This unit was sent to me by Burson Audio, in exchange for an honest review.
In the box you will find the Cable+ Pro, aswell as a usb-cable and wall-adapter for power. The Cable+ Pro is available both as RCA-RCA and RCA-3.5mm, my unit has RCA-RCA connectors. The Cable+ Pro retails for 200$.
Equipment used:
Source - PC playing Tidal HiFi through Roon, usb out. Google Chromecast Audio streaming Tidal HiFi, optical out.
DAC - Chord Hugo
Amp - Marantz PM5005
Speakers - SVS Ultra Bookshelves
Headphones - Focal Elear
A 200$ interconnect cable that’s supposed to instantly enhance the sound quality of your system?
I was skeptical, to say the least. I’m not a big believer in cables, my main concern with cables are build quality and aesthetics. Honestly, if Burson hadn't reached out to me, I would just disregard it as snake oil and never think about it ever again. I’m glad I didn’t, though.
See, the Burson Cable+ Pro is more than just an interconnect cable. It has a small in-line amplifier, and acts as an audio buffer/buffer amplifier (not quite sure about the terms) that’s supposed to eliminate impedance mismatching between the dac and the amp. I'm not even going to attempt to explain the theory behind this, I would just make a fool of myself. If you want to read more, I’ve linked Burson’s site and a Wikipedia article on buffer amplifiers:
https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/cable-plus-pro/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffer_amplifier
And so, with the theory out of the way, let’s get on with the review.
Build quality and aesthetics:
Build quality here is superb. The cable itself is of decent thickness and the Canare connectors are super sturdy. The amplifier housing is made of metal. The Cable+ Pro has a very high-quality feel to it, and is definitely made to last.
Testing:
I used the Cable+ Pro as an interconnect between the Hugo and Marantz PM5005, swtiching between using my SVS Ultra speakers and Focal Elears.
For testing I used the music I'm most familiar with, a mix between acoustic, blues/rock, and pop. Some of the albums I used were:
-Eric Clapton: Unplugged, Clapton Chronicles, Riding with the King
-Dire straits: Dire Straits, Communique
-Eagles: Hell Freezes Over
-Halsey: Hopeless Fountain Kingdom
-Linkin Park: One More Light
-Imagine Dragons: Evolve.
As previously stated, I'm not a believer in the benefits of expensive cables. My usual RCA-cable is a 20$ one with decent thickness and gold-plated connectors, and is what I used to A/B with the Cable+ Pro.
I did not have any RCA Y-splitters available, nor any way to volume-match the two cables (the Cable+ Pro adds some gain to the signal), which made it hard to quickly A/B-test. My impressions are mostly based on longer listening sessions with each cable.
Sound quality:
I was not expecting this. Honestly, reading about the Cable+ Pro on Burson's site, I got the regular impression of snake-oil. But there's nothing snake-oil about the Cable+ Pro. Using the Cable+ Pro enhanced the sound in a way that was immediately noticeable. At first I thought maybe it was the added gain (louder tends to sound better), but my impressions were consistent no matter the volume I played at.
The first thing I noticed was increased instrument separation. Every single instrument is easier to pick out from the mix, and has more air around it. This was especially noticeable in the treble, with cymbals shimmering with more light without ever getting harsh.
Layering is also improved, and I feel like I can hear deeper down into the mix. This combined with more lively dynamics, makes the Cable+ Pro sound more 3D in comparison to the flat, dull-sounding regular RCA-cable.
The overall impression is a more lively, airy and fun sound with the Burson. My old RCA-cable sounds lifeless and dull by comparison, the instruments are smeared out over a 2D soundstage. The Cable+ Pro presents the music in a more 3D-way, where everything just POPS!
Conclusion:
The Burson Cable+ Pro is a superbly built cable that actually makes a difference. For 200$, I have no problem recommending this if you've already invested a bit in your setup.I wouldn't recommend using the Cable+ Pro with say, a Schiit Modi+Magni, then your money is probably better spent upgrading other components. But with the law of diminishing returns, the Cable+ Pro is a great bang for your buck when used in a mid- to high-end system.
lastly, a huge thanks to SS-Audio for reaching out and providing me with this unit.
