Bloom's Take Following in the footsteps of the Soloist 3X GT, the Conductor 3X GT delivers next-level, flagship performance. The sound quality, power, and features are all a step up from the Reference series. If you’re looking for a DAC/Amp combo under $5000 that can easily drive the most power-hungry headphones and deliver TOTL sound to TOTL headphones, Conductor 3X GT should put it at the top of your list. |
The Conductor 3X GT takes the unique Burson house sound further with a new output stage for its dual ESS9038 DACs. A new feedback-based gain control allows this GT to max out at 10W, yet matches with even more headphones. With so much functionality and refinement, you will never need or want another desktop machine.
DACs from different brands can sound identical as they often use the same, publicly available standard circuitry provided by manufacturers. This approach reduces R&D time, cost and risk of course, and oft times, other parts such as op amps, power supplies and working voltage are often shared resulting in an unavoidably generic sound.
In the Conductor GT, Burson has tailored a new output stage to utilize the wide bandwidth of their Vivid opamps. When combined with the proprietary Max Current Power Supply, the GT takes the unique house sound to a new level with even more detail.
The digital interface for the Conductor 3X GT is advanced and comprehensive, from its XMOS USB receiver to its Qualcomm Bluetooth module. With a customized driver by Thesycon, Germany, the USB receiver has unsurpassed processing power and accuracy, perfectly streaming DSD512 and 32bit/768khz audio. It also features a Bluetooth 5.0 receiver Qualcomm/CSR8675 [+] with an aptX HD audio & LDAC codec.
The thumping heart of the Conductor GT is 5 sets of Burson Max Current Power Supplies. Burson is pushing the MCPS to the limits of its potential which means they consume 90W when idle and need active cooling, albeit, spitting out 10W, the GT is not tracing power but rather pursuing purity.
The Burson Cool Case is already the most oversized heatsink on any headphone amp, but active cooling for the GT was still adopted. With every component operating in a predetermined temperature range, active cooling provides the freedom to push the GT to its limit. Combining its resonance-free enclosure with the quietest fan money can buy from Noctua, the GT is quieter than the background ambience of your music.
Roon is the most popular streaming and HD music mgmt. platform for audiophiles, and Burson is part of this fantastic ecosystem. Burson DACs are Roon-tested, and they seamlessly connect with any 3rd party Roon Ready audio streamers.
The V6 Vivid discrete opamps are wildly regarded as the best and used in countless recording studios. The Conductor GT uses 6 Vivid opamps in its fully differential output stage, achieving incredible transparency. However, it still plays to your preference by allowing opamps to change, enabling you to create your own listening experience.
We feel sound as much as we hear it. Before the invention of headphones, music listening has always been a full-body experience: it’s not just what you hear, but all the energy your body feels that moves the soul. Headphone listening goes to a new level with a carefully matched and placed subwoofer. The GT enables this experience with its Head+Sub mode.
A really beautiful device with an amazing sound. I can't compare with other similar product because it's my first, but great instruments separation in detail and space location and great soundstage. I hear little things I didn't hear before and the sound quality I'm hearing gives me real joy more often than I thought it would be possible at first
For now, used only with ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) and Focal Clear MG. Wired with Audioquest USB-C cable to the source and balanced XLR to the headphones.
Also, I really like their headphone+sub mode. It's really amazing to feel deep low frequency with a sub the same way as listening with tower speakers but with headphones. I use a KEF KC62 sub.
I also got the 5A super charger and the red cool stand. Using it vertically really add a wow factor with all the red color, and doing help with heat dissipation really. I can easily touch the device with no problem, it's warm but not hot. The fan really does it's job. Yes the fan does a little noise if you are in silent area and concentrate to hear it. But when you listened to music, there is no way you will hear the fan, even with open-back headphones