Last month Burson asked me if I wanted to test and review a set of Vivid V7 Pro’s unbiased in the Soloist 3XR GT. You can find that review here: Review Vivid V7. The Vivid V7 were without a doubt a better version of the Vivid V6. Now it is time to give the V7 Classics a test run.
Before I started testing, I let the Classic V7’s run in for a full of 48 hours.
Test equipment:
– Hifiman Arya Stealth V3 / Hifiman Arya Unveiled
– Burson Soloist 3XR GT + 5A Supercharger
– Eversolo A8 + upgraded LHY LPS
– DAC – Chord TT2 + Mscaler
This time I will make a comparison between the V7 Vivid and V7 Classic, ofcourse a brief comparison with the V6 is only logical.
Fir Audio M5 Review: The Pinnacle of Personal Listening
About Fir Audio
Fir Audio may not be the oldest name in the high-end in-ear monitor (IEM) scene, but it has quickly earned the respect of audiophiles and professionals worldwide. Founded by Bogdan Belonozhko, a veteran in the CIEM world (formerly of 64 Audio), Fir Audio brings a rebellious spirit to in-ear design, combining cutting-edge technology with an almost obsessive dedication to sound purity.
Known for their innovative pressure release systems, ultra-rugged chassis, and bold designs, Fir Audio caters to those who want reference-grade sound with road-ready reliability. The M-series is their flagship line, and the M5 sits at the very top — a no-compromise, statement IEM designed for those chasing absolute fidelity.
Design & Build: Rugged Luxury
The moment you hold the M5 in your hand, one thing becomes clear: this is not your average IEM. The shell is crafted from precision-machined aluminum and feels practically indestructible. It has a minimalist, almost industrial design language — understated, but undeniably premium. This is form following function, with every curve and edge engineered for both durability and comfort.
Despite its rugged construction, the M5 is surprisingly lightweight and sits snugly in the ear, even during long listening sessions. Fir Audio’s Atom pressure relief system — a small module on the shell — reduces ear fatigue by equalizing internal pressure without sacrificing isolation. The result? Long-term comfort that makes hours of immersive listening possible without the dreaded “pressure dome.”
Inside the Beast: A Five-Driver Tour de Force
The M5’s name refers to its five-driver configuration:
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1 Dynamic Driver for bass
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1 Balanced Armature for mids
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2 Balanced Armatures for upper mids
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1 Electrostatic Driver for highs
This hybrid setup combines the best of all driver types, and thanks to Fir’s proprietary tuning and crossover design, the transitions between drivers are seamless. It never feels like a collection of parts — the M5 behaves like one coherent, living, breathing organism.
Sound: Neutrality with Soul
If you’re expecting exaggerated bass or boosted treble, look elsewhere. The M5 is not about gimmicks — it’s about truth. But truth, in this case, doesn’t mean dry or clinical. The M5 walks a fine line between reference-grade accuracy and emotional engagement. It’s like listening to a mastering engineer’s dream IEM — but one that still knows how to groove.
Bass: The dynamic driver brings depth and physicality to the low end. It’s fast, textured, and authoritative — never bloated, never boomy. Sub-bass rumbles are controlled but present when called upon, with just enough weight to ground orchestras, synths, and kick drums alike.
Mids: Absolutely world-class. Vocals sit perfectly in the mix — not pushed forward, not recessed. Whether it’s a whisper from Norah Jones or the grit of Chris Cornell, the M5 captures the nuance and emotion. Instruments like guitars, violins, and horns have a natural timbre and clarity that feels almost lifelike.
Highs: The electrostatic driver ensures airy, detailed treble that extends seemingly forever. There’s sparkle, but no sibilance. Cymbals shimmer without splashiness, and the overall presentation is smooth yet infinitely detailed. You’ll discover textures in familiar tracks you never noticed before.
Soundstage & Imaging: For an IEM, the M5 offers a surprisingly wide and deep soundstage. There’s excellent layering and three-dimensional imaging — instruments feel placed around you in a natural arc, not just “inside your head.”
Isolation & Usability
Thanks to the Atom module, the M5 offers a unique balance between isolation and comfort. You won’t be in a vacuum-sealed bubble, but external noise is still greatly reduced. For on-stage performers or travelers, it’s a game-changer.
