Burson Soloist
Having spent mush time with
highly regarded and awarded Burson HA-160 D, it was interesting to meet the new
family breed called Soloist. Soloist arrived just few weeks back to Mono &
Stereo headquarters.
New brand?
Burson Audio since last
informal meeting stripped down the company name to Burson only. Guys from down
under already made they mark upon the audio world and went with their
straightforward “head” name. No complaints. It acts even more standout and
“raw” positively self-assuring.
What would make Burson so
self-assured? Their approach to the inner detail and the way they stepped out
of the crowed already with they products so far and the way the crowded the
market. And nonetheless quality…
The visual impact
New enclosure doesn't differ
that much from previous one. Resonance free full sold aluminum, that acts bots
as heat dispatcher and as absorber of all resonances. One thing you’ll notice
at once is above mentioned shortened company name. Burson stand now loud and
proud without the additional audio name and in the absence of circle around the
logo. It looks much better and well versed. With the addition of second row of
input gain switch, everything seem to breath more balanced giving the Soloist
costlier and more prominent looks. Love the outcome.
The change
Burson already made all the
difference with their custom made op-amps. You can find my positive remarks
here about their approach and sound. For Soloist Burson team went even further.
They wanted to build on their successful implementation and benefit in what its
most important to us; on the sound. They managed to bring down their input circuit
to only 21 parts. That is quite a substantial change. I’ll report on the sound
later on, but at least on the theoretical side this already promising a
noticeable difference. We all know how every element in signal path can change
things. In theory we could say for bad or good, but in audio usually more part
translate to worst.
When “throwing” out any
unnecessary element in the signal path there is no other way to determine the
final outcome, but to take the long hard path of listening. It’s not that less
is more always. Even good old Einstein said (to paraphrase), that things should
be simple, but not simpler. We’ve seen over the years how many companies tried
to use that logic and philosophy just to drag the market attention. At the end
they even wanted to charge ridiculous prices for something that actually didn't
even give out 10% of what usual classical design did. In this day and age it’s
so easy to put a sticker and price to many brainchild and called them stand out
and unique. Our ways of life are overflowing with the results of such massive
nonsense and consequences are already affecting everything in general. There is
always a place to respect well and greatly build things in general and with the
domestic knowledge and labor under one flag. Congrats to Burson for sticking to
that. So input stage FET with it’s 21 element is one at least three most
important changes in this new machine.
Second change is Soloist IC
free power supply. Like in previous design they put even more efforts into a
lower noise and grain free. Results are in the service of transparency with the
combination of FET and other new refinements.
The third most important
change in new Soloist is gain selector. This clever implementation let you
choose the input gain for preamplifier and set the needed load for different
headphones. Double win situation. In this way Burson is closing the gap of
proper gain matching for any headphone on the market (except electrostatics of
course).
I didn’t expect that gain
selector would also work for the preamplifier section. What a great wit addition.
Now you can successfully match gain of you tube or solid state power amplifier and
further fine-tuned it with the volume knob, which is actually a 24-step
attenuator with chosen 0.1% metal film resistors. I highly enjoyed this
additional feature, but more on that latter on. Let me set the grounds of
preamplification first.
Importance or absence of
preamplifier
In my past few discussion
with some of the leading manufactures and hard-core audiophiles in general,
there were a constant exchange of strong opinions on the importance or even
basic need for the preamplifier. With an increase of DAC’s with onboard
preamplifier function or even digital volume within the computer, there seems
to be a pushed trend of preamplifier non-importance.
It’s ok perhaps for the
budget systems to avoid the preamplifier. And it might even work and it did.
Then again, when it comes to the serious listening and high-end I’m not only
recommending, but urge you to try and hear the difference. It’s true, that
preamp can carry the flavor as any given component, but the role of right gain
powering is essential to the music. Just find the right match that is capable
of all the needed duties.
Burson acknowledge this
within their past product. With the Soloist they’re setting the bar even
higher. Preamplifier role within this device defines Soloist existence as importantly
or even more as it’s headphone section.
The sound change
HA-160D already won my heart
with the analog like character. As I described it was on the warm side of
analog. Very good attributes of naturally sounding system when matched
properly. HA-160D is a great performer in a well-balanced system. With Soloist
Burson team went even further. The change when I first inserted Soloist into to
my system was so instant and recognizable, that it deserves more then just brief
mentioning. HA-160D strong qualities of analog sound was still here, but the
difference was in neutrality and transparency. This excursion or revealing just
opened up Soloist many new doors to the hearts of musician and audiophiles.
Soloist is so much more character less, that will be easily matched with much
more front ends and power amplifiers.
In the preamplifier role
Soloist remarkably sets new grounds for Burson and the class it belongs to
(actually it belong much above). Partnered with my trusty Mactone MH-300B power
amplifier Soloist prolonged my listening hours more then I would ever expected.
Being a high dynamic impact nut-guy I found myself satisfied with the highest
gain on the Soloist preamplifier input switch. For me without the much needed
gain and dynamics, everything can quickly become pale and lifeless with music.
Correct gain matching is one the most important things of any high-end audio
system. I’ve seen and heard many top bucks audio systems, that sounds dull and
more like hi-fi, because they failed to do this basic homework. Do not in any
way overlook this standout feature of Soloist.
