audioFi.net Hi-fi news, reviews and rants
  • Reviews
    • Amplifiers
    • Digital Players/Streamers
    • Digital Processors
    • Loudspeakers
    • Accessories
    • Preamplifiers, phono stages
    • Systems
    • Turntables, cartridges
    • Headphones, headfi, desktop
  • News
  • Rants ‘n Raves
  • Hot Picks
    • Amplifiers
    • Loudspeakers
    • Preamplifiers
    • Systems
    • Turntables, cartridges, etc
  • What’s Up
  • About us
  • Home
  • News
  • Burson’s SL headamp/DAC, Timekeeper amp for desktop denizens

Burson’s SL headamp/DAC, Timekeeper amp for desktop denizens

September 21, 2013 Written by Editor

AUDIOPHILES gravitating towards using a computer as the heart of their music system certainly have no dearth of options now. And they don’t have to worry about space – related components are designed to fit into the tight confines of a desktop.

Here’s a slew of desktop products to whet their appetite – from Burson Audio, based in Melbourne, Australia, comes the Conductor SL 9018 headphone amp/32-bit DAC, Conductor SL 1793 headphone amp/24-bit DAC and Timekeeper stereo/mono power amplifier.

Burson Audio_2

The company, which has been around since the mid-1990s, espouses the “less is more” approach and the new products have been designed ground up for maximum performance and minimum frills.

The SL 9018, which features a fully discrete output stage, operates entirely in Class A and will capably drive most headphones to their full potential. Its two-watt-per-channel rating, into eight ohms, marks it as one of the most powerful head amps in the business.

Among its features are a 21-component symmetrical FET input stage, multiple discrete power supplies and a twin-gain Variable Output Stage (VOS) to optimise output power for a range of headphone specifications.

Burson Audio_3
Burson Audio_4

Its DAC is based on a Sabre ESS9018 32-bit/200kHz chip, while the asynchronous USB input is 24/192 capable – two digital inputs (coaxial and optical) and a single analogue RCA line-level input are provided.

The SL 1793, built on a similar physical blueprint, takes a slightly different route, using instead a FET input stage developed specifically for its PCM1793 DAC chip. The minimalist path it takes compared with conventional designs allows it to realise the full potential of the PCM1793 for greater transparency, claims Burson.

These apart, this headamp/DAC is similarly spec’d as its costlier sibling.

Burson Audio_5

The Timekeeper, meanwhile, is a 80W x 2 amplifier with a custom-built transformer and linear power supply. The fully discrete Class AB design has a proprietary 300VA transformer for seven individually tailored power supplies, feeding a fully symmetrical FET bridge input stage. Using its RCA or single XLR inputs, it can be bridged for 240W, in mono mode. That should be enough power for most desktop systems!

Finished in silver, all three products will be available in October, retailing at (SL9018) £1,199, (SL1793) £969 and (Timekeeper) £1,950.

News
A sermon on the (P) mount… not!
Linn… Exakt-ly as recorded digitally

Categories

  • Recent
  • EarMen ST-Amp… for headamp thrills
    January 26, 2023
  • Review: How the MoFi StudioPhono charms vinyl fans
    January 19, 2023
  • The Naim’s the same for the latest Classic Series
    January 10, 2023
  • HiFiMan Ananda Stealth Magnet headphones – playing fast and lively
    December 29, 2022
  • An all-new S3 from Magico
    December 23, 2022

RSS 440Hz.my – Expanding music horizons

  • Gibson acquires Mesa/Boogie January 7, 2021 The Editor
  • The Pandemic, The Arts, and The Situation October 5, 2020 BRENDAN de CRUZ
  • Martin SC-13E… fret not over the higher notes January 17, 2020 The Editor
  • Sadowsky and Warwick announce licensing deal December 17, 2019 The Editor
  • Roland RP302… your family-friendly digital piano December 2, 2019 Sujesh Pavithran
  • The making of a Taylor guitar – a sustainable and ethical process November 28, 2019 Sujesh Pavithran
  • Godin Acoustic Series… keeping it premium November 18, 2019 Sujesh Pavithran
  • Eugene Lee – bringing ’em back to life November 11, 2019 NR Lohan
  • Fender announces the American Ultra series November 6, 2019 The Editor
  • Penang House of Music – still a mountain to climb October 28, 2019 RSMurthi

evolve theme by Theme4Press  •  Powered by WordPress