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[bradsarno]

Looking forward to the new Burl B2 ADC I just ordered. Anyone have anything to say about their experiences with the B2 so far?


Brad

[bradsarno]

Really? No Burl B2 commentary?

B

[Jerry Tubb]

The features look like a winner Brad.

Big meters, Big knobs, 192k, etc.

I know it's popular with the young generation of mix engineers.

But the main thing that matters is "how does it sound"?

I haven't heard it yet, be looking forward to your observations.

Contrast to the Forssell MADA-2 (DAC/ADC) that sports very little Bling features. Reports are that it sounds great, an excellent match for mastering.

Best, JT

[BiigNiick]

i did a blind shootout with the burl, and was surprised at how good it sounded considering its price tag.  :-)  i liked it very much.


 - nick

[Noah Mintz Mastering]

I love it. I use it as an alternate to my dCS. It's totally different. A converter with a 'vibe'.

[Waltz Mastering]

It's totally different. A converter with a 'vibe'.

From everything I've read about it,  a lot of people have mentioned that does impart a sonic signature, where the Burl DA is more transparent.

[Noah Mintz Mastering]

From everything I've read about it,  a lot of people have mentioned that does impart a sonic signature, where the Burl DA is more transparent.

With two big input transformers in it, you bet it imparts a sonic signature. That's what's so great about it.

[Treelady]

But when the "same" converter was sold by UA with more features, people said "meh."  How much has changed???

[bradsarno]

I'm liking the Burl B2 so far. Only 2 days with it. Spent some more time today exploring just exactly it sounds like when you slam the input. And by the way, I was looking at their block diagram of the circuit, and it shows that the input hits the transformers, then into an active stage, and THEN the attenuator. So when we hit it, we're also hitting the first active electronic stage. Not that we'd be overdriving it, but it does suggest that the electronics are a contributor to some degree in the sound of driving the input harder or softer.

I was coming out of a Vari-Mu and used that to really hit the B2. The B2 was attenuated to compensate for the hot input. What I first noticed, and it's really the dominant artifact I'm hearing is more a dynamic thing than a harmonic thing. The low end starts to gush and feel kind of hard-limited, squashed. After more time listening, I could begin to notice more of what's happening to the air and the general increased density thru the bandwidth. Going back to softer/cleaner input levels, the B2 definitely became more big, linear, punchy, and very pleasantly silky and open or transparent up top. I'm not experiencing this clean setting as very colored. It's just nice sounding and seems fairly honest or accurate.

Brad

[Noah Mintz Mastering]

But when the "same" converter was sold by UA with more features, people said "meh."  How much has changed???

Well, I hated the UA and I loved the Burl... so a lot!