The M5 also ships with a premium selection of accessories: a balanced cable (with top-tier ergonomics), multiple Atom modules for tuning pressure relief, and a high-quality leather case. Fir doesn’t skimp on the extras — everything feels bespoke.
Pairing & Source Sensitivity
The M5 is not extremely source-dependent, but it scales well. With a high-end DAP or desktop DAC/amp, it blossoms. Sources like the Chord Mojo 2, Shanling M9, or Cayin RU7 bring out its full potential. Low output impedance is ideal — the M5 thrives on clean power with low noise floors, especially to let the electrostatic treble shine.
Final Verdict: A Reference with a Pulse
The Fir Audio M5 isn’t just another flagship IEM. It’s a culmination of everything Fir Audio stands for: fearless innovation, rock-solid build quality, and most importantly, musical truth. It’s a tool and a toy — surgical in detail yet alive with emotion.
Is it for everyone? No. It’s priced for serious audiophiles and professionals. But if you’re searching for the summit of in-ear performance — a monitor that reveals everything without becoming fatiguing — the M5 is an endgame choice. For many, it could be the last IEM they ever need.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
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Incredibly natural and balanced sound signature
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Dynamic driver bass with texture and punch
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Sparkling, non-fatiguing electrostatic treble
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Excellent comfort with Atom pressure relief
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Superb build quality — nearly indestructible
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Wide soundstage and pinpoint imaging
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Scales with high-end gear
Cons:
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Expensive — premium pricing for premium sound
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Not ideal for bass-heads or colored tuning fans
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Slightly less isolation than fully sealed designs
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Demands quality source to perform at its best
Sophie Milman is a captivating jazz vocalist known for her warm, in my opinion a slight smoky sounding voice. Her album ‘Take Love Easy’ beautifully showcases her talent, blending classic and modern jazz influences.
Listening to the track ‘That is love‘ accentuated the warm textures of her voice, highlighting the intimate nuances. Her voice sounded refined and the analog presentation complements the track perfectly, delivering an emotionally engaging and deeply immersive listening experience.
Nat King Cole one of my all time favourites! I love his velvety voice. His album Just One of Those Things beautifully combines sophisticated arrangements with Cole’s signature charm, Perfect for reviewing the Burson V7 Classics!
Listening to the track ‘These foolish things remind me of you‘ brought out the rich, velvety textures of Cole’s voice and warmth of the jazz arrangement. The Classic V7’s presentation perfectly complements Cole’s timeless charm, enhancing the emotional intimacy and musical depth essential for a truly immersive audiophile experience. What started as one track, ended up listening to the whole album.
In my experience I have heard many very expensive equipment fail with nat king cole’s arrangements. Instead of a smooth warm experience, a clinical one.
Willie Nelson is an iconic country singer-songwriter known for his distinctively warm voice. His album American Classic revisits timeless standards with gentle sincerity and soulful authenticity
Listening to Willie Nelson’s rendition of Come Rain or Come Shine the Burson Classic V7 op-amps beautifully highlights Nelson’s warm vocal delivery and the nuanced instrumentation. The Classic V7 complements this album amazingly, revealing rich tonal textures, gentle warmth, and an engaging analog depth.
The iconic jazz album Ella & Louis unites Ella Fitzgerald’s effortlessly graceful vocals with Louis Armstrong’s warm musical magic.
The track April in Paris beautifully showcased this example. The Burson Classic V7 op-amps rendered this recording with an exceptionally natural warmth and intimate sounding Ella Fitzgerald’s with Louis Armstrong’s unmistakable gravelly tone. Where some opamps show a lot of simbilance in Louis voice, that trade was happily absent.
Emilie-Claire Barlow is a Canadian jazz vocalist known for her silky-smooth voice. Her album Seule Ce Soir is a stunning collection of the French jazz genre.
Listening to La Belle Dame Sans Regret beautifully enhanced the track’s delicate phrasing and emotional depth. The Classic V7’s lush, analog-like warmth brings out the rich tonal textures of Barlow’s voice. The intricate instruments remained smooth yet very airy and detailed.
Dirk Maassen is a pianist and composer known for his deeply emotive and atmospheric compositions. His album Here and Now blends delicate piano melodies with rich soundscapes.
Listening to track Here and Now elevated the emotional depth and warmth of his delicate piano work. The Classic V7 enhanced the natural resonance of each note, it had an organic flow through the whole track.