In the box you will find the Cable+ Pro, aswell as a usb-cable and wall-adapter for power. The Cable+ Pro is available both as RCA-RCA and RCA-3.5mm, my unit has RCA-RCA connectors. The Cable+ Pro retails for 200$.
Equipment used:
Source - PC playing Tidal HiFi through Roon, usb out. Google Chromecast Audio streaming Tidal HiFi, optical out.
DAC - Chord Hugo
Amp - Marantz PM5005
Speakers - SVS Ultra Bookshelves
Headphones - Focal Elear
A 200$ interconnect cable that’s supposed to instantly enhance the sound quality of your system?
I was skeptical, to say the least. I’m not a big believer in cables, my main concern with cables are build quality and aesthetics. Honestly, if Burson hadn't reached out to me, I would just disregard it as snake oil and never think about it ever again. I’m glad I didn’t, though.
See, the Burson Cable+ Pro is more than just an interconnect cable. It has a small in-line amplifier, and acts as an audio buffer/buffer amplifier (not quite sure about the terms) that’s supposed to eliminate impedance mismatching between the dac and the amp. I'm not even going to attempt to explain the theory behind this, I would just make a fool of myself. If you want to read more, I’ve linked Burson’s site and a Wikipedia article on buffer amplifiers:
https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/cable-plus-pro/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffer_amplifier
And so, with the theory out of the way, let’s get on with the review.
Build quality and aesthetics:
Build quality here is superb. The cable itself is of decent thickness and the Canare connectors are super sturdy. The amplifier housing is made of metal. The Cable+ Pro has a very high-quality feel to it, and is definitely made to last.
Testing:
I used the Cable+ Pro as an interconnect between the Hugo and Marantz PM5005, swtiching between using my SVS Ultra speakers and Focal Elears.
For testing I used the music I'm most familiar with, a mix between acoustic, blues/rock, and pop. Some of the albums I used were:
-Eric Clapton: Unplugged, Clapton Chronicles, Riding with the King
-Dire straits: Dire Straits, Communique
-Eagles: Hell Freezes Over
-Halsey: Hopeless Fountain Kingdom
-Linkin Park: One More Light
-Imagine Dragons: Evolve.
As previously stated, I'm not a believer in the benefits of expensive cables. My usual RCA-cable is a 20$ one with decent thickness and gold-plated connectors, and is what I used to A/B with the Cable+ Pro.
I did not have any RCA Y-splitters available, nor any way to volume-match the two cables (the Cable+ Pro adds some gain to the signal), which made it hard to quickly A/B-test. My impressions are mostly based on longer listening sessions with each cable.
Sound quality:
I was not expecting this. Honestly, reading about the Cable+ Pro on Burson's site, I got the regular impression of snake-oil. But there's nothing snake-oil about the Cable+ Pro. Using the Cable+ Pro enhanced the sound in a way that was immediately noticeable. At first I thought maybe it was the added gain (louder tends to sound better), but my impressions were consistent no matter the volume I played at.
The first thing I noticed was increased instrument separation. Every single instrument is easier to pick out from the mix, and has more air around it. This was especially noticeable in the treble, with cymbals shimmering with more light without ever getting harsh.
Layering is also improved, and I feel like I can hear deeper down into the mix. This combined with more lively dynamics, makes the Cable+ Pro sound more 3D in comparison to the flat, dull-sounding regular RCA-cable.
The overall impression is a more lively, airy and fun sound with the Burson. My old RCA-cable sounds lifeless and dull by comparison, the instruments are smeared out over a 2D soundstage. The Cable+ Pro presents the music in a more 3D-way, where everything just POPS!
Conclusion:
The Burson Cable+ Pro is a superbly built cable that actually makes a difference. For 200$, I have no problem recommending this if you've already invested a bit in your setup.I wouldn't recommend using the Cable+ Pro with say, a Schiit Modi+Magni, then your money is probably better spent upgrading other components. But with the law of diminishing returns, the Cable+ Pro is a great bang for your buck when used in a mid- to high-end system.
lastly, a huge thanks to SS-Audio for reaching out and providing me with this unit.
