Burl B2 Bomber DAC Review: Holy Sh**, This is Good

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by purr1n, Jul 14, 2020.

  1. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,268
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I inquired about the OPA upgrade, too.
    They said the OPA8 can be had for $75 per channel.
    Now I need to figure out how to source them.

    Also, I just realized I was doing Dante wrong. It sounds better with the B2 clock set to internal and Dante set to “allow external clock”.
     
  2. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
    If the Burl opamps are socketed like API style ones, it should be easy to swap em out.
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,777
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Many AKM4399 implementations were energetic, strong sharp attacks, aggressive even. The polar opposite to the AKM 4490/93 Velvet Sound, even to the Modius which is the least soft and polite among them. I don't have CV-2 to do a direction comparison, but the Drop x iFi ZEN DAC Signature was very polite and dark compared to the B2.

    (Who was it that I recommended the Modi 2 over the Modi 3 to someone here after he complained of Modi 3 being too Velvety?)

    Energy levels of upper mids and highs of B2 were actually comparable to that of Gungnir A2. Again, some internal warmth with B2, but not an outright warm DAC, at the -12db output setting at least. Tape machine or vintage sound doesn't mean it's going to be rolled or polite!

    The loaner unit just came in. I expect the BOPA1 discrete opamp modules.
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2020
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,777
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Explains the "vintage" sound, at least with the BOPA1.
     
  5. Ruined

    Ruined HD700 ruined my ear holes

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2020
    Likes Received:
    234
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Parts Unknown
    I feel switching power supplies get a bad rap . I bought the Musical Fidelity MX DAC [PCM1795] (then sold and re-bought it) and it has a switching PSU also and sounds excellent. Kind of sad they sold the company to Pro-Ject a couple years back .

    I've only owned one product with "velvet sound" akm4493 and yeah it sounds a bit syrupy to me
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2020
  6. Gungrave

    Gungrave New

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2020
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    miami
    My burl b2 bomber just came in, I don't know if it has the upgraded op amp, but it works, it fixed the Soundstage of my final audio d8000 pro and improved the dynamics, I'll see if I can write a full review soon but I'm enjoying the way my setup sounds now!!
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2020
  7. Baten

    Baten Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,130
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    EU
    Fixed your image link :) so much sweet looking gear.. ha. Nice set-up you've got, there.
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,777
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    The Burl deserves a more prominent place of honor?
     
  9. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,268
    Trophy Points:
    113
    In a rack, far away.
     
  10. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    Likes Received:
    10,831
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    East Coast
    It should be socially distanced from any topping amp by 6 ft or more.

    PS. the same recommendation applied to Modius, too.
     
  11. Gungrave

    Gungrave New

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2020
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    miami
    Excuse my belligerence... I swear its only temporary, I overnight shipped the Burl b2 bomber dac, unforunately the Audio Stand didn't receive the same treatment. I also am not a Topping fan, but the A90 seemed promising I'm not very much into SS(so i went with a window shopping mentality), I'd gladly replace it with something else, as appealing as the A90 was made out to be. I'm probably going to sell the Modius and Topping soon anyways. I didn't expect the Cayin Ha-300 Amp to be rid of interference,tube noise so damn well. I'll be receiving a Pi2AES in the near future.

    So I contacted Burl and they insured me I had the new and latest Op Amp the BOPA8. I don't seem to be getting the saturation affects mentioned here with this latest iteration, but maybe I need to tinker with the dac a bit more.
     
  12. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Sector 8023 of the Third Quadrant
    Lol, looks like he just slapped it where he had room and didn't have to move other things.
     
  13. crenca

    crenca Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 26, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,825
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Southern New Mexico
    Yea, it's a bit close to your Komputer and the like...but then, I have a wifi router about a foot from Bachelor tube amp I have. I am using two thick books to get the noise down to barely audio level :p
     
  14. Collusion

    Collusion Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,058
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    I managed to get a quote for the OPA8's from a German importer: 100 euros per channel excluding VAT (19%). That's a 50% premium over what you have to pay in the States, it seems.

    Currently I'm a little torn whether I should go for them or not. I kinda like how to unit sounds right now and I don't have issues with the brighter tonal balance (vs DM CV-2) anymore. So much in fact, that my old CV2 got a new home today.

    Anyway, I've attached the replacement instructions for the discrete op amps if anyone is interested.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,268
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I just got a quote directly from Burl's customer service: $183.13 including shipping ($20) and CA sales tax. Payable via PayPal.

    I just ordered them. Will keep you posted.

    In the meantime, I just got a Rockna Wavelight ;)


    Edit: that's a lot of "just"
     
  16. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,268
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Received the BOPA8 op amps this morning.

    [​IMG]

    I just installed them and did the level calibration procedure as per @Collusion PDF.

    It's way too early to say anything definitive, as they are fresh out of the box, but early on the BOPA8 have a deeper but narrower stage. Sound seems more dynamic and detailed, but also quite stiff/rigid (as in, 'tight' taken a bit too far). Hopefully it'll mellow out a bit.
     
  17. Gungrave

    Gungrave New

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2020
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    miami
    I'm considering it, with further impressions or in the near future. I bought the burl because I was interested in a high end delta sigma signature, this had the best description of what I was looking for but used the older op amp.
     
  18. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,268
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Add Rockna Wavelight to that list!
     
  19. jpelg

    jpelg New

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    The Elm City
    So, when exactly was the BOPA8 introduced as standard for the B2 DAC?

    If buying new, should one assume they will get the BOPA8?
     
  20. Gungrave

    Gungrave New

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2020
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    miami
    I'd assume yes,
    You can have both for an additional 100 to 150 + shipping
     

Share This Page