As much as I tinkered with a little crystal radio as a child and started reading stereo magazines in high school, it wasn't until my early 30s that I half-stumbled into the higher end of the hi-fi sphere. As I progressed from used Advents to used Spicas and began to experiment with speaker cables, more and more names of high-end brands entered my consciousness. Burmester (founded in 1977), and some of the other higher-priced components from overseas whose looks seemed commensurate with their prices, held an outsized fascination for me. What about them, other than their visual appearance, accounted for their vaunted reputations and cost?
Somewhere in my 50s, I learned the difference in sound quality between Adcom and early Krell—the hard way. It didn't take golden ears to detect the difference; I rued empty pockets each time I heard the Adcom's highs. But, without listening experience, the unique qualities of Burmester and other non-US brands continued to elude me.
Jump ahead to 2022, when the Burmester Musiccenter 151 MK2 streaming D/A preamplifier ($27,500) arrived here for review. As much as I appreciated its qualities, I always suspected that this "little brother" to the since-replaced Reference Line 111 Musiccenter supplied only a taste of the sound Burmester's engineers could deliver in their top Reference and Signature lines. When Jim Austin reviewed the Top Line 216 amplifier as monoblocks in the January 2024 issue, in very positive terms, I became even more intrigued.
Enter the Reference Line Burmester 218 ($50,000 each), a stereo amplifier that weighs almost 93lb and is bridgeable to work as a monoblock. In mono configuration ($100,000 for a stereo pair), the 218 outputs up to 565W into 8 ohms or 785W into 4 (rated, apparently, at 1% THD+N). In the Burmester line, the 218 is bested in power (and presumably quality) only by the far larger, far heavier Signature Line Burmester 159, a 373lb behemoth that is specified to output a mammoth 1200W into 4 ohms.
As alluring as that monster seems, the 218 is more suited to my 20' × 16.4' × 9.4' music room. It also doesn't require a heavily insured bevy of handlers to unpack, pack, and ship across country for measurements, only to be unpacked and packed once again by the same or a similar bevy. Don't even think about shipping costs and possibility of damaging electronics and bodies.
All of which is to say, the Burmester 218 presented this serial monoblock reviewer with a shining-silver opportunity to explore the higher echelons of the Burmester line without breaking my back.
Presentation
Head to Burmester's webpage for the 218 (footnote 1), and you'll find evidence of dual ambitions in which visual appearance and technical advances meld as one. "The 218 power amplifier is visually and sonically oriented towards our flagship 159 amplifier ... [and] consistently benefits from the experience and knowledge that Burmester has derived from four decades of successful amplifier development," the website states. "The almost inexhaustible power reserves lead to an impressive sovereignty in music reproduction, which is supported by an outstanding spatial resolution and musical warmth. Power and elegance are perfectly combined behind the characteristic cooling fins. This monumental, but at the same time stylish, power amp easily handles even the most demanding loudspeakers." To me, that dual emphasis is justified. This is one classy-looking amplifier. The lid is screwless, which adds to a seamlessly clean and elegant industrial aesthetic that Burmester describes as "minimalist." Heat fins are secreted in the amplifier's top and rear and operate so efficiently that the 218 remains cool to the touch. And while the chassis may lack handles and require strong fingers for lifting—the absence of protruding support feet means that you can't easily hoist it from underneath without the risk of crushing your fingers when you set it back down—it is a relatively manageable load for two people with fingers strong enough to wedge under the short protrusions on the amp's sides.
The website lists the following technical features: completely symmetrical design; optimized protection circuits outside the signal path; stereo and monoblock operation possible; input stages that utilize Burmester's X-AMP technology (class-A); a DC-coupled signal path, so no sound-distorting capacitors in the signal path; generously dimensioned power supply allows high-current delivery capability; effortless control of any loudspeaker due to high damping factor over the entire frequency range, even at high frequencies; stable at all loads and all relevant frequencies; solid screw terminals for speaker cables; remote on/off via Burmester devices; integration into Smart Home control possible.
