Burson Audio discrete opamps

Burson say "We love music and it’s always been our philosophy to enhance sound quality wherever possible. We’re aware that the only way to overcome the IC opamp problem, is to replace them with a well designed discrete circuitry. "

The second generation of Burson opamp (V2) was developed in collaboration with some of the world’s most passionate musicians, sound engineers and recording artists. This project has taken two years to complete, with an end result reaching beyond our greatest expectations of musical reproduction. It's qualities have been pushed to the very frontier of studio technology. Like a photographer’s latest  favourite lens, it is being utilized by recording artists around the world, to better capture the moments that last for an eternity

We now offer the module with DIP 8 pin connection for plug and play installation. Standard leg length (Burson module to DIP socket) will be 5-6mm approx. Please ask if you require a different length.

Note:- Please allow at least 100 hours burn in for the Burson to fully open up

• Working voltage: +/-12-25v DC
• Current Draw: 25mA (each module)
• THD: Less than 0.001%
• Dimensions: 48mm x 22mm x 12mm (single output) 48mm x 22mm x 24mm (dual output)
• Weight: 28g

- Read the Burson review by Audioxpress

The function of Opamps at the output stage is as important as the lens on a cinema projector.  Regardless of the analytical capability of the audio gear, an inferior opamp will halve a machine’s performance, and distort every dB of sonic imagery.

One question then burns in the minds of such audio enthusiast;

How could the manufacturer’s, with their respectable brand, history, and self proclaimed team of world leading audio scientists not know that a simple opamp switch could lift the performance of their product?  Why wouldn’t they have adopted “that” opamp initially, when their production costs would be increased by only 1%.     

Then comes the incredibly infuriating realisation that the manufacturers would have known this all along!  Unfortunately however, their focus is solely on profit. Even after pricing the machine with a large profit margin, a profit driven manufacturer will never hesitate to continually lower their production cost at the expense of quality sounding music!  Then, after paying a very high price for what is presumably a respectable piece of equipment, a passionate audio enthusiast still has to risk it all by tweaking their machine with a soldiering iron.

For fellow audio enthusiasts, there inevitably comes a time to explore opamp upgrades for their equipment.  After hopping from forum to forum, and checking every pricelist, it’s all too easy to become confused with the subsequent findings. That humble pair of IC opamps in their machine is worth less than a can of coca-cola. Replacing them with another pair of IC opamps, worth a little less than a McDonalds burger will noticeably improve the overall performance of their mega dollar machines.

ICs are cheap and sticking an IC opamp onto a PCB simplifies the entire design, assembly and quality control process. However,  IC opamps have countless faults that make them unsuitable for audio application. Below are just some of them.

• IC Opamps are not designed with a focus on Audio.
• IC opamps are highly inconsistent in quality:
• IC opamps are poorly conducted and degrades musical signal at all level
• IC opamps suffer from EMI noise

It is easy to find out if the Discrete Op-amp will work for you. Just open up your CD player or DAC and locate the analog RCA output (where you plug your interconnection cable). You should see one pair or more of the standard Opamps.

Take down the model number and compare it to our list.  If you find your Opamp on the list, then the Burson Discrete Op-amp will work for you!  

Direct Replacement for the following Opamps

Dual Op-amps

AD712, AD827, C4570, JRC4580, JRC5532, JRC5532D, JRC5534, LF353, LM833N, NE5532, NEC4520, NEC4570, NJM2068D, NJM2114, NJM2214D, NJM4558, NJM4558D, NJM4560, NJM5532, NJM4558P, OP275, OPA2132, OPA2134, OPA2604, RC4558D, RC4558P, TL052, TL072

How to install the Discrete Op-amp?

1. Record the direction of the IC-opamp.  (where the half moon chip is pointing)
2. De-solder the existing Op-amps and replace them with the Burson opamp (same direction).
3. 100 hours of burn-in, then enjoy the music!