, and Elegia. Quality interconnects.

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Heath, there'll be a huge upgrade in overall sound quality, but also a slight change in signature I think. I owned a Soloist V2 and the Soloist 3XP is more neutral and less mid-focussed. If the Conductor is anything like the Soloist of the same generation, you should expect a less coloured sound, but also much improved transparency and resolution

[@curlmythic]

@@PassionforSound Thanks, Lachlan, I bought the Soloist. I've had it for 3 weeks and you were right on the money with your review, and with your comments on my question. Thanks, again.

[@PassionforSound]

That's great news that you're happy with it, Heath. Congrats!

[@ronanmorgan426]

Hi Lachlan, I'm currently mid upgrade from my Sundara's with Topping E50/L50 stack to the Arya Stealth with a Burson Conductor 3X or possibly the Soloist and dac. I see that you recommended the Bifrost 2 below. Would you choose that with the Soloist over the Burson Composer Dac or would you seek out a used Chord qutest which are available for about €1,000 with light use. I"ll be buying some closed back headphones in the future such as the Aeon Noire by Dan Clark as my wife keeps commenting about how loud the open backs are but I just love the sound of the Arya's so will be mainly using those. Your input as always is much appreciated.

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Ronan, yes, I'd definitely choose the Bifrost 2 over the Composer because it will provide depth and layering in the soundstage that the Composer can't (due to the delta-sigma chip in use) Sounds like you're going to have an even better setup soon! Any ideas on the closed backs you'll be buying?

[@ronanmorgan426]

@@PassionforSound Sorry, I just saw you had replied after I edited my original message about the bifrost 2 to add the Qutest into the fray and the open backs as possibly the Dan Clark Aeon Noire 2. Many thanks😊

[@PassionforSound]

Hmmmm... I would choose the Qutest over the Bifrost 2 if that's an option. Also, the Noires are an excellent choice! I have a pair hear now for review soon...

[@ronanmorgan426]

@@PassionforSound great, food for thought. Thanks again for your prompt replies. Testing is not an option for me so your reviews and opinions help greatly. When reduced in price the Conductor 3 all in one is very tempting at the price so some contemplating involved in spending twice that for separates. Looking forward to the Noire review:))Keep up the great work!

[@razuu]

Do you think the soloist is a better headphone amp than the Chord Hugo 2?

[@PassionforSound]

Sorry that I missed this comment originally. I just saw it today. I haven't tried the Hugo 2 so I can't say for sure. I know it's not quite as good as the TT2 amp so it might be similar to the Hugo 2, but you'd need to check with someone who's tried both together

[@massivemikeh]

Great review! I like Burson amplifiers. Would you say the Soloist SL is to the Soloist 3x, as what the Bottlehead Crack is to the Mainline? Cheers.

[@PassionforSound]

It kind of is, actually. I think the gulf between the Crack and Mainline is a bit wider, but they're in the same vein.

[@massivemikeh]

@@PassionforSound Thanks for that mate! I own a BH Crack and Soloist SL, and am not sure whether I want to take the next step. I really love the smoothness of what I have. Your channel is awesome! Cheers.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Snake. Both are brilliant amps. I guess the question is do you feel like you need something more (musically speaking)?

[@massivemikeh]

@@PassionforSound That's right mate...of course that's the curse with this hobby isn't it. Haha...Cheers.

[@munsukwon8393]

It sounds good when it is pared with Zen dac through balanced output too. It makes me think that I don't need to invest too much money for DAC, but definitely amplifier.

[@PassionforSound]

You'll be surprised what an even better DAC will show you, but I'm not encouraging you to spend more money. Stick with whatever you're enjoying listening to

[@munsukwon8393]

@@PassionforSound Then could you recommend any DAC for Soloist 3x? My main headphone is Hifiman Arya.

