I was talking with a friend earlier this week and he told me he will likely purchase a Burson 160D for his second system. He needs a DAC and a little more gain in his system. Apparently there has been a professional review of the Burson 160D and the reviewer gave it outstanding marks as a DAC and as a headphone amp.
Do any of you guys have any experience with the Burson 160D? I am not in the market but would be interested in your comments.
Ken
This review Ken.... (http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/burson5/1.html) ?
I've had one here for a little over a week.
Very smooth, very musical, and generally non-fatiguing would be the best way I could describe my initial impressions of this unit.
The trade-off here, in my opinion, is that there is a slight lack of dynamic 'heft' and energy...as opposed to my Metric Halo DAC, which sometimes has the kind of 'slam' that will give you a headache. ](*,)
If some additional break-in time can bring out a bit more presence and weight out of this DAC, I'd say we have quite a bargain here.
So far I prefer using the Burson without my preamp, BTW. Your mileage may most certainly vary.
I'm the friend, so thanks for posting this Ken.
I've just seen that Burson are bringing out a dedicated DAC/Buffer in the next few weeks, based on the 160D - so this will be the one for my second system.
Hey Ken - we've "touched bases" before via Computer Audiophile. I was in the initial "study" phase of my Great DAC Search and emailed you regarding some remarks you had posted, you were nice enough to respond.
Anywho, I do not own the Burson HA-160D but have read the 6moons review I believe you were referencing and have read quite a few postings, primarily on Head-Fi about the Burson. I'm wrapping up assembly of a new speaker-based system but intend to transition into assembling a secondary headphone-based system for "critical" listening, in a manner that will free me from the cruel bondage of crappy room acoustics.
The Burson, while certainly offering much in the way of features at a "reasonable" price, hasn't made it to MY list of candidates. I was more than a little putt-off by reports of operational issues, at least in the early run of production - difficulties with computer recognition of the Burson via USB, gain that ramped up too quickly, and some noise/hum issues scattered amongst a number of unrelated posts. I would suspect that Burson has been proactive in addressing these sorts of problems and the units currently available for purchase may be impeccable, but I moved on to the Centrance DACmini as my prime candidate for a USB DAC / HP amp / preamp combination.
http://www.centrance.com/products/dacmini/
It's more affordable at $795, is suitably compact for my application, is at least designed here in the U.S.of A., and best of all for me, is getting positive feedback as a good match for the Audeze LCD-2 orthodynamic headphones I intend to acquire. Anyway, best of luck - String (Maldeguerre at CA)