At High End Munich, Burmester is unveiling the latest addition to its Classic Line. The 232 integrated amplifier – named after the year and month of its developmental breakthrough, February 2023 – epitomises the modern-day amplifier with everything from built-in network streaming and a futureproof-friendly modular design to a contemporary new aesthetic that includes a touchscreen and an “innovative” control dial that we bet will elicit a few “oohs” and “aahs” in its lifetime. And all while realising “the sonic ideal of a Burmester amplifier”? Apparently so.
So, on to the details we have so far. The 232 offers a broad suite of digital and analogue connectivity and, thanks to its modularity, can be configured to customer preferences. There’s a new DAC module that includes eARC HDMI and USB socketry and can handle native DSD512 and PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz, while a phono module for MC cartridge-fitted turntables is based on the phono signal processing from the Burmester 077 Reference preamplifier and 100 phono preamplifier. The 232’s central interface delivers network streaming via Gigabit LAN or Wi-Fi in addition to Bluetooth (5.4) connectivity, with a module slot available to cater to any new standards when they come along the track.