[@PassionforSound]

There are a few that would be great, but my top recommendation within a reasonable price range is the Schiit Bifrost 2. It's an amazing DAC for the price

[@snowrang3r657]

You’re such a good reviewer. Easy to follow and understand. I’m using a Geshelli amp right now with my Focal Clears and was thinking of upgrading to something like the D90/A90 stack but the way you describe this makes me want to save up longer and go for this or something similar. P.s for someone so focused on audio I’m somewhat surprised to see a Corsair keyboard on your desk. I had one once and after trying some better keyboards i can say there’s ones with much better audible and physical feedback. Not trying to keyboard shame you just suggesting you might want try something else!

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Snow Ranger. The D90/A90 combo is excellent, but the Soloist is a real step up. I'm reviewing the matching DAC soon (Burson Composer) so that might just be the setup to save for... we'll see. As for the keyboard, no shame felt. I bought this for its price more than anything, but would love any recommendations for a good mechanical that's also quiet.

[@richardblaauwgeers4349]

Passion for Sound i am all in for the composer review! Please compare it to d90 and qutest. Also is the preamp of composer better then preamp on d90

[@PassionforSound]

I can't compare it to the Qutest as I sold it to fund the TT2 purchase, but I can compare to the D90 for sure and I remember the Qutest well enough to be able to extrapolate how the Composer compares once I hear it vs D90.

[@richardblaauwgeers4349]

@@PassionforSound the composer and this www.atoll-electronique.com/en/products/streamers/streamer-st200-signature/ are on my shortlist

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for the link! I'll add it to my list of potential future review products

[@nicktan4530]

How do you find the Burson Soloist 3X with high impedance dynamic driver ? Inefficient drivers sound alright with it ?

[@sentientsteve9351]

Sorry to say you'll now need to upgrade to the Soloist 3X GT model :-) BTW I bought the soloist 3X (not GT) after heavily being influenced by your review and it's an awesome amp. Thanks!

[@PassionforSound]

Glad you're liking the 3X! I have a GT on the way for review (my wallet is hoping it's not THAT much better, but I fear it might be 😉) I've also got an op-amp review coming soon which might help you squeeze even a tiny bit more performance / enjoyment out of your Soloist.

[@earlgrey7342]

Hi Lachlan, thanks for the incredibly detailed review. I absolutely love it and already thinking of pairing this amazing amp to my Chord Hugo2. Do you think they would make a great pair? I’m using them to drive my LCD-2C, Hifiman Susvara, Unique Melody MEST MK. II and LCD-4! Do you think I should purchase a fully balanced DAC like the Schitt Bifrost 2 to make them a fully balanced stack to yield more power for these power hungry cans? Thank you so much mate. I’m looking forward to hearing your great insights. Have a great day good sir!

[@PassionforSound]

Hi EG, the Soloist and Hugo 2 should be a great combo and, from memory, there's no particular benefit using the XLR inputs on the Soloist. It will have plenty of power for all your headphones even from just the Hugo 2. I also don't know if the Bifrost would be a better overall DAC. I think the Hugo 2 is probably preferable.

[@earlgrey7342]

@@PassionforSound Cheers mate, thank you so much for the elaborated answer. How would you fair Soloist + Hugo2 with an all in one combo like the Conductor 3X Reference? I appreciate your time and knowledge greatly, thank you!

[@PassionforSound]

The separates will almost always outperform all-in-one devices up until you're in the TT2 range of price and performance so I'd definitely stick with the Hugo & Soloist. The reason I say that about all-in-one devices is that they almost always are a compromise, sharing power supplies, noise, etc. and by using a single chassis, the space for the circuits are limited so you're not getting the full potential from either amp or DAC.

[@earlgrey7342]

@@PassionforSound Gotcha, thank you so much mate! Have a wonderful day over there :)

[@vanbuitran1746]

Thank you for the GREAT review. What Dac do you think pair best with the soloist 3xp and He1000v2? Bifrost2/Gungnir - Ares2 - D90? Thank you!

[@PassionforSound]

Glad you liked it! I would personally choose a Schiit Multibit DAC like the Bifrost 2 oraybe a current Gungnir Multibit (but I have only heard older versions). The Burson Composer is also a very nice option.

[@vanbuitran1746]

@@PassionforSound what dac do you think will pair better with Soloist. Gungnir Multibit or Qutest?

