New Burson Fun Headphone Class A Amp...Some comparisons...

adydula · « **on:** 1 Mar 2019, 02:16 pm »

I have been directly comparing my Schitt Vahalla 2 with the Burson Audio FUN with a set of HD600 headphones, 300 ohm.
I have always like the Schitt Vahalla 2 amp, but the Burson gives it a run for its money.

Using Al di Meola's Kiss My Axe I use alot in comparion listening or testing...its really apparent as to the differences between the two amp. Both amps are sourced from Foobar2000 into a Schitt Bifrost MB using Schitt's Gen 5 USB interface.

When setting the levels to the same volume its harder to discern the differences at times....get a new amp and plug in and crank up and just by cranking the volume up can make an amp appear to sound just great all by itself...

One of the things that the BUrsom excels at is the calrity or transparency to allow you to hear a song so much better. The FUN has a cleaner sound. the music is unveiled and you can clearly articulate all the stuff in your music, its a fast responding amp. Unlike the Vahalla 2 which "clouds' the entire freq spectrum, the FUN on the other hand presents a cleaner presentation..things sound more clear, open and transparent...when your listening for decay's like when a instrument stops playing for a second you can hear the reverberations as the instrument decays over time....

This clarity and responsiveness help you to hear the actual dynamics in the recording much better that with the tube V2. Its like the Schitt V2 is slower, less clear...almost like too much "tone" control being applied via its circuitry.

First impressions with new gear tends to be OMG this is so good etc...but after a few days its back to well now its kinda of "ok" ...but comparing the FUN with another amp after several days tells me the FUN is more accurate, you can articulate things better, things sound more natural, volins sound like real violins, horns like real horns...its easier to hear how the music was recorded and mic'd...

If you stand by a real snare drum when it whacked real hard, or a rim shot etc...its very alarming and stattcato like, like a gunshot..well wth the FUN and other great amps that respond very fast...they allow you to hear these things like in the real world..with the V2 is still there but its muted, like we turned the tone controls to take the bite out of this sound....

I have really been enjoying this amp....are there better, probably but how much more in cost, and is it really needed to get all that is there from our 16/44 CD's. I have a Bottlehead Mainline as my recent TOTL and its $1000. Its has a slightly different overall presentation, but I could easily live with the litle FUN and be happy, very happy.

Liike all good amps, garbage in garbage out...its easy to pick out music I like but sounds like "crap"...this is why I look for well recorded stuff all the time.

Right now I am listening to Van Morrison, Still on Top, Gloria....OMG its soooo good.....clear, distinct and in your face....

I have several head amps here. only 7 , down from 12+....been thinning the heard and I am slowly going thru them comparing to the FUN Class A design amp. I also will do some op amp swapping to see how this will play with the amp.

If a class A SS amp intrests you take a look at this little gem, Parts Connexion had a sale on these recently for $199 and this was with the Burson V6 Vivid op amps! Its not on their site as a SKU , so wondering if they will do this again...if so its a super good deal.

Alex

Tomy2Tone · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Mar 2019, 02:30 pm »

Have you tried using the Fun as a stand alone preamp in a two channel speaker system? I think their Swing can be used as a preamp as well as a dac but the Fun is currently much cheaper.

I just got the Bang V6 classic amp thanks to Ozarktom allowing me to hear it in my system and I’m pretty impressed. I have very efficient speakers so the 30 watts is all I need but it’s pretty incredible for the size and cost, Parts Connexion has it for $300 right now.

adydula · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Mar 2019, 02:39 pm »

Hello,

No I have not tried to use it as a preamp....but I will in the near future..

I have a set of Salk Songtowers, and use them via a Van Alstine Preamp and Van Alstine Ultravalve amp.

I will try this later this week and let you know how it goes.

I also have a few folks sending me their op amps (discrete designs) to try out as well.

Thats a good price for the Bang for sure...

Alex

adydula · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Mar 2019, 03:05 pm »

Here is a pix of the toys....

Alex

OzarkTom · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Mar 2019, 03:43 pm »

It looks like the Fun is sold out, but the amps are still listed. I replaced my Cherry mono amps with this one.

https://www.partsconnexion.com/burson-audio.html

adydula · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Mar 2019, 09:13 pm »

I have a pair of Sparkos SS3601 Single Discrete Op Amps that should be here mid next week and will test in the Fun.

https://sparkoslabs.com/discrete-op-amps/

Alex

OzarkTom · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Mar 2019, 08:18 pm »

Sale going on today, $199.

https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/fun/

adydula · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Mar 2019, 07:02 pm »

Wow!

This is a great sale!!

I cant say enough good things about this amp!

Everytime I use it I am simply amazed at how good this thing works....

THe clarity and transparency, openess is first class IMO.

I found some SS3601's (Op AMps) from Sparkoslabs in Colorado, swapped out the stock op amps that come with the $299 (now $199) version.

More openess, clarity etc....Been going thru a lot of my music collection and am smilng again.

Usually after a few days with a new piece of gear the newness wears off, its been three + weeks with this FUN amp and its still amazing me each day!

For $199 this is a steal!

