Burson Playmate 3

High‑End DNA, Pragmatic Price: Burson’s Accessible Class‑A All‑Rounder

Burson is known for exceptional high‑end gear like the Conductor GT4 and Soloist GT, so it’s notable to see the Playmate 3 positioned as one of the most reasonably priced entries in their lineup. That makes it particularly interesting for anyone who wants a taste of Burson’s design philosophy without going straight to flagship territory.

I’ve spent the past month with the Playmate 3 and enjoyed every aspect of the experience. This is one of those products you instinctively reach out to touch each time you power up—solid, dense, and precisely finished. You’re getting a genuinely high‑end experience at a pragmatic price. While you give up some power and features compared with the Conductor, Burson clearly focused on the essentials that matter in daily use for a desktop DAC/amp.

In no way does this feel like a “budget” device. Compared with something like the Fosi Audio FH3 (a strong value for its price), the difference in day‑to‑day experience is obvious when you sit down to listen and interact with the hardware.

The Standard Edition (the unit reviewed here) typically lists at $599. A Deluxe Edition with remote and additional upgrades is available at $999.

Before we get to listening impressions, let’s cover the unboxing.

Unboxing and Build Quality

The Playmate 3 arrives well protected, and mine came with a separate plug:

Opening up the unit you see the quick connection guide and the accessory box:

Accessory box:

Inside this accessory box.

Here is a closer look at the connection guide card included in the box.

Removing this guide, we finally we see the Playmate 3 in :

Here’s the full set of included accessories from my review unit.

You get:

• 24V power adapter
• Spare fuse
• USB cable (USB‑C data input on the unit)
• 6.35mm to 3.5mm adapter
• IC opamps for diagnostic/warranty use (per Burson’s documentation)

The 24V/3A power plug:

The RCA cable is nice quality:

I love the engineering quality in the build. It has a real high-end feel:

There is lovely attention to detail everywhere, for example, the rounded edges:

Overall build is dense and precise with a substantial front knob and a chassis that sits securely on the desk without wobble. Thermals are consistent with a Class‑A bias—warm to the touch in use.

Front and Back Panels

Front: standby button, tiny power LED, 3.5 mm headset jack (with mic support), 6.35 mm headphone output, display, the excellent metal volume knob, a menu button, and the IR receiver window.

I do feel at this price point we should have had 4.4mm balanced output at the very least and ideally also 4-pin XLR but, I also imagine that Burson needed to keep some features for their more expensive models and at no point are you needing balanced output for more power, as you will see you get plenty of power from headphone jack.

Back: USB‑C input, Toslink optical input, RCA line outputs, and the 24 V power socket.

The top cover doubles as a heatsink thanks to the Class‑A amplifier biasing, and there are rubber feet underneath to keep the unit planted on the desk.

Remote control (Deluxe edition only)

The Deluxe package adds a compact aluminum remote that matches the Playmate aesthetics. It includes mute, source select, and dedicated volume buttons with sensible spacing between up/down for easier operation by feel. If you own the Standard edition, the remote isn’t included.

Ergonomics and Usage

I have the PlayMate 3 mainly setup on my work from home desk setup, so I can listen to it while I work with my HD600:

• Footprint is compact for the power on offer; height clears most monitor stands.
• The volume control has a smooth, even action and predictable step behaviour.
• Front‑panel layout is simple: headphone jack, display, and controls are easy to access.
• Heat is noticeable but manageable; ensure basic airflow around the chassis.

Overall, I had no complaints when using this in my normal work setup.

I also had the PlayMate 3 setup in a much larger group test, and I had it for a few weeks in my evening listening room test setup:

In these comparisons and during this comparison, my only quibble was the lack of PEQ compared to the FiiO K17 and the Topping DX5 II. In pure sound, I felt the PlayMate 3 easily held it own, against these technically (at least on paper) more powerful headphone DAC amplifiers.

Menu system

There are 2 buttons on the front, one is simple the Power / Standby button, the other button on the right hand side is the menu button to control playmate 3. Here’s a quick look at the on‑device menu system.

As you can see in this video, there are a lot of options available, to tweak the sound.

• Input: switch between USB and Toslink.
• Outputs: Headphones out, Pre‑Out, or DAC out (fixed level in DAC out mode).
• HP LVL: Low/High gain selection.
• FIRFILTER: Choose among the built‑in DAC digital filters.
• DPLL: Adjusts jitter tolerance (Digital PLL setting).
• IIR BW: IIR filter bandwidth setting.
• DAC PATH: Bypass filters in parts of the DAC chain.
• THD COMP: Toggle or select THD compensation modes built into the DAC.
• RESET SET: Restore factory defaults.
• AUTO OFF: Standby after ~20 minutes of no signal (handy given Class‑A heat).
• USB MIC: Enable/disable headset microphone support.

Internals and Upgradability

The following are 2 images provided on Burson website of the internals:

The Playmate 3 combines an ESS9039 DAC with a single‑ended Class‑A headphone amplifier and RCA preamp outputs.

The USB section uses XMOS and supports PCM up to 32‑bit/768 kHz and native DSD up to DSD512:

There is also some upgradability should you require some via Burson’s opamp rolling and Silent Power (SP) module ecosystem. You can find instructions as to opening the Playmate 3 in the manual. But here is an image of where on the motherboard you find the op-amp that you can swap:

This ability adds another nice dimension to the Playmate 3.

Specifications and Measurements

Below are the key specifications provided for the Playmate 3:

Analog Performance

Inputs and Outputs

Headphone Power, SNR, and Channel Separation

So, you get a very reason 2.5 Watts into 32 Ohms and 150 mW into 300Ohms. This is easily enough power to drive almost all your headphones to incredible loud volume.

