Description
The Burson Audio Playmate 3 is a desktop powerhouse built for listeners who want flagship-class performance without stacking multiple boxes. Combining an ESS9039 DAC, a true single-ended Class-A headphone amplifier, and a remote-controlled preamp into one aluminium Cool Case, it handles everything from sensitive IEMs to demanding planar magnetics with ease. At 30 W of idling bias the amplifier delivers 3 W per channel, while Burson's Max Current Power Supply and Silent Power Modules keep the noise floor low enough to reveal micro-details in complex passages.
Roll the DIP8 opamp to shape your sound — the Standard edition ships with NE5532 IC opamps, while the Deluxe variant adds V7 Vivid discrete opamps, SP02 Silent Power modules, and the Super Charger power supply. With XMOS USB-C supporting PCM 768 kHz and native DSD 512, Toslink optical, and Roon Tested certification, the Playmate 3 connects to any source and grows with your system.
Specifications
| DAC Chip | ESS Sabre ESS9039 |
| PCM Support | Up to 32-bit / 768 kHz |
| Native DSD | DSD 64 / 128 / 256 / 512 |
| USB Interface | XMOS (asynchronous isochronous) |
| Amplifier Topology | Single-Ended Class-A |
| Output Power (32 Ω) | 2.5 W (High) / 800 mW (Low) |
| Output Power (16 Ω) | 3.5 W (High) / 1 W (Low) |
| Output Power (300 Ω) | 150 mW (High) / 80 mW (Low) |
| Idling Bias | 30 W |
| THD | < 0.002 % |
| THD+N (DAC) | 0.0018 % @ 1 kHz, 0 dBFS |
| Channel Separation (DAC) | 128 dB @ 1 kHz, 121 dB @ 20 kHz |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 95 – 98 dB |
| Input Impedance | 38 kΩ |
| Output Impedance (HP) | < 2 Ω |
| Frequency Response | ±1 dB, 0 – 35 kHz |
| Inputs | USB-C (XMOS), Toslink optical, 3.5 mm AUX, headset mic |
| Outputs | Pre-Amp RCA, 6.35 mm headphone jack |
| Gain Levels | 2 (High / Low) |
| Opamp | DIP8 socket — NE5532 (Standard) / V7 Vivid discrete (Deluxe) |
| Power Supply | 24 V DC 3 A (Standard) / Super Charger 3 A (Deluxe) |
| Silent Power Modules | SP01 (Standard) / SP02 (Deluxe) |
| Chassis | CNC-machined aluminum (Cool Case) |
| Dimensions | 190 × 150 × 60 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 3 kg |
| Roon Tested | Yes |
