Head-fi innovators: Burson Audio’s new Stellar headphone amp, pre-amp and DAC series will make your headphones and IEMs sing

Australian-based head-fi innovators,Burson Audio, introduces its new Stellar Series of compact Class-A desktop components. Composed of the Conductor Stellar, a high resolution, DAC, Class-A headphone and desktop preamp in one, and the Soloist Stellar, that focuses purely on headphone amplification and preamp duties, this duo is designed to maximise the sonic potential of high-end In-ear monitors (IEMs).

Coming to the UK (Standard Edition) and sitting between the company’s entry-level Party Playmate 3 and the Grand Tourer range, the Stellar duo embodies the essence of the flagship Voyager Series – Class-A muscle, discrete circuitry, and the unmistakable Burson house sound – in more compact, more accessible designs.

A New Benchmark for IEM Listening

A growing area of today’s high-end headphone market is made up of IEM users. The Stellar Series is designed to let listeners finally hear the full potential of their favourite IEMs, delivering high-levels of detail and dynamics.

Although built to effortlessly power any type of headphone – from delicate IEMs to demanding planar magnetic models – the Stellar pair feature a dedicated ultra-low-noise IEM amplification stage to provide pure, hiss-free background, even with high-sensitivity IEMs, and reveal exceptional micro-detail and realism.

Headphone connection options include an 8W balanced and 3W single-ended, alongside a 1W IEM balanced and 5000mW IEM single-ended.

Class-A authority

Both models pack 8 Watts of effortless, full-discreet Class-A architecture and power, designed to deliver outstanding resolution, dynamic contrast, and clarity. At its core, each channel is powered by four Onsemi MJE15032 transistors. Optimised for high Class-A bias, they bring out the control and musicality that define the Burson house sound.

With exceptional output current and linearity, the Stellar maintains perfect control across all headphones, from the power hungry to sensitive models, bringing out their full potential with effortless authority and refinement.

Backed by Burson’s Max Current Power Supply, it has zero background noise, ensuring pristine playback at any volume.

Silent cooling

A spacecraft-inspired enclosure features precision-shaped fins and vents to optimise heat dissipation. This efficient design ensures reliable and stable Class-A operation to minimise noise, heat stress and distortion at all power levels, even during long listening sessions at high bias.

Conductor Stellar exclusive features

The Conductor Stellar features the flagship ESS9039PRO DAC, delivering exceptional resolution and dynamic range. While it offers 24 filters and path settings, each one has been carefully selected to match our analogue output stage, resulting in a sound that’s effortlessly natural and dynamic.

The Conductor Stellar is built to connect with everything in your audio chain. The USB-C XMOS Input streams native DSD512 and 32-bit/768kHz PCM with supreme clarity and precision. Wireless connectivity comes via Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm CSR8675, with supports for LDAC, aptX HD, and AAC, streaming high-res audio wirelessly at up to 24-bit/96kHz. It also seamlessly integrates into any Roon Ready setup for bit-perfect playback.

Soloist Stellar exclusive features

The Soloist model features independent channel-balance controls for headphones and speakers, while also correcting for room asymmetry and natural hearing differences.

Burson Audio Conductor Stellar Standard Edition is available now from Peter Tyson and select independent UK retailers, priced £2,000.

Burson Audio Soloist Stellar Standard Edition is available now from Peter Tyson and select independent UK retailers, priced £1,700.

Upgraded version are available through special order.

For more information on the Stellar and other Burson Audio products, please visit www.bursonaudio.com

International SRP pricing:

Conductor Stellar (Standard edition): €1900 / $1800 USD / $2800 AUS
Soloist Stellar (Standard edition): €1600 / $1500 USD / $2600 AUS

Technical Specifications

Burson Audio Conductor Stellar Headphone Amplifier & DAC Specifications
Input Impedance	40 kΩ
Frequency Response	±1 dB (0 – 55 kHz)
THD	<0.0015%
Output Impedance (Headphone Amp)	0.5 Ω
Output Impedance (Pre Out)	1 Ω / 20 Ω
Inputs	1 × XLR, 1 × RCA, 1 × Mic Bypass (Gaming Headphones)
Outputs	1 × XLR Pre Out, 1 × RCA Pre Out, 1 × RCA Subwoofer Mono Output
Headphone Outputs	XLR / 6.35 mm / 3.5 mm
Weight	Approx. 5 kg / 11 lbs
Dimensions	210 × 200 × 75 mm (8.3 × 7.9 × 2.9 in)
Performance Specifications
Channel Separation	143 dB @ 1 kHz, 138 dB @ 20 kHz
THD+N	0.0005% @ 1 kHz, 0 dBFS
Signal-to-Noise Ratio	105 dB High Gain / 120 dB @ IEM Output
Separation	99%

Output Power (Headphone)
Impedance	High Output (XLR / SE)	Medium Output (XLR / SE)	IEM Output (XLR / SE)
16 Ω	8W / 4W	3W / 1.5W	1W / 500mW
32 Ω	5W / 2.5W	1.6W / 800mW	500mW / 250mW
100 Ω	3.5W / 2W	1W / 300mW	250mW / 125mW
150 Ω	1.1W / 520mW	300mW / 170mW	100mW / 60mW
300 Ω	500mW / 260mW	170mW / 85mW	50mW / 30mW

Burson Audio Soloist Stellar Headphone Amplifier Specifications
Input Impedance	40 kΩ
Frequency Response	±1 dB (0 – 55 kHz)
THD	<0.0015%
Output Impedance (Headphone Amp)	0.5 Ω
Output Impedance (Pre Out)	1 Ω / 20 Ω
Inputs	1 × XLR, 1 × RCA, 1 × Mic Bypass (Gaming Headphones)
Outputs	1 × XLR Pre Out, 1 × RCA Pre Out, 1 × RCA Subwoofer Mono Output
Headphone Outputs	XLR / 6.35 mm / 3.5 mm
Weight	Approx. 5 kg / 11 lbs
Dimensions	210 × 200 × 75 mm (8.3 × 7.9 × 2.9 in)
Performance Specifications
Channel Separation	143 dB @ 1 kHz, 138 dB @ 20 kHz
THD+N	0.0005% @ 1 kHz, 0 dBFS
Signal-to-Noise Ratio	105 dB High Gain / 120 dB @ IEM Output
Separation	99%

Output Power (Headphone)
Impedance	High Output (XLR / SE)	Medium Output (XLR / SE)	IEM Output (XLR / SE)
16 Ω	8W / 4W	3W / 1.5W	1W / 500mW
32 Ω	5W / 2.5W	1.6W / 800mW	500mW / 250mW
100 Ω	3.5W / 2W	1W / 300mW	250mW / 125mW
150 Ω	1.1W / 520mW	300mW / 170mW	100mW / 60mW
300 Ω	500mW / 260mW	170mW / 85mW	50mW / 30mW