Is Burmester 232 worth the price?


Just bought a Burmester 232 integrated amplifier for a hefty price tag. Similar priced models like Accuphase E800 are available for half off on eBay.

 

Did I make a good decision or should I have gone with Accuphase or Esoteric? Pointers are greatly appreciated. Why is Burmester considered ultra high end?

madhusudan_ramaswamy

There are literally dozens of decent choices in low cost DACs From what I can tell, but I would take a look at the DAC module for your new integrated amp. Burmester doesn’t sell anything cheap, but there is something to the old saying buy once cry once

You would undoubtedly get the best synergy going that route, save a pair of cables And up your game while simplifying in the process. Otherwise, if you like warm, maybe something like a Lampizator? Again, they’re going to be people on this thread that will have better advice than me, so hopefully they’ll jump in. I can tell you from experience that once you start the upward progression, as you have, it’s going to bug you that you may have a component that’s a bottleneck. 

Just to add to the point, if you can stomach the cost, I don't think you can go wrong with the Burmester DAC module- I think thats a mortal lock.  If you don't go in that direction, you might want to wait a while, let your 232 settle in, and make a decision down the road a bit. This will give you time to acclimate to your new (great) sound and determine what sonic improvements you want to pursue. Or, even better, that you are totally satisfied with the Wiim, but I'll wager you'll want something more at the level of the rest of your system.

If you are in Houston, you have access to some good stores for auditions, although with a DAC you really need to hear it in your system to make a good judgment. 

Some folks think all decent quality DACs sound the same since its all 1s and 0s. I don't think that but its a point of view.

A good measure of value is the resale market.  
 

look at the retail vs. actual (not ask) used prices. This is the value net of dealer spiff and sizzle.