[FEB2March]

Hi Guys,

I am a happy owner of the Burson Buffer http://www.bursonaudio.com/Burson_Audio_Buffer.htm

I open it up and see the four green Sanyo caps. (see picture below)

Has anyone experiment with other brand in here? (Blackgate, ELna or Panasonic...)

PS: What about resistors? I know, the stock unit comes with DALE ..... alternative?

Andrew

[shep]

easy as pie! Panasonics are very good (in my Trends t-10) and not pricey. Caddock mk132 are supposed to be the second best resistors (after Shinko) and are going in my new T amp. Looks like a fairly simple swap (if you have a steady hand with the iron)

[navi]

Try Nichicon Caps- if you can't get your hands on Blackgates- I always try and use blackgates as they've always been very reliable with great sonics

Ivan

[FEB2March]

Hi Ivan & Shep,

thank you guys. do you think bypassing those two cap will bring any benefit?   

[navi]

when you say "bypass" do you mean removing the caps completely? if so, I wouldn't do that

[FEB2March]

I mean a small value cap parallel to the two main caps.

[shep]

If you really want to get into this, I suggest you go where the hard-core diy'ers hang out http://www.diyaudio.com/. You'll have to register but you will not regret it! If there isn't a thread about just this question and the Burson in general, you have only to ask.
Someone will answer you and steer you right. Be warned though;  once you go down this road there's no turning back  aa

[ctviggen]

I am not sure I understand the theory behind this device.  Is its main advantage that it lowers output impedance?  if so, how does that affect the sound?  This is what they say:

"Taking advantage of the transparent sonic signature of our Burson discrete Op-amp, the Burson Audio buffer is able to reduce the output impedance of a typical CD player to a range between 15-30 ohms. That will translate to more micro and macro dynamics; better control at the lower end and effortless at the top. Many who have tried it agreed that the Burson Audio Buffer is an effective upgrade for any digital source."

Exactly how does lowering output impedance cause these effects? 

[zybar]

I am not sure I understand the theory behind this device.  Is its main advantage that it lowers output impedance?  if so, how does that affect the sound?  This is what they say:

"Taking advantage of the transparent sonic signature of our Burson discrete Op-amp, the Burson Audio buffer is able to reduce the output impedance of a typical CD player to a range between 15-30 ohms. That will translate to more micro and macro dynamics; better control at the lower end and effortless at the top. Many who have tried it agreed that the Burson Audio Buffer is an effective upgrade for any digital source."

Exactly how does lowering output impedance cause these effects? 

Not sure how it does it, but it definitely improved the sound of my system when it (a Bolder Cable modified Burson Buffer) was inserted.  One of the few times adding more into the chain produced a better result.

George

[FEB2March]

If you really want to get into this, I suggest you go where the hard-core diy'ers hang out http://www.diyaudio.com/. You'll have to register but you will not regret it! If there isn't a thread about just this question and the Burson in general, you have only to ask.
Someone will answer you and steer you right. Be warned though;  once you go down this road there's no turning back  aa

Thanks Shed,

I was intrigued by this Blog: ( http://modhifi.blogspot.com/ ) in relation to the "Bypass Cap". I will certainly try out some Blackgate as suggested.

Not sure how it does it, but it definitely improved the sound of my system when it (a Bolder Cable modified Burson Buffer) was inserted.  One of the few times adding more into the chain produced a better result.

George

Yeah, agreed George. (Hey, what cap is in your Mod Burson Buffer?)

Let me see if I can get better sound out from this little "Black Box" by trying out some caps...

[daz_bike]

Andrew,

I have a burson buffer output stage.  I too would be keen to look at changing the Sanyo caps.

Not sure what with either  , so if you get some results on other forums please post.

Cheers

[FEB2March]

Hi daz_bike,

I am going over to my friend's house this weekend.  He has some BlackGate, Panasonic and Nichicon Muse which he highly recommended. I will post my finding this weekend. 

