It’s a known fact that Intergraded Circuit (ICs) opamps are inferior to their discrete counterparts at the high-end of audio production. Burson audio has demonstrated this fact with our successful discrete opamp modules. Comparing IC based audio gear to hand built discrete machines, is like comparing mass produced take-away meals to gourmet meals. The latter have been painstakingly prepared by a master chef with premium ingredients, skill and passion.

Most manufactures reserve their discrete designs for their flagship products. The discrete approach significantly complicates aspects of design resulting in increased production costs. It also increases the size and weight of each unit, so transportation costs are also affected. On a large scale semi-automated production line, sticking 8 pin ICs into a board is an easier option than soldering 50 or more matched discrete components.

With the PI-100 we insisted on the discrete approach and eliminated the use of any opamps on its signal path. By doing this, the preservation of sound detail, the thing that makes music musical was ensured. This discrete approach allowed us to optimise our design and tune our machines to achieve the best in audio excellence.

To optimise the performance of our discrete design, Burson PI-100 is backed by exceptional power supply circuitry .Employing our discrete low noise regulator technology, the PI-100 discrete power supply network ensures only clean power is flowing through each discrete component.

BursonAudio certainly has not reinvented the wheel.  The technology we used to design this amplifier has proven to be the best solution for high quality audio application. We have put together and fine turned each stage so that they work to form a musical machine instead of just another soulless marketing piece of equipment.

Instead of showing off what PI-100 has, we prefer to show you what we have managed to eliminate in our design structure, while continuing to deliver a superior level of performance. 

 

 

No Capacitors

We believe coupling and decoupling capacitors between amplification stages introduces coloration while limiting dynamic range, regardless of their cost and quality. (As we all know there is no perfect capacitor just like there is no perfect speaker drive.)

No Standard Regulators

We will not settle for those standard IC base 3- pin regulators for our PI-100. Instead of taking the easy way out like others, we have spent a lot of time on the development of our discrete regulated power supply. 

NO ICs

While many chip base amplifiers (digital, Class D and etc) are doing very well now days, we believe when it comes to critical audio applications a well designed, hand crafted discrete circuitry, is far superior to the mass  produced  ICs. (Please also see:  "The naked truth about Opamp" )

No Risk.

We are very confident that customer expectation will be exceeded, therefore we are offering a 30 day refund policy for our PI-100.

Test system:

1. Modified Marantz CD16SE (Sourced)

2. Burson Audio Buffer

3. PI-100 (Intergraded Amp)

4. Modified EveII (One of our member’s recently completed 2.5 way using Scan-Speak D-9800,18W8545 and 21W4555)

Amplifiers used for direct comparison:

1. Sunfire Power (300Wpc Class AB PnP) with a passive volume control added.

2.  Marantz PM11S1 (100Wpc current feedback)

 

 

Driving the fully sealed 120 litre EveII (85DB), the PI-100 sounded smooth and delicate, with open, extended highs. It had sufficient mid bass punch and the ability to throw a wide, deep soundstage.  It exerted tighter control over the Eve’s bass response than had the PM11S1.  In contrast, the PM11SA sounded slightly   warmer in the mid and mid high with a relatively subdued sound stage.  The mid and mid high of the PI-100 sounded more transparent and neutral, but never dry.  Since both machines use discrete driving stage, we believe this  reflects the difference in musical preference between Team Burson and the respected designers of Marantz. 

The PI-100 proved fully capable of reproducing full-volume percussion without compression. During the opening of "Tito," from Hothouse (Arturo Sandoval), the timbales were reproduced with fantastic swiftness and clarity, so that we could easily make out the tonalities of the separate drums in his kit when he struck two different drum heads simultaneously. Through the Salons, the PI-100 surpassed the Sunfire (200W more powerful than the PI-100, on paper)  while  playing this demanding drum solo without compression or distortion.  However, the PI-100 made the drum play more realistically by better holding the decay.  Compared to the Sunfire Power, PI-100 presents a fuller mid and high with a much better presentation of body, weight and emotion.  

The PI-100 and EveII allowed us to track the variations in Ray Charles' voice across the 12 duets of his Genius Loves Company. He harmonizes and blends so effectively with Norah Jones on "Here I Go Again" that the pitch of her voice drops into his range. He sounds hip and sophisticated singing "You Don't Know Me" with Diana Krall, then steps up the drive and pace in "Sinner's Prayer," with B.B. King.

Under the above mentioned setup, the PI-100 outperformed the Sunfire in terms of attack and dynamism at the macro scale, and with a much better musical) representation all around.  It also matched the Marantz PM11S1 in its ability to preserve detail at the micro level (the stuff that makes music real) but represented the emotional exchange of musicians in a uniquely different BursonAudio way.    

Conclusion

We can proudly claim that we have achieved our set goals. Although the price we are charging seems ‘cheap’ compared to those of the big brands,  make no mistake about it, if they were to implement this design in full, they would have to price it at many times higher before it became commercially  viable.  As for Team BursonAudio, profits came last in our equation.  We’ve placed music and our passion for it first and foremost.