The only headphones I feel will struggle with this amount of power would be the Mod House Tungsten.

Dimensions and Weight

DAC Section (ESS9039)

Sound Impressions

This is a transparent amplifier that allows your music to shine with great bass, midrange, and treble. While I would have liked to see onboard EQ options, the more classic analog internals of the Playmate 3 come through in listening.

Across a month of listening, I rotated with many headphones. Highlights included the Meze 109 Pro, and Sennheiser HD600:

Higher‑impedance models like the Sivga Peng were also excellent, the Peng in particular seems to pair very well here as it is High Impedendance 340 Ohm Closed Back:

Like other Class A amplifiers I have recently reviewed, like the Aune N7, the PlayMate 3 is a detail-orientated and extremely clean and transparent amplifier, that just brings your music alive as it should be.

Below are some brief, track‑anchored impressions:

Bass

• Massive Attack – Angel: Sub‑bass lines are tight and well‑defined, with no sense of softening. Notes start and stop cleanly, preserving impact without bloom.
• Daft Punk – Doin’ It Right: Kick drum weight translates with a convincing grip; layering remains controlled as elements stack up.
• Hans Zimmer – Why So Serious?: The deep synth sweep maintains composure; low‑level details remain intelligible rather than smoothed over.

Midrange

• Norah Jones – Don’t Know Why: Vocals sit naturally with a consistent body; piano transients come through without smear.
• Fleetwood Mac – Dreams: Guitars and harmonies are delineated cleanly, and level changes are rendered without edge.
• Gregory Porter – Hey Laura: Baritone presence is solid without chestiness; micro‑inflections are easy to follow.

Treble

• Miles Davis – So What: Cymbal work has fine detail and even decay; ride pattern stays distinct.
• Radiohead – No Surprises: Upper harmonics retain clarity without tipping into glare.
• Agnes Obel – Riverside: Air and overtones present cleanly; sibilants are controlled.

Soundstage and Imaging

• Tool – Schism: Lateral placement is stable; small panning movements are easy to track.
• Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles: Discrete positional cues are separated without collapsing into the center.
• London Grammar – Hey Now: Depth layering is sensible; center image stays locked at low and moderate volumes.

Comparisons

Here are some brief comparisons, though I feel at these price points the differences, between these amplifiers is subtle, but I felt it was worth putting in some comparisons.

• Topping DX5 II (DAC/Amp): The DX5 II is a feature‑dense, measurement‑first DAC/amp with balanced headphone output and convenience features like a remote and broad digital support. The Playmate 3 takes the opposite approach: a simpler, single‑ended Class‑A path with a more tactile, machined chassis and upgradability via op‑amp and Silent Power modules. If you want a do‑it‑all hub, the DX5 II is easier; if you value a purist analog stage and day‑to‑day build quality, the Playmate 3 is a better amplifier.

• FiiO K17: Far more feature‑rich as a DAC/amp hub, with very high output and extensive configuration. The Playmate 3 sounds similarly neutral/transparent to me but presents with a classic Class‑A smoothness. You give up balanced and portable operation, but you get a tidier single‑ended desktop footprint and a more substantial volume/control feel.

• SMSL DO400: Strong DAC section, very low distortion numbers, and plenty of power with balanced outputs. The Playmate 3 counters with a more premium tactile experience and a purist all‑analog Class‑A headphone stage. If you already own a DAC you like, using the Playmate 3 as the dedicated head‑amp/pre can be the more engaging route.

• JDS Labs Element IV: Clean, powerful, and with an excellent big‑knob. The Playmate 3 keeps up on neutrality while adding swappable op‑amps, a configurable menu (filters, gain, auto‑off), RCA pre‑outs/DAC‑out modes, and a heavier, more substantial chassis. Pick Element IV for minimalist, ultra‑clean convenience and its PEQ capabilities; pick Playmate 3 if you want the Burson build and upgrade path.

Rating

The Burson Playmate 3 earns a solid pragmatic rating of 4, delivering decent value through its combination of premium build quality, clean user interface, and transparent sound reproduction.

However, there are some trade-offs to consider. The unit is limited to single-ended output only, which may disappoint users seeking balanced connections for their headphones. The lack of parametric EQ functionality means you’re relying on the amplifier’s natural transparency rather than having fine-tuning options readily available. Additionally, if you’re interested in the remote control and upgraded modules, the Deluxe Edition represents a significant price jump that may push the value proposition into different territory.

What I liked

• Excellent schematics, design, and build quality for the price
• Class‑A amplifier performance with confident drive and transparency
• Modular design (op‑amps and power modules) for future upgrades
• Clean ESS9039 implementation with high‑rate PCM and native DSD support
• Logical menu with useful options (gain, filters, auto‑off, DAC path)
• Headset support via 3.5 mm combo jack
• Solid RCA pre‑outs with selectable output modes
• Satisfying volume knob feel and overall UI polish
• Deluxe option with matching aluminum remote

Overall, I feel the Burson Playmate 3 is ideal for:

• Listeners who value a compact, well‑built Class‑A desktop DAC/amp with straightforward I/O
• Those who want a taste of Burson’s high‑end approach at a more accessible price

Conclusion

The Burson Playmate 3 distills a lot of Burson’s high‑end DNA into a compact, single‑ended Class‑A desktop unit. It feels premium, operates predictably, and sounds transparent across a wide range of headphones. While I’d like to see balanced output and more onboard EQ in a future revision, the core experience is compelling and easy to recommend at the Standard Edition’s asking price.

If you’ve been curious about Burson but don’t need the power and feature set of the Conductor line, the Playmate 3 is a pragmatic, high‑quality way in.