Burson Audio Soloist Preamplifier/Headphone Amplifier (Playback 60)

The Soloist Takes A Great Leap Forward

As the song unfolds, Lewis’ vocals are potent and at times verge on microphone saturation, flirting with disaster, but never quite going over the edge. Later, the Honeybears’ terrific horn section joins in and sounds amazingly clean, crisp, pure and rhythmically synced with the rest of the band. But perhaps the coolest part of all is hearing the big, almost impossibly fat-sounding punch of Bill Stevenson’s electric bass guitar as it joins forces with Matthew Strmiska’s drums to bodily propel the song forward with a funky, down’n’dirty lope. I had the joy of listening to this track for the first time through a pair of Sennheiser HD 800—‘phones that have a reputation for being amazingly accurate sounding, yet perhaps also for sounding a little analytical and “uptight.” But when you leave the driving to the Soloist, the flagship Sennheisers lose most of that clinical, overly-tightly-wound quality and just open up and get funky, with a really impressive combination of dynamic energy and abandon coupled with the HD 800’s signature control and clarity. Part of the reason to admire the Soloist is that it has a knack for bringing latent excellence (and musical fluidity) in many headphones out in the open where you can enjoy it. 

CONCLUSION:

Consider this preamp/headphone amp if:

• You appreciated the original Burson HA-160 but wanted something more; the Soloist gives you just that with superior clarity and subtlety, more power, and greater versatility.
• You believe in Burson’s “less is more” design philosophy; as it turns out in this case, using fewer components in the audio signal path really does make for a big jump in transparency and openness.
• You want an amp with plenty of power for hard-to-drive ‘phones.
• You like the idea of a headphone amp that also works as a preamp to serve as the front end of your full-size hi-fi rig.

Look elsewhere if:

• You wanted a headphone amp with balanced inputs and/or outputs.
• You like the concept of a preamp/headphone amp, but want one that comes with a remote control.
• You want a headphone amp that offers more overt definition or apparent clarity; the Soloist provides both of these qualities, but its most obvious strengths are midrange subtlety and three-dimensionality.

Ratings (relative to comparably-priced amps):

• Tonal Balance: 9.5
• Clarity: 9.5 – 10 (midrange clarity is exceptional)
• Dynamics: 10
• Input/Output Flexibility: 10 (switch-selectable master gain settings enable the Soloist to work with a very broad range of headphones; preamp features are cool, too)
• Value: 10

BOTTOM LINE

The Soloist takes substantial steps forward relative to the already very good Burson Audio HA-160, offering better and more refined sound, greater power, superior versatility, and exceptional build-quality, all at the more-than-fair price of $960. For what it is and does, the Soloist is a bargain, and a versatile one at that.

SPECS & PRICING

Burson Audio Soloist Preamp/Headphone Amp
Accessories: Power cable, RCA stereo input cable, user manual.
Inputs: Three single-ended stereo analog inputs (via RCA jacks).
Outputs: One variable-level stereo analog preamp output (via RCA jacks), one ¼-inch headphone jack.
Frequency Response: 0 – 50kHz, ± 1 dB
THD: < 0.03% @ 30 Ohms at 1W output
Power Output: 4W @ 160 Ohms
Dimensions (H x W x D):3.15” x7.09” x 9.84”
Weight: 9.92 lbs.
Warranty: 2 year, parts and labor (requires Burson product registration)
Price: $999

Manufacturer Information
Burson Audio
www.bursonaudio.com