Burson Conductor 3 Performance | Headphone Amp, DAC, and Preamp

Get the Sound You Want and the Power You Need with the Burson Conductor 3 Performance

Desktop DAC, Pre-Amp, and Headphone Amplifier
SABRE ESS9038Q2M DAC and customized USB driver for low latency, bit-perfect playback
Includes V6 Vivid discrete opamps, "rolling-ready" for tailored sound
Check out Burson's new V7 OpAmps for improved performance
Qualcomm Bluetooth 5.0 receiver with 24bit/96khz playback
ROON tested and ready






Bloom's Take
The Burson Conductor 3 Performance is a great DAC/Amp in its own right, with clear, accurate output and huge soundstage. It also happens to be a great choice if you’re familiar with the Burson Conductor line, and want the Conductor 3 sound at a lower price point and with a smaller footprint.




From Burson
Some DAC/Amps claim to give you the front row experience in exchange for less soundstage. Others promise a 3D soundstage in trade for fewer details. The Conductor 3 Performance simply gives you everything in the recording without sugar-coating the good and sometimes ugly. You can locate a tapping foot on the stage while enjoying that lingering vibration of air after a keystroke.
Advanced Digital
The Conductor uses the SABRE ESS9038Q2M DAC and XMOS USB receiver chips, the most advanced and expensive in the industry. Its customized USB driver by German manufacturer Thesycon ensures low latency, bit-perfect, accurate DSD512 and 38bit/786khz audio playback.
Featuring Qualcomm's CSR8675 Bluetooth 5.0 receiver at 24bit/96khz playback with aptX HD audio codec, it pushes sound quality to the highest level with easy connectivity.
The Power Supply
The Conductor features the same Max Current Power Supply (MCPS) that has made the Conductor Reference legendary. A technology developed, owned, and used exclusively by Burson, the MCPS raises voltage frequency from 50Hz to 170kHz, pushing noise beyond human hearing while overcoming the disadvantages of both linear and conventional switching power supplies for incredible, dynamic micro-detail.
The Cool Case
Burson aims to tame typical, Class-A amps from heat-fin "monsters" into elegant, desktop-friendly amps using their Cool Case. Made from high-density aluminum, the Cool Case is a unified heat-sink keeping the Conductor cool and optimal. Critics such as 'Headfonics' called it “the new standard” in the audio industry. Having a footprint 30% less than the Conductor Reference and volume similar to a lunch box, it is beautiful but non-obstructive.

Opamp Rolling Fun
The Conductor Performance comes with Burson V6 Vivid discrete opamps, but don’t let that limit your listening experience. The Conductor encourages opamp "rolling" with gold plated DIP8 sockets along its signal path. With hundreds of audio opamps out there, enjoy the flexibility of tailoring your listening experience to your preference.
The Sound
While the Conductor Reference is like Hugh Jackman in 'Kate and Leopold,' the Conductor Performance is the shredded Wolverine: it’s still him but stripped down! Power and the ability to control will be overwhelming as it energizes every note and in-between spaces bringing accuracy and micro-detail. The C3 Performance is for the perfectionist who works hard but plays even harder.
Specifications
Measurement


Input impedance: 39 K Ω

Frequency response: ± 1 dB 0 – 58Khz

THD: <0.0015%

Output impedance (Headphone Amp): 0.5Ω

Output impedance (Pre Out / DAC Out): 1Ω / 25Ω

Conductor 3P General Info


Inputs: USB, Optical Toslink, BT 5.0, microphone

Outputs: (x1) RCA Pre Amp, (x1) RCA Line Level DAC, (x1) 6.3mm Headphone

Head Amp: 6W SE PC

Power Supply: (x3) MCPS

Weight: 6.6 lb (3 kg)

Dimensions: 7.9” x 9.8” x 2.4” (200mm x 250mm x 60mm)

DAC Spec


DAC: (x1) Sabre ESS9038Q2M

Channel Separation: 142 dB @ 1KHz, 135 dB @ 20KHz

THD+N: 0.0005% @ 1KHz, 0dBFS

COAX & Toslink / SPDIF: up to 24bit 192K

Bluetooth Input: Bluetooth 5.0 aptX HD (Qualcomm CSR8675)

Asynchronous Isochronous USB Spec


Desktop OS: Windows XP, 7, 8, 10 | Mac OSX

Mobile OS: iOS, Android (OTG support)

PCM Support: PCM ≤ 768kHz @ 16, 24 or 32bits

Native DSD: Native DSD 64 / 128 / 256 / 512

DSD over PCM: DoP64 / DoP128 / DoP256/Dop512

Impedance (Headphone Jack)


16 Ω: 6W, SNR 96db, 99% Separation

32 Ω: 3W, SNR 98db, 99% Separation

100 Ω: 1W, SNR 95db, 99% Separation

150 Ω: 660mW, SNR 96db, 99% Separation

300 Ω: 330mW, SNR 96db, 99.5% Separation

Conductor 3 Comparison



Model
Retail Price
Dimensions (mm)
DAC(s)
Analog
Power Supply
Others


Conductor 3XR
$2144
255 x 270 x 70
(x2) ESS9038Q2M
7.5Wpc XLR / 3.5Wpc SE
(x5) MCPS
(x2) Analog Inputs


Conductor 3R
$1744
255 x 270 x 70
(x2) ESS9038Q2M
7.5Wpc SE
(x5) MCPS
(x2) Analog Inputs


Conductor 3XP
$1344
200 X 250 X 60
(x1) ESS9038Q2M
6Wpc XLR / 3Wpc SE
(x3) MCPS



Conductor 3P
$1044
200 X 250 X 60
(x1) ESS9038Q2M
4Wpc SE
(x3) MCPS




In the Box

Burson Conductor Unit
IC Opamps for warranty diagnostic use
USB-C to USB-C Cable
OTG Adapter
Remote Control
Hex key
24V Power Supply
Burson Conductor 3 Performance User Manual