 

Features
Inputs	3 sets
Speaker Outputs	2 sets
2 compartment case	Shield noise from main circuit
Case Material	Polished solid aluminium
Specifications
THD (20Hz - 20kHz @ 8 ohm)	0.01%
Input Sensitivity/Impeance	240mV/20k
Frequency Response	10Hz - 120kHz (+/- 3dB)
S/N Ratio	96dB (CD, Line)
Number of Channels	2
Output Power/Channel (20Hz - 20kHz)	75W @ 8 150W @ 4
Custom build low noise transformer	2 X Custom build Toroidal
Colour	Silver
Operation	Class AB
Power Requirement	AC 220 / 240 V 50 / 60Hz
Power Consumption	300W Peak
Dimensions W x H x D (mm)	430 X 100 X 360
Weight (Kg) (completed with transformers)	13kg

 

CLICK HERE for price and purchase Information

..."I have my pi- 100 now for some weeks. Every time y listen to it I love it more .
It has the detail and dynamics of the most expensive solid state amplifiers I have aver heard.
Without loosing the warmth and rest offered be I good tube amplifier.
I play it with a par of transmission line speakers hoe are very honest , if something is wrong thy will tell you.
In combination with one of Mr Hiller,from Germany ,non-os players it’s a dream come true .
My previous combination of big and respected brands, costing several times more never even came close of giving my this satisfaction.
If somebody asks me for an affordable but priceless playing amplifier , I now the answer .
What do the now in Melbourne about audio? Believe me quit a lot."...

Reinier Germany

 

Michael, Bielefeld

"Thanks to your PI-100 I have to rediscover my music preference. I found my self enjoy a wider range of music including opera, swing and blue. The PI-100 provides a wonderful texture, no glossy sugary sound just natural tone with plenty of details..."

..."I have also plug in my IPod Nano to the direct input. Volume control via the IPod I can now enjoy Pod Cast from BBC or audio book for easy listening. The only thing is I have to turn on the IPod before I plug in the amp or it will trigger the DC protection…"

Sam, Auckland NZ

 

..."right first things first: the P100 is in a different class to the little T amp's and there is no comparison. Battery or no battery. The dynamic range, pace and control over my music by the P100 is in a different league. As you can tell after about 100 hrs of continuous running I'm beginning to really like what I hear. It's just delivering some warmth in it's sonic signature, allowing me to feel the music rather than listen to the notes being delivered. Excellent."...

Andrew, NSW

 

 

"...I received my PI-100 on the Friday 6th thank you for the quick delivery, but was unfortunately at work and working all weekend, so It did give me chance to finish making my Cat5 Speaker cables. Monday I hooked everything up and fired her up, immediately I noticed the difference from my other Home Theatre Amp there is so much more Clarity and cleaner sound, everything sounds much warmer I have just been listening to songs all over again bass seems much tighter and much stronger.

I only have B&W DM602’s they are like 10 years old but I’m quite fond of them, I kept turning up the volume on the  PI-100 and the sound just got bigger not harsh and scratchy just clean strong sound, my only worry now is I’m spoiled now with the sound from this amp and don’t think I will find anything in the future if I ever need to replace this without I would suspect spending several times more money.

This Amp really has given me new appreciation to the music I have and have it running just about all day."...

Paul, New Zealand

 

..."It was great!  It sounded great to start with but after two weeks of burn in, it really came alive!  I loved my Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista for over 6 years but compared to the PI-100 the Nu-Vista sounded too slow, too soft and way too much coloration!  Your amp sounds so right! What more can I say?

The best of all is that the PI-100 pushes my big transmission line babies (Scan-Speak 8545, D9700) without breaking a sweat!!! This is not an 80w.p.c machine!  My 300w machine doesn’t product that level of driving power.

I am one happy camper! Keep up the good work."...

Lee, Western Australia

 

 

 

..."I thought you might like to know that I compared the PI-100 to Audiolab’s 8000SE (non-remote version of the 8000S). The Audiolab provided perhaps a little more soundstage and warmth. But the Burson definitely provided more detail and clarity. Through the Burson we heard things on a familiar CD that were just not audible before. Very neutral sound, plenty of power and less colouration than the Audiolab. This is the opinion of a beginner audiophile, but it’s interesting to do a listening comparison like this. I considered the 8000S an amazing amp. After a direct comparison with the Burson, and all of a sudden the Audiolab sounded a little ‘wrong’. As I said the Audiolab perhaps offered more warmth and a little more soundstage depth, but sounded ‘coloured’ – not quite ‘right’. The Burson, again, more tube like, totally neutral and VERY detailed."...

Marcin, Sydney

“I have done only about an hours listening but here are my immediate thoughts.  Shootout is between The AudioNote OTO at almost 4x the price. It (AudioNote) is one of the best value for money valve integrateds.  The other contender is the Triangle TE 60.  This is a pure class A  integrated which IMHO (in my humble opinion) is better than the Sugden A21, Musical fidelity A1 and A-1000 which are all absolute world class amps in their own rights and which I have owned.

With this company the Burson is more articulate, dynamic and 'alive'. Timbral changes in particular are very well captured giving it a real insight into the recording. Timing and rhythm are excellent. Detail retrieval is superior to both other units. The Triangle I always felt was the king in this area.  Tonality is good/very good but not as warm sounding as the valved OTO.

It reminds me of the great monitor speakers from ATO/Rogers/PMC that sound so accurate. It is not overly romantic but neither sterile, a very good balance and probably one of the best I have heard in a solid state integrated, and it isn't even burnt in yet.

I am in summary impressed so far especially against such superb examples of integrated amps costing several times more. 

 As I am typing this it is getting more and more natural sounding with a fleshing out of voices in particular noticeable, making it sound more and more valve like! “

Luke, UK.

“I received the amp and buffer today.  So far so good. It seems much more smoother than my previous combo of mix and match (Rotel Pre-amp and my Acurus A 200 power amp) which sound a little bit harsher on the high note.”

Derrick, WA.