There is always a critical
point of voicing the preamplifier between neutrality and dynamic ability. This
is crucial for any audio component to get it right and one of the hardest thing
for any audio designer to accomplished. Burson carved very impressive audio
conjunction between those two parameters. Vladimir Lamm great LL2, that sits as
reference in my system got is spot on. In comparing Burson’s Soloist is closing
the gap of affordable and well versed with it’s performance. This is a class
step up in both performance and value. Very encouraging for audiophile
market.
Neutrality and the absence
of any sound imprint is the ultimate preamplifier quest. On this path there are
many obstacles and one can easily fall into the trap of certain stand out
finding that comes along the R & D. In the final chapter when you need to
connect all the dots and exposed a working product, more then often things
collapsed in the term of sound. Burson final hours seems to been a long ones
with an evident result.
Soloist let the music come
and go through it with little additions. As said, for this price range, they
did something that is more then just worth mentioning. In never-ending battle
of bits and resolution, when we’re finally coming to an age, where digital is
becoming more and more close to analog, we need preamplifiers that act as
neutral as it’s possible. Everything is becoming a revelation when master
tracks are being offered in 24bit 96khz and above.
Burson is making their important
part in this change. It’s great seeing things evolving from companies like
Burson. Such approach brings great audio technology and more important more
musical bliss to the music lovers at large regardless of the labels we
sometimes push so hard to stick on. Soloist is future ready so to speak.
The new FET input stage is
lass fat
As this is an important part
of Soloist feature let me look into it with few words. Standard IC opamp is a
combination of some 50 parts, which like it or not shape the sound of anything
it’s used with. Burson already cut down to 32 components with HA-160 circuit.
Now with the Soloist they managed to bring only 21 components into the input
stage. When you’re using IC opamp you cannot change any part. You’re trapped
with the sound imprint. When going on solo and choose your own discrete
component you’re making the difference.
In their new input stage
with the carefully selected part they also implemented FET – Field Effect
Transistor. In combination with other parts they managed to combine a new
better working circuit. This was not only “a thing can be done” for Burson. The
result is evident and one to congrats. It opens up the windows into to the
music with much more clear day picture. It affects the natural recordings in very
positive way. You can always hear the difference with both studio and live
recordings when substantial changes were made in any audio component and
Soloist wen further with FET with avid sonic results.
With FET Burson is stepping
further in revealing what was producer or sound engineer wish when capturing
the certain musical event. I see the Soloist not only as an audiophile and
music lover preamp, but also as a functional tool for any musician. As already
mentioned the resolution and bits are getting higher and lots of current
production happened in small studios or as it called in the box. With the input
gain settings for both headphone and preamplifier Soloist become a serious tool
for musicians, producers and sound engineers. Barriers are crossed here.
Headamp
HA-160 and HA-160 D already
found many happy homes for head-fi members and cans lovers from all over the
blue-green planet of ours.
Now with the introduction of
three level of gain setting of Variable Output Stage (VOS), soloist is ready to
drive any headphone on the market. Even the planar ones.
With the Sennheiser HD-850
or any given headphones things also changed for greater. Transparency, lower
noise floor and more controlled dynamic are even of more importance with
headphone listening. Every things count. With speakers based system you loose
some of the information due the room anomalies. Headphone listening universe in
so much more intimate and detailed and prone to changes. There is nothing that
even untrained headphone enthusiasts would miss with the casually designed
headphone amplifier. Either you make it right or you don’t. Or… you make it
better and it shows at once.
Sense of space, the depth,
natural decays and timbre. Things are elevated and with much more easiness. I
could sense the finer attacks and more real life rendering of instruments; both
live and studio recorded. Positioning and the blackness of background was also
greater.
Soloist is a logical step up
from HA-160. Let me called it a silent evolution.
Conclusion
With the Burson hard efforts
in making their Soloist evolutional (with some aspects of revolution) they
managed to create a music machine of transparency and neutrality. Cutting down
on unneeded parts in the circuit let them evolve with their findings.
Like with preamplifier,
things went way further that they expected. This is why they created a new
product instead of just “face-lift” the old one.
Saying that Soloist is a
small step up for Burson wouldn’t be fair enough. They could easily sit on the
past glory. Just look round the web how many happy owners they have around the
globe. I’m thrilled to see small companies like Burson pushing the technology
and passion forward for all of us. One can easily spot the company dedication
and urge to do things right and most importantly for me, better sounding
product.
With Soloist you’re not
“trapped” down to built in DAC. The possibilities are endless here. Repeating
again myself; input preamplifier gain will help match your front ends in all
galore. Not only different DAC’s output levels, but often needed gain increase
from analog front ends. MC signals from different phono preamplifiers are more
then often in need of additional gain. Soloist unique feature can assist
nicely. With the increase of vinyl awareness this is an important part of
preamplifier selection when you’re in the need of buying one.
Soloist adds up to the
headphone listening in large way, but even more important, this is a
stand-alone preamplifier that defines a class genre. With its new capabilities and
neutral sound it step up and walk over boldly with as over many preamps priced
much higher.
Burson Soloist is a both
great headphone amplifier and serious preamplifier in a mighty aluminum package
with great tools at hand. A versatile handcrafted machine at more then
reasonable price.
Watch up. These guys from
Burson means business… Great sounding and affordable one!
Mono & Stereo highly
recommended.
Matej Isak Mono and Stereo ultra high end audio magazine All rights reserved, 2012 www.monoandstereo.com