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The two biggest sonic jolts I've experienced involving phono preamps were from two very different ones: the Petr Mares's Connoisseur 2.0 and Boulder's 2008, which was reviewed in the July 2002 Stereophile. The first was hand-built, single-ended, housed in a wooden case, limited to 100 units, and, when I got to hear it in the mid-1990s, cost around $6000, or about $10,000 in today's dollars. The other was a feature-laden, double-chassis monument to flexibility and surface-mount high technology. It featured beautifully finished, flush-mounted mirrored buttons your fingers just wanted to press…
Prior to installation, the 995S and 993S assemblies are retested and trimmed to spec using an automated, computerized process that evaluates up to 10,000 different resistor value combinations to match each gain stage to a predetermined engineering specification. Boulder claims that all aspects of the new 993S and 995S are superior to the ones used in the 2008. "Superior" in what way or ways was not specified. (Measured? Sonically? Both?)
Setup and use
Connecting, configuring, and using the 2108 was straightforward. As on the 2008, each of the three balanced-only inputs (Boulder…
Sidebar 1: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable & Castellon stand; SAT CF1-09 tonearm; Lyra Atlas Lambda cartridge.
Preamplification: darTZeel NHB-18S, Ypsilon MC-10L, MC-16L, step-up transformers; Ypsilon VPS-100, CH Precision P1 with X1 PSU.
Power amplifiers: darTZeel NHB 468 monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx.
Cables: Interconnect: TARA Labs Zero Evolution, Zero and Air Evolution, Analysis Plus Silver Apex, Stealth Sakra & Indra, Luminous Audio Technology Silver Reference, interconnect. Speaker:…
Sidebar 2: Boulder 2108 Specifications
Description: Solid-state phono preamplifier with separate power supply. Inputs: Three pairs balanced, convert to unbalanced. Outputs: Two pairs balanced, convert to unbalanced. Input impedance (maximum): MC: 1000 ohms, MM: 47k ohms. Resistive and capacitive loading adjustable on individual Personality Cards. Output impedance: 100 ohms balanced. Phono equalization: RIAA, FFRR (London/Decca), EMI, Columbia. Frequency Response (RIAA): 20Hz–20kHz, ±0.10dB. Channel separation, L–R or R–L: 100dB or better, 20Hz–20kHz. Maximum output level: 28V RMS. THD:…
Sidebar: Measurements (from October 2020, Vol.43 No.10)
In his review of this very expensive, very heavy, American-made, two-box phono preamplifier in the August issue—the 2108 with its 2110 power supply costs $52,000—Michael Fremer enthused over its sound. "The 2108 produces both a sense of soaring exultation in the upper registers and gritty drama in the lowest one," he wrote, adding "Boulder detractors who think their products are too analytical, sounding dry and bleached, ought to give the 2108 a listen." Intrigued, and remembering how well Boulder's previous flagship phono preamp,…
After completing a PhD in electrical engineering at Imperial College London, Floyd E. Toole joined Canada's National Research Council (NRC), where he would stay for more than 26 years doing audio-related research. He continued his research at Harman International after leaving the NRC in 1991. When Toole left Harman in 2007 (footnote 1), Harman kept the work up under NRC alum Sean Olive (footnote 2)—which fact surely has much to do with the excellence of their current loudspeaker lineup.
The importance of Toole's project is hard to overstate. His goal was to provide a scientifically…
Volti Audio's room at the 2020 Florida Audio Expo showcased the company's newest offering, the $20k/pair Rival Special Edition hybrid horn loudspeaker. With a custom cabinet and exotic Bubinga wood veneer, it easily counted among the best-looking loudspeakers I saw at the show. I also found the Rival SE's sound, powered by Border Patrol amplification, intoxicating. I placed it near the top of my shortlist for Best Sound at Show.
Not that a good Volti performance came as a surprise: Stereophile's Ken Micallef was impressed, in his 2017 review, with the ability of the Volti Audio Rival to…
Once everything was ready, Greg used my Android tablet to access some favorite demo music from Tidal and Qobuz. First up was "Chocolate Chip Trip" from Tool's recent album, Fear Inoculum (24/96 FLAC, Volcano/RCA 0886447855874)—essentially a Danny Carey drum solo. As the track began, the sounds I heard—chimes, bells, acoustic and electronic drums—were coming from all around me; some from the walls directly to my sides. The bombast of percussion continued to build, and soon I was enveloped by a soundstage that seemed, well, preternatural, while the music itself seemed natural indeed—very real…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Three-way, hybrid bass reflex/horn floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) horn-loaded tweeter with neodymium magnet; large-throated, wide-dispersion midrange horn with 2" (51mm) composite diaphragm compression driver with neodymium magnet; 12" (305mm) high-power, high-sensitivity woofer. Crossover frequencies: not specified. Frequency range: 35Hz–20kHz. Nominal impedance: 6 ohms. Minimum impedance: not specified. Sensitivity: 97dB/2.83V/1m. Recommended amplifier power: 8–80Wpc. Peak power handling: 80W.
Dimensions: 40" (1016mm) H × 15…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Pro-Ject Classic SB turntable with Hana SL moving-coil cartridge.
Digital sources: Yamaha BD-A1060 universal disc player; Euphony Audio Summus: Intel NUC-based music server/player/streamer running Roon/Qobuz/Tidal.
Preamplifiers: PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell preamp/DAC; Musical Surroundings Phonomena II+ phono preamp with Musical Surroundings LPS.
Power amplifier: Bel Canto e1X.
Integrated amplifier: PrimaLuna EVO 300.
Loudspeakers: Zu Audio Omen with Mk.II tweeter/cap upgrade.
Cables: Interconnects: AudioQuest Yukon (…