Burson Audio Conductor 3X Reference Headphone Amp / XLR DAC / Preamp

The Best XLR DAC / Headphone Amp / Preamp

The Conductor 3X is for those who go all the way.  Fully balanced with one DAC chip per channel.  Pure Class-A and fully discrete with top quality components throughout, including Neutrik XLR connectors, the C3X is the perfect command center for any XLR audio systems.

The C3X achieves an even lower signal-to-noise ratio, revealing amazing microdynamics, the stuff that makes music magical.  Furthermore, by going fully balanced, the C3X achieves ultra-low output impedance, making it the perfect preamp for any power amplifier.

Its balanced headphone output delivers 7.5W per channel while its half-the-power single-ended output is still powerful enough to drive any headphones with ease.

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

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, analogue left and analogue 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

Through a quieter, darker background, microdynamics propels forward by the sheer energy of the Conductor 3X.  It lets you dive even deeper into the miracle we called music.

When listening to Sinner’s Prayer by Ray Charles and B.B. King.    Ray’s authentic vocal dramatics, frail yet still capable of true emotion and flashes of fire like a dimming star mixing with King’s stinging guitar and barking vocals  Two partners in soul and titans of music, trying to top each other, ripping the joint apart and put it back together again, competitive yet completely in tune and sharing their love for music.  A perfect balance of soul, love and heart displaying in full glory.

Measurement		Package Content
Input impedance:	40 KOhms	Conductor V3X Ref. Model # R180X	USB Cable
Frequency response:	± 1 dB 0 – 58Khz	Remote Control	Warranty Card
THD:	<0.0015%	Power Cable	24V Power Unit
Output impedance (Headphone Amp):	0.5 Ohm
Output impedance (Pre Out / DAC Out):	1 Ohm / 25 Ohm
		General
Inputs:	2 x XLR line-level input, USB, Optical Toslink, BlueTooth 5.0, microphone	Weight:	app. 5 kg
Outputs:	1 x XLR Pre Amp, 1 X Line Level DAC Out, 1 x 6.3mm & 1 x XLR Headphone Jack	Dimensions:	255mm x 270mm x 70mm

 

Impedance (Headphone Jack)	Power XLR / SE	Signal to Noise Ratio	Separation
16 Ohm	7.5 / 3.75W	96db	99%
32 Ohm	5 / 2.5W	98db	99%
100 Ohm	1.75 / 0.88W	95db	99%
150 Ohm	1.16 0.58W	96db	99%
300 Ohm	0.58 / 0.3W	96db	99.5%