[@PassionforSound]

Both are excellent, but I'd take the Qutest because it's the slightly better DAC overall (based on my experiences with an older Gumby)

[@robertnoblitt518]

The headphone amps I own are: Singxer SA-1, HeadAmp GS-X mini, and Topping A90. I would rate them in the order listed, with the Singxer clearly better than the other 2, even though the HeadAmp is class-A & about $2,000 (US). I'm tempted to try the Burson, considering their return policy. I don't think you have heard the Singxer, but how about the HeadAmp? Considering the build & sound quality of the Burson, shouldn't it be superior to the amps I have? My DAC is a Chord Qutest (with M Scaler).

[@PassionforSound]

That's a tough one to answer, Robert. Being a fully discrete design, the SA-1 will perform better than many op-amp based amps out there (like the A90), but the Soloist is fully discrete too and uses some amazing power supply and volume control tech so I don't know how they'd compare. Perhaps I can find out at some point with a review - I'll see what I can arrange...

[@robertnoblitt518]

@@PassionforSound On Head-fi, I found this comment about the Soloist: "I had auditioned the Chord Hugo TT2 which was fantastic but I prefer the Soloist/Qutest combination. Sacrifices a little of the TT,s DAC detail & insight but to my ears is more coherent overall. I rate the Soloist amp ahead of the TT's amp." This person didn't mention having an M Scaler with his Qutest, so it seems to me that an M Scaler/Qutest/Soloist combo would be even better. I think I'm willing to give this a try. If I get the Burson, I'll let you know how I like it.

[@PassionforSound]

Please do let me know, Robert. I still feel that the TT2 slightly trumps the Soloist overall, but I can understand where they're coming from

[@robertnoblitt518]

@@PassionforSound Today I received my Burson Soloist 3X, from Bloom Audio in New Jersey. I did some quick comparisons to my Singxer SA-1. First, the comparison confirms what a great-sounding amp the Singxer is, at about half the price of the Burson. But the Burson clearly is superior, with amazing clarity, transparency and detail. The test tracks I used: "I'll Be Seeing You" by Till Bronner, and "Don't Be That Way", by Bria Skonberg. These are both great-sounding 96/24 downloads in my collection. The Singxer has a slightly warmer sound, and some listeners might prefer that, but to me the Burson comes out on top. I tested all 3 headphone outputs. The headphones I've used so far are my Meze Empyrean, Dan Clark Ether 2, and Shure SE846 IEMs. I suspect one wants to use the balanced XLR output when possible. I would like to use the Burson pre-amp function, but will need an ISO-MAX transformer to convert XLR to RCA. I'm using the Burson with my Qutest. Do you recommend setting the Qutest to 2v or 3v output? I'm using 2v so far. Also I'm a little spooked by the manual's warnings about changing earphones. Should I put the Burson on standby before plugging or unplugging a headphone? I'm assuming you should not plug in more than one headphone at a time. The manual isn't very complete, with nothing about using the menu, for example. Thanks for your great review, which enabled my decision to buy the Burson!

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Robert, glad you're enjoying the Soloist and thanks for the comparison with the Singxer! I've not found any major difference between the SE and balanced outputs on the Soloist and happily use both, even with high-end cans. I've also had no issues swapping headphones while it's switched on. Perhaps that's one of those precautionary things they say just in case someone manages to create an extended short during plugging/unplugging. Finally, I'd keep the Qutest on 2V output as that's pretty standard and the Soloist has plenty of gain range and plenty of power.

[@ronniebona359]

Very enjoyable to watch your reviews, thank you. I currently have an RME ADI DAC /amp, would you suggest I get the soloist and add it to the RME or just get a separate DAC like the Bifrost2, I also am curious which streamer you would use with them or even with yours? Thanks so much!

[@PassionforSound]

So glad you like the reviews! My first step in your shoes would probably be an amp upgrade. If you end up buying a different DAC you'll need an amp anyway so that's why I'd start there. Try a separate amp like the Soloist and then if you feel like you also want a different DAC, you're ready to go. As for streamers, I'm currently testing the Volumio Primo and I really like it. I've also got another on the way from Acrylic so I'll be producing a streamer roundup in the future.