The Classic V7’s perfectly captured the essence of his music, beautiful!
Conclusion and comparison Vivid V7 vs Classic V7
After thoroughly listening to both the Burson V7 Vivid and V7 Classic op-amps, I realized that forming a well-rounded conclusion without directly comparing the two would be impossible. Each variant possesses unique sonic characteristics that define its strengths, making any assessment incomplete without considering how they differ.
The Vivid and Classic are not just two versions of the same op-amp; they are distinct interpretations of musical presentation, each catering to different listening preferences. Therefore, rather than focusing on one in isolation, a direct comparison is necessary to truly understand what each brings to the table.
When comparing the Burson V7 Vivid and Burson V7 Classic op-amps, you can find yourself at an intriguing crossroad. Each offering has a distinct sonic signature tailored to specific listening preferences. Both, especially in the case of the V7 with both exquisite performance.
The Burson V7 Vivid delivers a lively, energetic presentation that breathes life into your music. It excels in transparency, dynamics, and precision, making it particularly well-suited to modern genres, electronic music, or intricate acoustic recordings where micro-details and spatial cues are essential. Some might say that genres like Jazz or classical are less suited, but I would fully disagree that. The vivids are amazing, with all genres.
The Vivid boasts an impressive soundstage, extending wide and deep, with remarkable separation between instruments, hollographic almost. Its treble response is crisp yet refined, showing an airy sparkle without any harshness. The bass is tight, controlled, and punchy, ideal for listeners craving rhythmic precision and impactful transients.
In contrast, the Burson V7 Classic embodies warmth, depth, and a more analog-like musicality, a little bit of a vintage vibe sound. It’s often favored by those who prioritize emotional engagement, tonal richness, and harmonic textures. The Classic imparts a gentle smoothness to recordings, taming sharp edges and providing a slightly fuller-bodied midrange. This warmth results in vocals and string instruments sounding particularly inviting and lush. The bass is deeper, warmer, and a touch rounder compared to the Vivid, delivering a comforting, enveloping sound that enhances prolonged listening sessions, particularly suited to jazz, classical, blues, and vintage rock.
Ultimately, choosing between the V7 Vivid and the V7 Classic comes down to personal preference and musical tastes:
- Choose V7 Vivid if clarity, openness, precise imaging, and dynamic agility are your top priorities, especially suitable for analytical listening sessions or genres requiring high energy and detail.
- Choose V7 Classic if you value musical warmth, natural timbres, emotional depth, and a relaxed, engaging listening experience, ideal for those who enjoy smooth and immersive musical journeys.
The Burson V7 op-amps represent a true evolution over their V6 predecessors, refining and expanding upon Burson’s signature sound philosophy. While the V6 series already set a high benchmark for discrete op-amp performance, the V7 lineup elevates the experience with greater resolution, improved dynamic range and an even more immersive musical presentation.
One of the most striking improvements in the V7 series is its ability to reveal micro-details with exceptional clarity while maintaining a natural and engaging tonal balance. The enhanced transparency ensures that each instrument is distinctly placed within the soundstage, offering a more three-dimensional and almost holographic listening experience. Whether it’s the V7 Vivid’s energetic and precise delivery or the V7 Classic’s rich, analog warmth, both variants showcase significant refinements in resolution and musicality.
Burson has further optimized power handling and noise reduction in the V7, resulting in cleaner background and a more effortless, flowing sound. The transient response and harmonic richness make these op-amps an indispensable upgrade for those seeking the ultimate balance between technical excellence and musical enjoyment.
For audiophiles looking to push their systems to new heights, the Burson V7 series stands as a testament to continuous innovation, offering a level of refinement and sonic purity that redefines what discrete op-amps can achieve. I can only say, well done Burson Audio!
I highly recommend the new V7 Classic and Vivid opamps!
Want to read my review of the V7 Vivid’s? look here: Review Vivid V7
Pros:
– Superior resolution & transparency, delivers greater detail and clarity compared to the V6 series.
– Warmth without loosing air and soundstage,
– Enhanced dynamics, offers better micro and macro-dynamics, adding excitement and realism to the sound.
– Natural sounding with a lifelike presentation.
Cons:
– Price, nut much but still, more expensive than previous Burson op-amps and some competing options. (I would say they are worth it, but that is for everyone to deside for themselves)