[navi]

I mean a small value cap parallel to the two main caps.

I've tried this tweak on a CD player with low value auricaps- made this sound smooth by rolling off the highs slightly along with Rolling -off the bass- .....killed dynamics.

[Wayne1]

The Buffer that Zybar auditioned was not modded.

It was a slightly older one that used all ELNA caps in the power supply sections.

The current versions of the Burson Buffer now shipping still use ELNA caps in the AC smoothing section of the power supply board. They have switched to Sanyo as reservoir caps in the PS board and in the PS section on the actual Buffer Boards.

Different caps in the power supply section may give a slightly different sound. BTW, Burson Buffer is direct coupled so there will not be the major difference in sound that can happen when you change signal coupling caps.

The most difficult thing in this sort of mod is to make sure you find a cap of equal or slightly larger value and voltage rating THAT WILL STILL FIT THE BOARD. You do not want to have the caps raised up off the board. You do not want to use a lower voltage rating for safeties sake.

Black Gates, Nichicon Muse, and Panasonic FM series are all very good caps. They all do sound quite a bit different even when used in the same circuit. The only way to find out if it will "work" for you is to very carefully install them and let them play for a few weeks. Then you can compare them to a stock unit to see if you like the change.

Bypass caps (small value caps added in parallel to the main cap) can also change the sound of a power supply circuit. This will also depend on the value of the caps and the composition of the cap. The only way to know for sure is to try it out with a variety of caps, wait a few weeks and then compare.

There really is no easy way to know for sure if a cap change will benefit a particular circuit without trying it yourself. Comments about other circuits have no relevance to your unit.

With all that said, I have achieved a different sound by changing the PS caps and adding bypass caps to the Burson Buffer. I have had a prototype running in my office system for close to a month. I hope to be getting some prototype chassis within the next week to transplant the circuit boards into. Then I will build up a full modded Buffer with high quality connectors and wiring. When all that gets broken in, I will send it out to Zybar for his comments.

bprice2 has a Burson Buffer with the Sanyo caps. I have arranged for him to audition my older Buffer with ELNA caps. Hopefully he comment on any differences he may hear between the two units.

When I complete the "modded" Buffer, I hope to be able to compare it to a "stock" Buffer with ELNAs here in CO.

[bprice2]

bprice2 has a Burson Buffer with the Sanyo caps. I have arranged for him to audition my older Buffer with ELNA caps. Hopefully he comment on any differences he may hear between the two units.

The buffer arrived at my doorstep yesterday afternoon.  I just started listening to it.  I'll get back to y'all in the next day or two.  Where?  Here?

[bprice2]

I had a chance to better evaluate the Burson Buffer.  I've jotted down my thoughts here:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=40251.new#new

[FEB2March]

The cap test took a little longer than what I expected. A few hours of burn in between each test... But overall it is a good experience for me.

I must stress here that my finding is base on my system and my personal impression (15" open baffle speaker with a NAD amp) by no mean it is the most subjective result.

BlackGate
The good old BlackGate is one of the preferred caps in my set up. Compares to the standard Sanyo it adds a little more control over the bass region and a tag warmer in the mid.

Panasonic
Panasonic cap has the best treble amount the three. It has a lively sound compares the Blackgate however the more close in soundstage is real draw back.

Nichicon Muse
Nichicon Muse is one of those caps that add a bit of sugar to the sound. It offers the sweetest high in the expense of definition. If you like very sweet violin, sweet vocal or sweet jazz this may be the one but. it may lead to sugar over dose.

Having saying all that I must stress all these differences are rather minor. I think it is inline with what Wayne said because the buffer is directly coupled so the effect of cap change is no so obvious.

Good night
Andrew

[daz_bike]

Andrew,

Thanks for your findings.  Were the Caps burnt in at all.  However I do subscribe to what you said about the subtle effect due to the circuit design.

I think working on the PS Caps, internal wiring and RCA plugs could be where significant performance gains can be made.

Cheers