[@ronniebona359]

@@PassionforSound oh great I’ll be on the look out! Thank you for replying, I’m going to look up streamers. I have the RME but still could return and buy the soloist, and maybe the the stack they sell or another DAC hmm - thank you very much for the reply!!!

[@PassionforSound]

Their Composer and Soloist stack is great! I'm also releasing an op-amp rolling video with that stack soon-ish to help people get the most from those devices.

[@ronniebona359]

@@PassionforSound awesome !!! Can’t wait

[@Ifeany1]

how come no one talks about the mic inputs on them? I would actually like to know about these. Can you use them independently for microphone input while using the other headphone ports i.e the xlr or the 3.5

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Black star, the mic input is a simple pass-through as I understand it. The idea is you can plug in to the front of the Soloist and then take a line out from the back and down to your soundcard. It doesn't integrate the sound with the amp at all and is just a convenience and neatness thing.

[@Ifeany1]

@@PassionforSound Ahhh, okay thank you. How do people integrate microphones into high end audio? Right now I have the solosit 3x and the conductor, but I also want to implement microphones into my system, but it almost seems like I have to buy another pre amp thats dedicated to just microphones... and thats just doing too much.

[@PassionforSound]

Yeah, it's really just for connecting a mic for basic gaming / conference call type use. You'd need some kind of audio interface for "proper" mics.

[@RyuMasterEX]

When someone tested the conductor they said the strong part was the dac, which should mean that the composer is the real gem!

[@PassionforSound]

Awesome. I can't wait to try it now!

[@ranelime]

Does pre-amp section preform as well as the HPA? I'm considering this Pre-amp first with a HPA second

[@PassionforSound]

It does. I didn't test the pre-amp thoroughly, but Next Best Thing did in his review.

[@Ionknomen]

Do you think this is worth to get for the focal clear mg? I wonder if this will extend the sound stage, thanks.

[@PassionforSound]

It depends a lot on what you're coming from, but I'd say that it's a good combination based on my time with that exact pairing.

[@Ionknomen]

@@PassionforSound I'm coming from Ifi Zen Dac so probably a big upgrade. I also watched the video where you pair this with Burson Composer 3x. Do you have any recommendation for dac pairing for around the same price range. Your video and your voice always so calming XD

[@PassionforSound]

The Composer is still an excellent DAC, but the Schiit Bifrost 2 or Gustard R26 would be my preferences depending on price.

[@ShanulSharma]

Hi Lachlan, just wondering if you've had a chance to listen to the Focal Arche yet? If so, how would it compare with the soloist? Cheers mate and thanks for all your great work!

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Shanul, no I haven't yet. I'm a bit torn on it to be honest - nearly pulled the trigger, but can't decide. I also have other gear already that does the same trick (i.e. allows adjustment of the output impedance)

[@Pianitara]

Are there valid reasons to get this over the Topping A90d? To use with Neumann ndh 30. Specs wise, this headphone requires max 200mW of power. Practically for listening at safe levels, the power is much less than 200mW, which means I won't hear distortions at levels which I will listen to. That much I know. Thanks.

[@PassionforSound]

Yep - power won't be an issue as you say. Having not much liked the A90D, I can only assume it's due to the use of nested feedback killing the naturalness of the sound. The Soloist doesn't do that and is therefore a more natural sounding amp in terms of staging. I do think the Soloist benefits from some different op-amps such as the Sparkos 3602 or the Burson V7s to maximise it's tonal qualities.

[@Pianitara]

Thanks a lot for helping me out. If the burson soloist is equipped with V7 op amps and use with 3A power adapter, how much of a difference will there be between the 3XP and 3X GT 2024 version? Your inputs will be highly appreciated.

[@PassionforSound]

The differences will still be huge. No amount of tweaks will close the gap on overall circuit design, but the 3XP with those upgrades is a wonderful amp.

[@ryanchenoweth5673]

Fantastic following your KZbin journey man - this one was one of your best 👌

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Ryan!

