Burson Soloist 3X Grand Tourer | Standalone Headphone Amp

I was so impressed with the Burson Soloist 3x, I purchased its big brother the GT. It takes all the great qualities of the 3x and puts them on steroids! It's more than a subtle improvement in sound quality!
I'm not using any of the extra features now, but nice to have as options. Unfortunately the Balance control only works with the Pre-amp output, NOT the headphone outputs (one of the reasons I purchased it). If you have any level of asymmetrical hearing loss (at least a 1/3 of the population does), this amp won't help you. Why do they include a balance control on a headphone amp and not allow it to be used with headphones ??? Seems like a real design flaw to me.
Cooling fan noise is audible when you get within a few feet of the unit (but not bad). With headphones on/music playing I don't think it would be a problem for most people.
Another issue (maybe just unique to me) is the GTs' infrared sensor "reads" some buttons on my cd transport remote control (which I use a lot). If I hit those buttons, the GT either switches inputs or changes volume. It's annoying, but there's nothing I can do about it, so I'm learning to live with it. I use the GT in my main audio rack, so I sit at a distance and need the remotes!
Despite the flaws and quirks I've decided to keep the amp just because it sounds so darn good (and with restock/shipping fees, it would cost over $250 to return it).
So, 5 stars for sound quality. Less for the rest.

This amp produces effortless gobs of power dead silently. The GT is beautifully designed and has been a joy to listen with. I use probably the most difficult to drive headphones (HE6se) and my pot sits around 40 on high gain (quieter recordings can bring the pot into the 70s… but headroom remains). The volume knob is beautifully knurled and operates almost frictionlessly (albeit, it can be too sensitive and slight adjustments can initially be difficult). However, the use of the remote solves this issue entirely. The active cooling allows for all the components to operate at its optimal temp while keeping the form factor small. It is not audible when just placing headphones on your head without music playing. This amp allows my headphone setup to be completely balanced and dual mono from DAC (Pontus II) to headphones.

The subwoofer out is a fun feature. I have connected a sub to it and the additional thump takes the experience out of your head more and makes it a more full-bodied experience. I have enjoyed using the crossfeed in the low setting, especially in live recording where many instruments are often focused more on one channel.

In all, this is a perfect amp for my use. I cannot imagine needing an upgrade for a very long time. I have not rolled op amps and don’t envision myself going down that road fearing I will just be tinkering and not enjoy the difference as much as stock.

I bought the Burson Soloist 3X Grand Tourer after I added the Meze Elites to my headphone collection; my Lake People G109-P can’t accommodate their balanced XLR connector. It also couldn’t accommodate larger RCA interconnect inputs (such as AudioQuest Water). After reading all the headphone amp threads on Head-Fi.org and watching YT video reviews I had a great case of analysis paralysis but took a chance on ordering the 3X GT from Bloom Audio based on recommendations in the threads and help via email.
Andrew at Bloom Audio was very helpful in answering a few questions; I was surprised that the Burson packup still included the 24V 5A Super Charger and the Cool Stand at no extra charge.
Unboxing was a pleasure. The Burson Soloist 3X GT came securely packaged and it includes test op-amps and all sorts of other items to assist in set up and connecting the unit. It’s a compact, heavy-for-its-size unit and it feels and looks beautifully constructed. Connecting it in my system took about two minutes; it’s sitting on my desktop instead of in the rack next to my desk.
Although I have been burning it in for four days, I have been listening critically right from the start. First listen proved I was going to love the 3X GT; it’s revealing, smooth, and powerful. Thought I heard a bit of brightness right out of the box but that’s gone; replacing it is an airy, extended high end. Bass is very well-controlled, and this thing plays deep. Mids are not polite nor are they forward; they are just right where they should be. Vocals, solo instruments such as piano and guitar, and simple or complex music—it all sounds so very good! What really surprised me is the soundstage information; wide and deep but even revealing a bit of height information when present in the recording. Imaging is superb.
I have been using all sorts of headphones since the early days of the Koss Pro-4AA (and the Red Devil) but I have never heard anything this good before.
Last thoughts:
• Only once have I heard the fan, and that was when playing the MoFi vinyl of Al Stewart’s “Year of the Cat”. The piano begins the song in the left channel only and at a very low volume…and that’s when I heard the fan. Not very loud, though, and since the sound is a lower frequency it doesn’t intrude.
• The volume control gives precise increments, and it feels very substantial.
• The top of the case never gets anywhere near uncomfortably warm. Not an issue.
Glad I bought it; it’s a keeper!

I bought the Burson Soloist GT as an upgrade from my Burson Soloist 3X Performance. The improvement in performance was obvious from the first time I used the GT, with improved transparency, detail and imaging, with any headphone I tried. This is by far the best headphone amp I have used, with plenty of power for any headphone. I tried a Hifiman Susvara with this amp and only needed medium gain. I have the GT placed at arm's length and never notice the sound of the fan when playing music. A rather unique feature of this amp is its support for use of a subwoofer. I have a subwoofer connected and this is a great feature, allowing one to feel the bass, as well as hear it through the ears. Other headphone amps I have used in the past include a Headamp GSX-mini, Singxer SA-1, and a Topping A90. None of these approach the performance of the Burson Soloist GT.