Alex

DavidS · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Mar 2019, 02:16 am »

Alex - thanks for heads up on this amp. Looking for a new headphone amp - this amp seems almost too good for the price or is it just great value. I have watched your threads on mainline etc. Thinking the Fun might play with big boys at least til audio nervosa gets me and I have to go spend $3K on an amp to go with my 2K headphones. Keep telling us what you are up to regarding your amps.

OzarkTom · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Mar 2019, 03:37 am »

Quote from: DavidS on 18 Mar 2019, 02:16 am

Alex - thanks for heads up on this amp. Looking for a new headphone amp - this amp seems almost too good for the price or is it just great value. I have watched your threads on mainline etc. Thinking the Fun might play with big boys at least til audio nervosa gets me and I have to go spend $3K on an amp to go with my 2K headphones. Keep telling us what you are up to regarding your amps.

The Burson Bang amp will play with the Big Boys.

Burson offers a 30 day money back if not happy.

adydula · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Mar 2019, 12:44 pm »

David,

The FUN is worth every penny of the $199! I cant even DIY one like this for this price.

The op amps in the lower price version are really good...sound or should I say doesnt sound....lol

With the Mainline or Crack and the Vahalla 2...you have to wait for the tubes to warm up and settle down etc...with the FUN its instant on for a few seconds and your good to go!

I went back yesterday and re-listened to all my older Joni Mitchell recordings....I like her songs but had a hard time with these recordings, they are so shrill etc...but this amp always me to listen and hear these recordings in a different way. Hard to describe, the recordings are still "shrill" but now they are so clear, I can here all the stuff in the background, how they were recorded, studio sounds etc...

...and with really good recordings they are indeed very well presented.

I wish I had a Schitt Magni 3 to compare with, but for $100 more you can change out op amps etc and experiment if your thats to your liking....

I am hoping that Burson isnt ending this little amp with this price "sale"....this amp can indeed play with the "big" boys..

Alex

OzarkTom · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Mar 2019, 01:34 pm »

The Play is also on sale for $199 and it includes digital readout and a DAC.

https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/play/

adydula · « **Reply #12 on:** 19 Mar 2019, 12:19 am »

Just received a pair of Burson V6 Classic op amps and have listened for a few hours...first impression is they are very good....better than the stock op amps and as good as or better than the SS3601's. Uncanny three dimensional soundstage...the depth of the sound stage or image is spectacular.

Not only can i hear the spread of the band, orchestra etc, but the front to back in recordings are very neat!

Burson has these discrete op amps down, they have been doing this kind of design for 12 years from what I read...

Alex

OzarkTom · « **Reply #13 on:** 19 Mar 2019, 12:39 am »

Quote from: adydula on 19 Mar 2019, 12:19 am

Just received a pair of Burson V6 Classic op amps and have listened for a few hours...first impression is they are very good....better than the stock op amps and as good as or better than the SS3601's. Uncanny three dimensional soundstage...the depth of the sound stage or image is spectacular.

Not only can i hear the spread of the band, orchestra etc, but the front to back in recordings are very neat!

Burson has these discrete op amps down, they have been doing this kind of design for 12 years from what I read...

Alex

Someone else on AC said the Burson was better than the Sparkolabs. The V6 Classic is what I am using in the Bang amp. Extremely good.

DavidS · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 Mar 2019, 01:43 am »

what headphones are you guys using with your burson amps? What seems to work best?

by the way purchased one of the Fun amps on the weekend with classic op amps - to go with LCD3s so will be interesting to see how that match works.

adydula · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Mar 2019, 01:24 pm »

I use HD 600's...a great paring with the FUN and Classics..IMO...
I also use Beyer 1350's, T90 and T1R2 and Audio Technica MSR7's, M50's all play well its just name you sound signature..
With the HD600s is a light sabre articulation, clear, clean, crisp etc..

LeAnn Rimes and Diana Krall are mind blowing nice...

I think the Sparkos are better than the original 5534d's but the Classics are sounding in a different way, better? Maybe but its hard to tell at times.

I am going to to listen to the Classics for a solid week then switch to the Sparkos.....and see what stands out to me.

I see this am the $199 sale is gone....gosh that was a great deal!
(for the FUN..the Play is still at the lower price).

Alex

NOTE: Just switched to the T1's, playing Sarah McLachlans Fumbling Towards Ecstasy and "Ice Cream"...listening to the tone of the metallic hits of the cymbols etc...just great.

rmcdennis2201 · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 Mar 2019, 10:29 pm »

Hi Alex,

I finally got on the site! Yahoo!!

Thanks for the Burson FUN loaner, it was nice to use it and experience it with my stuff. I plan on putting together a review of sorts with my impressions of it.

The op amps were neat to plug and play....I really like those Sparkos ones, the SS3601's, really worked well with my headphones...

Ron

adydula · « **Reply #17 on:** 21 Mar 2019, 03:11 am »

Hey Ron...

Glad you got activated and can start posting etc...

Please let us know how you liked the FUN amp!

Alex

rmcdennis2201 · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 Mar 2019, 11:16 pm »

I posted in the Critics Circle my "review" or experience.

Thinking hard on getting the HD600's, they worked so well with the amp...

Ron

adydula · « **Reply #19 on:** 6 May 2019, 08:52 pm »

I have a set of Burson V6 Vivid op amps coming this month and will compare to Bursons Classics, and the sparkos 3601's..

Alex