[@ronaldgarcia8542]

Please let us know when you decide to test out the sparkos and your thoughts!

[@PassionforSound]

Will do, Ronald!

[@ronaldgarcia8542]

@@PassionforSound just ordered a soloist thanks to your wonderful and descriptive review! I love your explanations it's clear and easy to understand, looking forward to more content from you!

[@PassionforSound]

Great news, Ronald. You'll love it!

[@ayubious]

just ordered this amp with the bifrost 2, as you seem to have that as your optimal pairing for this if i'm not mistaken (at least for this price), i expect a sizable upgrade from my current jds el ii stack. i will be using this combo with a diana v2 vs clear mg to decide which one i keep (so far i am a bit torn, diana = more detailed but mg = more punchy imo). on that note, do you plan on reviewing either of these headphones in the future?

[@PassionforSound]

You're in for a treat. That's definitely my preferred combo before stepping up to the Qutest as DAC. I would like to review both headphones at some point, but I'm yet to have success with those companies so they might have to come through as loans.

[@ayubious]

​@@PassionforSound considered the qutest too but was able to get this stack for similar price all together (slightly used). was also eyeing the conductor 3xp which i found quite cheaper on recent classifieds for ~$900 if you have the patience in order to snag a deal like that, but i care about the sound more than extra features. will update here on my findings soon hope maybe someone local will be able to loan you some more headphone brands like these!

[@ayubious]

alright after a couple days with the stack upgrade - immense improvement in sense of depth and imaging, more layered while being precise which adds to represent a lifelike sound. separation is suberb, actual feeling of vertical and horizontal space. both headphones performed greatly with the stack, but as i purchased the clear mg for about half the price of the diana v2, i can't justify the cost with the (let's say 15-20%) improvement of resolution/speed that it provides over focal extremely happy with this setup! i will keep this as my end-game until maybe someday when i can comfortably afford a 1266 or susvara

[@PassionforSound]

That's great news! So glad you're enjoying it so much! 🙂🙂

[@soulfulfool]

It will be my next amp for sure :) probably going to suits my Arya & Clear

[@PassionforSound]

Nice. It's great with both of those

[@user-sg5ri4st5m]

Hello @PassionforSound , Great review, I just bought the soloist 3xp based on your review. Question please, do I use high gain for the zmf VC (300ohms) ?

[@PassionforSound]

Glad I could help you make a great decision. I'd personally start with medium gain and see how you go because you'll probably get slightly finer volume control (i.e. smaller steps). There's no reason not to use high gain though so try both and see which feels better to you as they should both sound identical when playing at equal loudness

[@user-sg5ri4st5m]

@@PassionforSound thanks. What is the difference in perceived sound. Between high/medium gain and headphone power amp mode ? Is it a high Z mode ?

[@PassionforSound]

No, there's no high Z mode, just different gain levels so the sound is the same in each mode - just louder

[@Colin-yh7oy]

Thanks for an informative review. I'm now considering the Soloist for my lounge system, with Sennheiser HD600. Did you try the remote volume... is it responsive? How bulky is the PSU, and is it basically a mains-to-24V AC transformer, so should have(?) minimal power drain if left plugged in with the Soloist on standby? Any other head amp(s) (not a DAC/amp) with remote volume control you would recommend in the price bracket? Are you an owner yet?!

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Colin, glad you found the review informative. I am an owner now and still love it. I haven't used the remote, but I can tell you that the volume steps are quite small so it often takes large adjustments to get the amount of change I'm looking for - not an issue with the volume knob, but might be with the remote. A likely solution would be to setup the amp in high gain mode so each step is larger. As for the power supply, it's similar to a laptop power brick in size and shouldn't draw too much power when the amp is off.

[@Colin-yh7oy]

@@PassionforSound Finally I've got around to ordering one, having concluded there's very little choice below its price if you want a straight head amp (no DAC) with remote control volume. Found a supplier offering a 30-day home trial, but would love this to be my (first and) end-game head amp. Hoping my HD600s will up their game and postpone my search for better 'phones. Heard HD800, HD800S, Focal Clear and Beyerd' T5 3G (some based on your reviews), and while all had their strong points I wasn't convinced any were the ones for me; now HD800S and Clear "combined" could peak my interest!

