burson audio soloist 3x

The Burson Audio Soloist 3X sits in a crowded mid-to-high price bracket, but it earns its place with a design philosophy that prioritizes discrete circuitry over op-amp shortcuts. We spent several weeks running it through a range of headphones, from 32-ohm dynamics to 300-ohm planars, and the results were consistently worth talking about. This isn't a unit you buy on impulse at $699 USD. It's one you research carefully, and here's what we found.

What the Soloist 3X Actually Is

Burson builds the Soloist 3X as a single-ended Class A headphone amplifier with a preamp output stage. That means you can run it straight into a power amp or active speakers without adding another box to your chain. The output power sits at 4 watts into 16 ohms, which is more than enough headroom for anything short of a HiFiMAN Susvara.

Inside, Burson uses their own discrete op-amp modules called Vivid or Classic V6, depending on which version you order. These replace standard integrated op-amps with multi-transistor discrete stages. In practice, you hear lower noise and a more dynamic presentation compared to chips like the OPA2134.

The Max+ Upgrade Option

Burson offers a Max+ version that swaps in a more powerful output stage rated at 8 watts into 16 ohms. If you run orthodynamic headphones like the Audeze LCD-4 or HiFiMAN Arya regularly, the Max+ version removes any doubt about whether the amp is working too hard. For standard dynamics, the base model handles everything without strain.

Build Quality and Daily Use

The chassis feels dense and well-machined. Burson uses a full aluminum enclosure that runs warm to the touch after 30 minutes of Class A operation, which is completely normal. The volume knob turns with just enough resistance to feel precise without being stiff.

On the front panel, you get a 6.35mm single-ended output and a 4-pin XLR balanced output. There's also a gain switch with three settings: low, medium, and high. We left it on medium for most 250-ohm headphones and dropped to low for anything sensitive enough to pick up hiss at idle.

The remote is a welcome addition at this price. You won't find that on the Schiit Mjolnir 3 or the Lake People G111, and for a unit that doubles as a preamp on a home theater desk, it matters more than you'd expect.

How It Sounds Across Different Headphones

With the Sennheiser HD 800 S, the Soloist 3X delivers a wide, well-layered soundstage that keeps the HD 800 S from sounding clinical. The upper midrange stays controlled without rounding off transients. Strings and piano recording have a texture that cheaper amplifiers tend to flatten into something generic.

On the Audeze LCD-X, the low-end control is where the Soloist 3X earns serious credit. Bass lines stay defined through busy mixes, and there's no sense of the amp losing grip at higher volumes. We pushed it to 85 dB for an extended session with jazz recordings and the presentation stayed composed throughout.

The HiFiMAN Sundara, which scales noticeably with better amplification, opened up considerably compared to running from a dongle DAC. Instrument separation improved, and the slightly lean midrange the Sundara has in budget setups filled in more convincingly. That's not the Soloist 3X adding coloration. It's what happens when a planar gets proper current delivery.

Pairing with a DAC

The Soloist 3X has no built-in DAC, so you'll need a separate source. Burson sells their Conductor 3X Performance, which bundles both functions into one unit, but the standalone Soloist 3X gives you the flexibility to choose your own digital front end.

We ran it from a Topping D90SE over XLR balanced interconnects and the pairing worked cleanly. The Soloist 3X doesn't impose a heavy sonic character of its own, which means the DAC you choose will shape the final result more than you might expect. A warmer DAC like the RME ADI-2 brings the overall tonal balance closer to the middle, while a more analytical converter keeps the presentation leaner.

Budget around $300 to $500 for a competent DAC to pair with this amp. Spending $700 on the Soloist 3X and connecting it to a $50 USB DAC would leave most of that investment unrealized.

Who Should Buy the Soloist 3X

If you own planar magnetic headphones or high-impedance dynamics above 150 ohms, the Soloist 3X delivers measurable and audible performance gains over entry-level amplification. It's a solid long-term investment for anyone building a desktop system that they don't plan to replace in two years.

It's less compelling if your collection stays below 80 ohms and you mostly use IEMs. Sensitive in-ears will pick up a faint noise floor on high gain, and the power reserves go mostly unused on efficient headphones. A smaller Class A unit from Burson's own lineup would serve that use case better without the added cost.

For the creator who records, mixes, and listens critically in the same session, the preamp output means you can route the Soloist 3X into monitor speakers as well. That dual-purpose function adds real value when you're working in a space-constrained studio setup.