Wanting to know more, I submitted a list of questions to the amp's designer, who was recovering from surgery. Because he needed more time to heal, I received answers from Alexander Rüger, Burmester's senior electronic engineer. Rüger clarified that the 218, which took 18–24 months to perfect, is a new creation; it does not have a predecessor in the Burmester line. Its base plate, derived from but lighter than the base plate in the flagship 159 monoblock, "creates a smooth transition to the side housing parts and the heatsink." Both amps have a "harmonious and coherent appearance" whose hidden side heatsinks are supplemented by "massive cooling blocks" that help minimize case openings and improve thermal management. As Rüger wrote, "The thermal concept is optimally adapted to the internal structure and the housing design and thus ensures comprehensive temperature control, even at high power demands. This not only has a positive effect on the service life of the components, but also ensures absolute dedication to music reproduction due to stable temperature level."
The 218's ultralow-noise toroidal transformer was designed to Burmester's specifications, and its "modern, oversized linear power supply" has extremely low-impedance pathways. The amplifier "provides consistently stable and reliable power, even with demanding loudspeakers. The 218 reaches full performance level very quickly from switching on or standby (less than 30 seconds)."
To ensure an "extremely low noisefloor, Burmester spent a lot of time optimizing the current paths as much as possible, both in the PCB design and the wiring layout. ... Particular emphasis was placed on a low-interference grounding concept that, thanks to new signal and cable routing, sets new standards in terms of sound quality."
The company's ultimate goal was to achieve "the Burmester sound, which melds warmth, inherent richness, and detail with an all-encompassing fullness in the soundstage. ... We aimed to further enhance microdetail and dynamics to achieve an even better user experience with modern, high-resolution sources. Compared to the 216, the 218 offers even more control and resolution, with more focus, bass depth, scale, dynamics and upper-end space and air."
When powering Wilson Alexia V loudspeakers, whose nominal impedance is 4 ohms, I asked, how much of the 218's power is in class-A before switching to class-AB? Rüger replied, "The design is a little bit different than the norm. The class-A stage includes dedicated circuitry that drives the loudspeaker and, at a certain audio level, the AB stage. The class-A part is consistently active and, to a certain degree, smooths out the crossover distortion even at higher output levels. The AB stage kicks in at just a few watts (less than 10)."
While Rüger asserted that Burmester products, including speakers, "are designed to work 100% optimally as supplied," he said it's fine to use aftermarket support feet. As for power conditioning, Burmester itself uses a combination of wall power and their own 948 power conditioner in their factory. "High-quality power conditioners can often contribute to low noisefloor to bring out the best in amplifiers without taking anything away. However, again, the power supplies found in Burmester products are ultralow noise (especially in the 218) and work at a super high level straight 'from the box'."
Rüger said it was "kind of okay" to use aftermarket power cables on the amps. "Burmester cables are specified to optimize and complement the sound quality and are of extremely high quality," he wrote. "We don't necessarily make an effort to overtly advertise this, but it is important to note. Again, for the purest, 'unadulterated' Burmester sound, it's best to use the supplied cables unless the customer has a personal preference for increased sound performance by using third-party power cables." Taking this as permission to use my own power cables, I left Burmester's cables in the boxes when I unpacked the amps.
Some designers and companies focus on measurements first, while others pay initial attention to sound quality. Which camp is Burmester in? "In my opinion," Rüger wrote, "knowledge of the technical parameters should be the basis for all further optimizations. Even though the final goal is the best sound, not the optimum possible numbers, it's essential to secure the inherent technical performance before any sound tuning or modifications are made."
Front, back, and in the box
On the 218's front plate, right below an all-but-invisible infrared sensor for use with a remote control and a small, tasteful "218" logo, sits a single, small power button. Below it you can barely see a teeny-weeny, recessed LED. When you flip the main power toggle switch on the rear panel to "On," the LED glows a soft orange/ yellow before switching to red. This signifies that the amp is in standby. Depressing the button once more takes the amp into active mode, signified by green. The light is not bright and will not interfere with listening in the dark. When the amp is in standby mode, you can change which LED color signifies which state of operation. You can also switch the "Auto Power Down" function, aka APD, on or off. When it's on, the 218 will switch to standby mode if there is no input signal for a period of approximately 30 minutes. The amp normally arrives with the APD function switched on, but it was switched off in my pair.
