Burson Conductor 3 Reference | Headphone Amp, DAC, and Preamp

From Burson Audio

Being the best of its time. This has been the sole design goal of each Burson Conductor since 2007. The C3 Reference took 3 years to built and it leaves the competition for dust.

Advanced Digital

The SABRE32/ESS9038Q2M DAC and XMOS USB receiver chips are the most advanced and expensive in the industry. There are two ESS9038 DAC chips in our C3 Reference and its USB receiver comes with customized driver by Thesycon, Germany. The result is unsurpassed processing power, perfectly playing back DSD512 and 38bit/786khz audio. The C3 Reference also features a Bluetooth 5.0 receiver (Qualcomm/CSR8675) with aptX HD audio codec. It pushes Bluetooth playback beyond CD quality and ease of use to the highest level.

Max Power X 5

The Burson proprietary Max Current Power Supply (MCPS) raises voltage frequency from 50Hz to 170kHz, pushing noise beyond human hearing. Its low impedance ensures abundant and instant energy for output transistors. The C3 Reference uses 5 sets of MCPS: Which means, Display/Functionality, DAC, analog left and analog right are all separately powered.

The Cool Case

Let’s face it, most audio equipment cases are ugly and impractical. They usually have visible screws everywhere, sharp corners and boring colors. Class-A amplifiers even have finger cutting heat-sinks! They diminish the aesthetic of any living space especially modern desktops where every other electronic is slick and refined. Made from high-density aluminum and electroplated to space-grey. The Cool Case has only 4 visible screws under its belly. It is also a unified heat-sink that is 300% more efficient than previous Conductors. It is audio jewelry at its finest and It looks and plays very cool.

Smooth Control

The all-new OLED screen and interface program deliver a calming and intuitive user experience. Its machined solid aluminum knob offers the fines control and feels luxurious.

The Sound

The first and most profound impression of the C3 Reference is its overwhelming energy. It energizes every note and space in between, bringing absolute control and accuracy. Drum kicks hard and crisp while decays sustaining and packed with micro-details. Listening to Masquerade from Phantom of the Opera and you can easily locate and follow each performer as they move around on a wide and deep stage. Kathy’s Song by Eva Cassidy. Her voice shines like the sun. Warm, golden and eternally beautiful. The C3 Reference is a time machine. Ride it to revisit these ingenious creations of beauty time after time.

Specs

Conductor 3 Comparison

In the Box

• Burson Conductor Unit
• IC Opamps for warranty diagnostic use.
• USB-C to USB-C Cable
• Remote Control
• Hex key
  
• Power Supply 
• Burson Conductor 3 Reference User Manual