[@PassionforSound]

That's great news! I think you'll be impressed with the Soloist + HD600 combo and the headphone you're describing (Clear + HD800S is the Focal Utopia based on my recent listening tests)

[@Colin-yh7oy]

@@PassionforSound I was afraid someone might point out the Utopia. That'll be for when I retire, or after I've sold a number of treasured possessions! They seem to be a polarising headphone, which mandate top-notch recordings and signal path. Some prefer the Clear (with GBP 2000+ saving...and by how much does that skew the review...?) Not that I won't be looking forward to your forthcoming(?) review, also to comparing it with Currawong's.

[@PassionforSound]

I don't get the polarisation of the Utopia. It's not perfect, but it's a pretty amazing headphone. I own and love the Clear, but the Utopia smashes it for me. I can only assume the negative reviews and comments are driven by it's price tag which always brings higher expectations. Hopefully I can squeeze the review in soon...

[@Ali_Shafai]

Thanks for another great and thoughtful review here. I may have to replace my Chord TT, because it’s being repaired, but it may not be repairable. I’ve been doing a lot of research on what’s out there, what I’m willing to spend, and the qualities of components that I like best. Right now, I am looking at getting the Soloist 3X along with the Denafrips Ares II. What are your thoughts on this pairing? And, any other recommendations for something different within a reasonable price range?

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Ali, I personally don't like the Ares II that much (too smoothed off). I'd look at either the Qutest or Bifrost 2. Both will provide an excellent sense of spatial information and resolution without getting harsh or forced.

[@Ali_Shafai]

@@PassionforSound Thanks very much!

[@PassionforSound]

My pleasure

[@Ali_Shafai]

Did I understand correctly that you were testing the Burson with the TT2, where you were using the TT2 solely as a DAC and having the Burson provide amplification? And, did I understand it that you actually preferred it to the TT2 on its own? I was able to repair my first generation TT, and now I am thinking about pairing it with the Burson. I realize that you have not demo’d the original TT, but since you’re familiar with the TT2 and the Burson I’m wondering whether it would be a worthwhile and significant upgrade as opposed to just using the original TT and it’s on amplification. What do you think? Thanks. ☺️ 🙏🏾

[@PassionforSound]

You're correct about me using the TT2 as DAC and feeding the Soloist to see exactly what it is capable of. I don't feel like it's better than the TT2 internal amp, but it comes admirably close given the significant difference in price. The TT2 still has a slight edge on overall transparency and detail retrieval, but depending on your headphones andusic tastes, the slightly smoother (but still exceptional) Soloist could be preferable. It's a shame I haven't heard the original TT to provide some sense of comparison.

[@GHMelwin]

Please give me some advice on which is the best for the Audeze LCD-2C: Schiit Jotunheim multibit or Burson Audio Conductor 3x performance headphones?

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Melwin, I'm yet to hear the new Jotunheim or the Conductor so I can't be sure. Sorry!

[@djhmax09]

For the v6 classics, is the change mostly in the midrange? Does it pretty much sound the same in the lows and highs? Been debating if I should add the classics in or not...

[@PassionforSound]

Hi David, it's been a while since I compared them, but I think the changes are across the board - different treble, mids and (maybe) bass. If you can add them to your collection, it gives you a nice option to try a different sound sometimes.

[@djhmax09]

@@PassionforSound Cool, thanks for the feedback! Looking forward to that composer review...hopefully it won't convince me that I'll want it, ha!

[@PassionforSound]

I'll do my best to not sell you on it 😉

[@johnsweda2999]

Why is there no videos on the valve amplifier you put together? Check out the Audeze LCD2c headphones £740

[@PassionforSound]

Hi John, there is! It's here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYakm3eQl9yenJY I should get in touch with Audeze and see what I can arrange. Thanks for the reminder!

