Burmester 161 All-in-One Musiccenter

Complimentary White Glove Delivery • Travel Reimbursement*

The Burmester 161 All-in-One Musiccenter brings an entire high-end digital audio system into a single component. It combines a network streamer, music server, CD player and ripper, high-resolution DAC, preamplifier and 170-watt-per-channel power amplifier, allowing a complete Burmester system to be built by simply adding loudspeakers.

Despite its all-in-one architecture, the 161 is engineered as a serious high-end component rather than a convenience product. Its analog circuitry is fully balanced and completely DC-coupled, digital conversion supports selectable 96 kHz or 192 kHz processing at 24-bit resolution, and sophisticated clock regeneration is used to minimize jitter before conversion.

The integrated music server adds mirrored storage for a locally maintained music library, while Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB playback, internet radio and network streaming provide access to digital music beyond physical discs.

A Complete Burmester System in One Component

The 161 integrates functions that would normally require several separate components.

Inside a single chassis are:

CD player and CD ripper
Music server
Network streamer
High-resolution DAC
Analog preamplifier
2 × 170-watt power amplifier

This makes the 161 particularly compelling for a system where simplicity and visual elegance matter, but compromising the quality of the electronics does not.

Connect a pair of appropriately matched loudspeakers and the 161 can serve as the center of the entire audio system.

2 × 170-Watt Integrated Amplifier

The 161 incorporates a 170-watt-per-channel stereo power amplifier.

Integrating amplification directly into the Musiccenter eliminates another component, another set of interconnects and another chassis while giving the 161 enough power to drive a substantial range of high-performance loudspeakers.

The amplifier, preamplifier, DAC and digital source architecture are also engineered as one complete system rather than assembled from unrelated standalone components.

Fully Balanced Analog Circuitry

Burmester builds the 161 around sophisticated fully balanced analog circuitry.

The signal path is completely DC-coupled, eliminating coupling capacitors from the audio path.

Burmester uses this architecture to avoid the phase shift in the audible range that can be introduced by coupling capacitors, with particular emphasis on maintaining precise low-frequency reproduction.

This is an important distinction between the 161 and conventional lifestyle-oriented all-in-one systems. The compact system concept does not replace Burmester's core analog engineering philosophy.

High-Resolution D/A Conversion

The 161 incorporates a reference-class D/A converter with selectable processing at:

96 kHz / 24-bit
or
192 kHz / 24-bit

This allows the user to select the preferred conversion mode while the 161's sophisticated clock-regeneration circuitry processes incoming digital data before conversion.

Clock regeneration is designed to substantially reduce timing errors, or jitter, that can degrade digital playback.

The 161 supports playback and importing of common digital audio formats at resolutions up to 24-bit/192 kHz.

Integrated CD Player and High-Quality CD Ripping

Physical media remains fully supported.

The integrated optical drive allows the 161 to function as a conventional high-end CD player, but it can also rip a CD directly to its internal music server.

When a disc is imported, album artwork, track information and artist metadata can be automatically associated with the music.

The owner can choose between a faster ripping process or a mode designed to extract the disc at the highest possible quality.

This allows an existing CD collection to be migrated into a locally stored digital library without requiring a separate computer or external ripping system.

Mirrored Internal Music Storage

The 161 uses two mirrored internal hard drives to protect the locally stored music library.

Each drive provides at least 2 TB of capacity, with approximately 2 TB available for music storage. The second drive maintains a parallel copy of the library using a mirrored architecture.

If one drive contains the primary music collection, the second maintains the same information as a redundant copy.

This provides a meaningful level of protection for a library that may represent hundreds or thousands of imported CDs.

Network Streaming

The 161 connects to a home network through both wired Ethernet and integrated Wi-Fi.

Once connected, it can access network-based music sources and supported streaming services while also functioning as the central music server for a locally stored collection.

Burmester equips the Wi-Fi system with two antennas operating in parallel. The system can select the stronger wireless connection to improve stability when reflections or other conditions interfere with one signal path.

Standalone Wi-Fi Access Point

The 161 does not require an existing network for basic operation.

Its integrated Wi-Fi hardware can function as a wireless access point, allowing a control device to communicate directly with the Musiccenter.

This means the 161 can continue to provide functions that do not depend on an internet connection even when no conventional network infrastructure is available.

For a permanent high-end installation, however, we generally favor a properly designed wired network connection wherever practical.

USB Playback and Library Export

Music stored on USB media can be played directly through the 161.

USB functionality also allows music to be exported from the internal library, giving the owner another method of managing and preserving locally stored content.

Together with the internal server, network connectivity and CD-ripping capability, this makes the 161 much more than a conventional streaming amplifier.

Burmester-Developed Software

Burmester developed the 161's operating software in-house rather than simply integrating a generic third-party interface.

The company's software and hardware teams therefore control both the audio platform and the operating environment surrounding it.

Basic functions can be controlled directly from the component or supplied infrared remote, while more extensive library and playback functions are available through Burmester's control interface.

Burmester continues to provide firmware support for the 161, including updates to internet radio, playlist handling and streaming-service interfaces.

Technical Details

Specification	Burmester 161 All-in-One
Product Type	All-in-One Musiccenter
Music Server	Integrated
Network Streamer	Integrated
CD Player	Integrated
CD Ripping	Yes
DAC	Integrated
Preamplifier	Integrated
Power Amplifier	Integrated
Amplifier Output	2 × 170 W
Analog Architecture	Fully balanced
Signal Path	Completely DC-coupled
D/A Processing	24-bit
Selectable D/A Sampling	96 kHz / 192 kHz
Maximum Supported Audio Resolution	Up to 24-bit / 192 kHz
Clock Regeneration	Yes
Internal Storage	2 × HDD
Drive Capacity	At least 2 TB each
Storage Architecture	Mirrored
Usable Music Storage	Approx. 2 TB
Ethernet	Yes
Wi-Fi	Integrated
Wi-Fi Antennas	2
Wireless Access Point Mode	Yes
USB Playback	Yes
USB Export	Yes
Internet Radio	Yes
CD Metadata / Artwork Retrieval	Yes
Infrared Remote Control	Included
Web-Based Control	Yes
Firmware Updates	Yes
Manufacturing	Berlin, Germany

Burmester's documentation confirms the 161's 2 × 170W integrated amplifier, CD playback and ripping, music server, USB functionality, internet radio and support for common formats up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Its two internal drives operate as mirrored storage, providing approximately 2 TB of usable library capacity.

Burmester 161 at The Grid HiFi

The Grid HiFi in Houston specializes in Burmester high-end audio and complete two-channel systems. The 161 is an exceptional foundation for a system where you want genuine Burmester engineering without filling the room with separate source, DAC, preamplifier and amplifier components.

We can match the 161 with the appropriate loudspeakers, cabling, power infrastructure and network architecture to create a complete system around a single primary electronics component.

For customers with large CD collections, we can also configure the network and digital ecosystem around the 161 so physical discs, locally stored music and streaming sources operate together as one organized library.

Complimentary White Glove Delivery • Travel Reimbursement*
Qualifying purchasers may receive airfare reimbursement for your private audition.
Considering the 161? Let’s build your dream system around it. Call (713) 218-8120.
*Restrictions apply. Contact us for details.