The 032 is a stereo integrated amplifier from Burmester of Berlin, part of the brand's Classic Line and introduced in 2003. It combines a fully balanced, DC-coupled signal path with a generously sized power supply inside a heavy-gauge enclosure, and every 032 is put together manually in the German capital. The metal case houses a mains supply designed for 220 V AC operation, and the heat-sink layout follows the familiar Burmester look with characteristic cooling fins.
Key specs that matter
The 032 is sold as a fully balanced design and accepts five line sources, three via balanced XLR sockets and the other two on RCA. A pre-out, available in balanced and unbalanced form, feeds an extra power amplifier or a second listening zone, and a home theater pass-through input is included. A 6.3 mm headphone jack sits on the rear panel. The output stage uses four selected power transistors per channel and can deliver a continuous peak current of 30 A. Frequency response extends to 200 kHz at the -3 dB point, noise on the line inputs stays more than 81 dB below the signal and gain is 31.1 dB. Rise time is 1.4 microseconds into 4 or 8 ohm and 1.9 microseconds into a 1 ohm load.
Engineering and use context
For its input stages the 032 relies on Burmester's X-Amp technology running in Class A, overall negative feedback is kept low, and the circuit is fully DC-coupled, free of capacitors along the audio path. Tone controls for treble and bass are fitted and can be switched out of circuit, and balance can be set in 120 steps. Input sensitivity, output level and switch-on volume can be stored as presets. Those heat sinks keep the chassis cool under full load, and the chromed control element is milled from solid brass. A 10 V DC trigger input and output on 5.5/2.5 mm barrel connectors lets a Burmester preamplifier or other components turn the 032 on and off remotely. Loudspeaker cables connect to paired terminals at the rear. The display circuitry sits behind the brass control element, which shields it from spurious noise, and the amplifier is available with either a black or silver finish.
Pairing
With three XLR inputs the 032 suits balanced sources such as Burmester's own CD players and streamers, while the pre-out leaves room for adding a separate Burmester power amplifier later. Burmester has built its electronics in Berlin since 1977.
Alternatives
The Burmester 082 is the smaller Classic Line integrated amplifier with four balanced and two unbalanced inputs.