[@dablaze21]

Did you miss having a dedicated button or switch to change the output ? I was planning on getting this for my desktop setup where a regularly switch between my headphones and my monitors, I was wondering about the experience of having to go through the menu to switch the output.

[@PassionforSound]

Hi CK, yes, at first I did, but the remote control makes that easy. I don't normally use remotes, but I did for the Soloist.

[@dablaze21]

@@PassionforSound I thought the remote only allowed you to change the input to the amp not the output.

[@PassionforSound]

Oh, you're right! Sorry! I didn't find the output switching a big deal, but it all depends on how you plan to use it. Output switching is pretty deliberate with my setup and not something I have to do too often.

[@MMRSean]

How hot does this run? Extremely tempted to pick this up right now for the Black Friday deal based off your review! Never had a pure Class A amp before so I’m just worried it might get too warm.

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Sean, not overly hot. It gets warm but never uncomfortable to the touch. I think my TT2 gets hotter

[@MMRSean]

@@PassionforSound thanks for the info! Is the “class A amps run hot” expression more just an old saying, or is it actually true in general, but the Soloist just runs slightly cooler than others due to its circuitry/topology?

[@PassionforSound]

No, it's true that they run hot in the sense that most switching amps (Class A-B, etc.) don't generate much heat at all. Some Class A amps can cook eggs, but it's not a rule per se. The Soloist is about average in terms of heat from memory (i.e. it gets warm, but not hot). It also has very good heat dissipation due to the ridged design of the whole casing

[@MMRSean]

@@PassionforSound really appreciate the detailed responses you give! A lot of KZbinr’s wouldn’t take the time. I think I might pull the trigger, this amp sounds like one of the best overall class A amps based on your praise :)

[@PassionforSound]

You're welcome, Sean. I think you'll be pretty happy with your choice.

[@letsgobrandon6545]

Great review. Bought one as well since I have pair of Sparkos dual opamps that need new home.

[@PassionforSound]

Nice! I actually have an op-amp rolling video going live tomorrow that you might find interesting. 🙂

[@Ezees23]

How do you like the Sparkos ss-3602's inside the Burson's input stage? I'm curious because I own both the V6 Vivids and the '3602's - and I alternate them in and out of my Gustard H20. In the H20 I like the '3602's slightly better but I'm thinking of getting the Soloist and running them (the '3602's) in it. What's your take on the combo?

[@PassionforSound]

I've done a full op-amp video discussing this in detail, but the short answer is that I like the SS3602 on the volume stage and the Vivids in the gain stage

[@Ezees23]

@@PassionforSound Great. I have a Gustard H20 that I put ss-3602's and Vivids into: I like the ss-3602's slightly more than the Vivids b/c of their wider, deeper staging and better microdetail and texture. Of course, any opamp SQ differences are dependent on the component their put into. I'm looking at getting the Soloist 3XP, not the GT. How do the two compare?

[@PassionforSound]

How does the 3XP compare to the GT? They're very different in terms of performance, but clearly from the same designers in terms of their general sound. For more detail it's best to check my GT review where I discussed the upgrade specifically 🙂

[@stevelimey]

I have a Cambridge audio EVO 150 which DAC would I be using with this. The burson or the Cambridge's?

[@PassionforSound]

I haven't tried the EVO 150, but as it's an all-in-one, I'd expect some slight improvement in going with the Composer DAC if you're able to.

[@dxm5234]

Fantasy time: I'm saving for Arya headphones - would you pair with Burson soloist 3X or Mainline?

[@PassionforSound]

Ouch! Tough question. I think I'd lean towards the Soloist because I believe the Arya is a little tricky to drive. I haven't yet heard the Arya though so I can't say for sure.

[@dxm5234]

@@PassionforSound thanks so much for replying!

[@PassionforSound]

No sweat!

[@furiouspc24]

I am driving the Arya with the Conductor 3XP which shares the same amp section with that of the Soloist but at 6W from the balanced and I am blown away at how wide and clean the sound is. Definitely pairs excellent with the Arya.

[@PassionforSound]

Good to hear. Thanks for sharing, furious!