Whether they're the same robbers who stole $20,000 in merchandise the first time around, let alone the same burglars who have pillaged AudioVision and Harmony Audio Video in San Francisco, and Audio High…
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"Smash and grab thieves," as Bay Area media are wont to call them, have hit Music Lovers Audio in San Francisco for the second time in a month. This time, at 4am on Wednesday, March 4, three thieves wearing bandanas or ski masks over their faces and either long hoodies or overcoats drove up in a red truck, smashed one of the store's windows, and tried to make off with as much they could.
Founded in 1984, Boulder Amplifiers is a conservative audio company that goes quietly about its business, choosing not to call attention to itself with marketing flash or acronym-laden features. Change comes slowly to such companies, which is why the just-retired 2010 preamplifier enjoyed a 17-year run.
On the outside, with the exception of the new, front-panel–spanning display band of mirrored glass, the 2010's replacement, the 2110, looks little different from its predecessor, though changes inside and out are many. And the price has risen, from $48,000 to $54,000.
The 2110's…
I've seen how most manufacturers work. They start out by making products they believe in—products consumers are likely to love. But after a while they begin listening to their dealers and distributors and marketing consultants, most of whom are inclined to say things like: "You need to make a six-figure turntable, to compete with all the other six-figure turntables." "You need to make a $1500 amplifier, to fill that price gap in your product line." "You need to make a small, stand-mounted loudspeaker."
It's my impression that Wilson Audio Specialties doesn't work that way. I think they…
The 993S gain module features high current, high slew rate, high current output, low output impedance, and wide bandwidth. Each channel contains three positive and three negative boards, mounted and potted within a machined assembly, and each produces up to 20dB of gain. Before installation, the boards are tested, retested, and trimmed using an automated, computerized process that evaluates up to 10,000 different combinations of resistor values to match each 933S to a predetermined engineering specification. Whew!
In today's zero-negative-feedback world, Boulder almost defiantly uses…
In at least one key respect, the Duette Series 2 was the spatial opposite of the well-known Quad ESL-63 (footnote 3) and other speakers that encourage nearfield listening. While the Quads are known for creating the illusion that center-fill information is originating from a place behind the plane of the loudspeakers themselves, the Duettes pulled the center forward, and at the same time allowed more distantly recorded instruments and voices to sound as if emanating from places behind the enclosures. I found the Duettes' spatial performance in this regard satisfying—an observation that must…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Remote-controlled line preamplifier. Analog inputs: 6 balanced (XLR). Analog outputs (all balanced, XLR): 2 main, 1 Aux. Other inputs/outputs: Boulder Link Ethernet and IR mini-plug. Maximum voltage gain: 20dB. Gain range (configurable): –100 to 20dB in increments of 0.5dB. Frequency response: 0.02Hz–300kHz, –3dB; 20Hz–5kHz, +0.00/–0.03dB. THD+N, 2V output, 20Hz–5kHz: 0.0008% (–102dB); 0.001% at 20kHz (–100dB). Crosstalk, L–R or R–L: –134dB or better, 20Hz–20kHz. Crosstalk, adjacent inputs: –134dB or better, 20Hz–20kHz. Input impedance: 333k ohms.…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, port-loaded, stand-mounted loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" doped silk-dome tweeter, 8" paper-cone woofer. Frequency response: 33Hz–21kHz, ±3dB. Sensitivity: 92dB/W/m. Impedance: 4 ohms nominal, 4.35 ohms minimum.
Dimensions: Speaker: 18.5" (470mm) H by 10.5" (267mm) W by 16.1" (239mm) D. Weight: 45 lbs (20.4kg). Stand: 21.6" (555mm) H by 11.8" (302mm) W by 18.6" (476mm) D. Weight: 65 lbs (29.5kg).
Finishes: Many: Upgrade finish, add $3000/pair; custom finish, including paint matching, add $3500/pair.
Serial numbers of units…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable, Cobra tonearm, Castellon stand; Kuzma 4Point tonearm; Lyra Atlas & Etna, Ortofon Anna, Kiseki PurpleHeart, Miyajima Labs Zero (mono) & Madake cartridges.
Digital Sources: Simaudio Moon Evolution 650D DAC/transport; Ayre Acoustics QA-9 A/D converter; Lynx Hilo A/D-D/A converter; Meridian Digital Media System; Pure Vinyl & Vinyl Studio LP-ripping software.
Preamplification: Ypsilon MC-10L & MC-16L step-up transformers; Ypsilon VPS-100, Lamm LP 2.1 Deluxe phono preamplifiers;…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Garrard 301, Thorens TD 124 turntables; EMT 997, Thomas Schick tonearms; Ortofon SPU-A & SPU 95th Anniversary & CG25i, Miyajima Premium BE Mono II, EMT OFD 15 & TSD 15 pickup heads.
Digital Sources: Halide Designs DAC HD USB D/A converter; Apple iMac G5 computer with Audirvana Plus 1.5.12 playback software; Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Hommage T2 step-up transformer, Shindo Masseto preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Shindo Corton-Charlemagne monoblocks, Shindo Haut-Brion.
Integrated Amplifier:…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the Boulder 2110's electrical performance with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see www.ap.com and the January 2008 "As We See It"). As set up for the review, the volume control operated in accurate 0.5dB steps, the 2110 preserved absolute polarity (ie, was non-inverting, with pin 2 of the XLR jacks hot), and its maximum gain was exactly 20dB, as specified, for both the balanced and unbalanced inputs. The input impedance was very high, at an estimated 170k ohms (the specification states 333k ohms, but the voltage-drop method I use is not accurate for…