The rear panel includes left and right XLR analog inputs, left and right pairs of spade-lug speaker outputs with large, easy-to-turn handles, and a 20A IEC inlet with a horizontally aligned On/Off power toggle switch directly above. There's a proprietary Burlink connection for connection/coordination with other Burmester products, a fuse box, and identification information with serial number. That's it.
The shipping box includes RCA-to-XLR adapters for users who must connect their preamp with RCA cables, and an XLR two-to-one "Y" adapter cable for users who wish to bridge the 218 for use as a monoblock—as I did. Attaching these adapters to my XLR interconnects took seconds. The 218 manual, supplied as a thin hardcover book and available online as a pdf (footnote 2), includes diagrams for stereo-mode wiring, mono-mode wiring with the requisite adapters or jumpers, horizontal biamping, and vertical biamping. If you follow the appropriate diagram, you won't go wrong. I never saw or used a remote control.
Footnote 1: See burmester.de/en/home-audio/power-amplifier/218. Footnote 2: See burmester-media-production.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20125206/ba_218_en_1-1_2405.pdf.
PresentationHead to Burmester's webpage for the 218 (footnote 1), and you'll find evidence of dual ambitions in which visual appearance and technical advances meld as one. "The 218 power amplifier is visually and sonically oriented towards our flagship 159 amplifier ... [and] consistently benefits from the experience and knowledge that Burmester has derived from four decades of successful amplifier development," the website states. "The almost inexhaustible power reserves lead to an impressive sovereignty in music reproduction, which is supported by an outstanding spatial resolution and musical warmth. Power and elegance are perfectly combined behind the characteristic cooling fins. This monumental, but at the same time stylish, power amp easily handles even the most demanding loudspeakers." To me, that dual emphasis is justified. This is one classy-looking amplifier. The lid is screwless, which adds to a seamlessly clean and elegant industrial aesthetic that Burmester describes as "minimalist." Heat fins are secreted in the amplifier's top and rear and operate so efficiently that the 218 remains cool to the touch. And while the chassis may lack handles and require strong fingers for lifting—the absence of protruding support feet means that you can't easily hoist it from underneath without the risk of crushing your fingers when you set it back down—it is a relatively manageable load for two people with fingers strong enough to wedge under the short protrusions on the amp's sides.
The website lists the following technical features: completely symmetrical design; optimized protection circuits outside the signal path; stereo and monoblock operation possible; input stages that utilize Burmester's X-AMP technology (class-A); a DC-coupled signal path, so no sound-distorting capacitors in the signal path; generously dimensioned power supply allows high-current delivery capability; effortless control of any loudspeaker due to high damping factor over the entire frequency range, even at high frequencies; stable at all loads and all relevant frequencies; solid screw terminals for speaker cables; remote on/off via Burmester devices; integration into Smart Home control possible.
The 218's ultralow-noise toroidal transformer was designed to Burmester's specifications, and its "modern, oversized linear power supply" has extremely low-impedance pathways. The amplifier "provides consistently stable and reliable power, even with demanding loudspeakers. The 218 reaches full performance level very quickly from switching on or standby (less than 30 seconds)."
To ensure an "extremely low noisefloor, Burmester spent a lot of time optimizing the current paths as much as possible, both in the PCB design and the wiring layout. ... Particular emphasis was placed on a low-interference grounding concept that, thanks to new signal and cable routing, sets new standards in terms of sound quality."
Front, back, and in the boxOn the 218's front plate, right below an all-but-invisible infrared sensor for use with a remote control and a small, tasteful "218" logo, sits a single, small power button. Below it you can barely see a teeny-weeny, recessed LED. When you flip the main power toggle switch on the rear panel to "On," the LED glows a soft orange/ yellow before switching to red. This signifies that the amp is in standby. Depressing the button once more takes the amp into active mode, signified by green. The light is not bright and will not interfere with listening in the dark. When the amp is in standby mode, you can change which LED color signifies which state of operation. You can also switch the "Auto Power Down" function, aka APD, on or off. When it's on, the 218 will switch to standby mode if there is no input signal for a period of approximately 30 minutes. The amp normally arrives with the APD function switched on, but it was switched off in my pair.
Footnote 1: See burmester.de/en/home-audio/power-amplifier/218. Footnote 2: See burmester-media-production.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20125206/ba_218_en_1-1_2405.pdf.
