Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Superb sound quality, design, and luxury.
- Extremely transparent and faithful to the source, offering more of an insight into the recording with less artifice.
- Built to last with fanatical build quality in every aspect of its design.
- Brings an overarching sense of structure and order to the sound.
Product Considerations
- Balanced only and will need an adaptor or custom cable for single-ended sources.
- The tape-monitor system is complex and ingenious, but Boulder's instructions about how to use it are unnecessarily complicated and obtusely described.
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs darTZeel NHB-18NS and the Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems Momentum, the Boulder 2110 produced image intensity, physicality, and solidity that were unprecedented in the reviewer's experience.
- Vs Boulder 2010, the 2110 is fully differentially balanced from input to output, where the 2010's volume control was not.
- Vs Pass XA160 and Xs preamp, it was clear that it was the digital front ends that provided the overwhelming amount of coloration and not the preamps.
Takeaway: The Boulder 2110 is a top-tier preamplifier that delivers exceptional transparency, accuracy, and build quality. It is a lasting investment that will redefine what is possible from an audio system.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
2110
reviews
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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Balanced Inputs: 6 pairs of 3-pin XLR
- Main Balanced Outputs: 3 pairs of 3-pin XLR
- AUX Balanced Outputs: 1 pair of 3-pin XLR
- Maximum Input Level: 7 Vrms
- Maximum Output Level: 28 Vrms
- THD+N, 2V Output: 0.0008% (-102 dB) at 20Hz-5kHz, 0.001% (-100 dB) at 20kHz
- Maximum Voltage Gain: 20 dB
- Volume Range: 100 dB
- Volume Steps: 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 dB ± 0.01 dB
- Aux Path Gain: -1 dB
- Frequency Response: +0.00, -0.03 dB (20Hz to 5kHz)
- Frequency Response (-3 dB): 0.02 Hz & 300 kHz
- Input Impedance: 333kΩ
- Output Impedance: 100Ω Balanced
- Power Requirements: 90-120V / 200-240V, 50-60 Hz
- Power Consumption: 240W Max, 85W On (Idle), 500mW Standby
- Preamplifier Weight: 63 lbs (28.6 kg)
- Power Supply Weight: 48 lbs (21.8 kg)
Description
Balanced version of Boulder's analog discrete step volume control is programmable for 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 dB steps. Four separate chassis: left audio, right audio, user interface, and power supply to isolate the analog channels from supply, control, and display noise.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Boulder prioritizes a "straight wire with gain" philosophy, focusing on neutrality and avoiding any specific sonic signature, allowing the source material to dictate the sound.
- The brand is known for a distinct industrial design, often featuring topographical contours and heatsinks that are considered aesthetically pleasing.
- They are committed to building all components in-house, including metalwork and circuit boards, to maintain exceptional quality control and durability, resulting in products with high secondary market value.
- Boulder's products are designed for long-term use and reliability, withstanding daily use and long periods of being left on with excellent circuit protection, although power consumption can be high.
Select products
Select product comparisons
Boulder 861
- Positioning: The entry-level model in Boulder's lineup, designed for smaller spaces and efficient systems.
- Description: Offers a compact design with 75W peak power per channel, making it ideal for small rooms or setups where space is limited.
Boulder 1161
- Positioning: A mid-range option, offering a balance between size and power for those who need more than the 861 but less than the 1160.
- Description: Delivers 200W peak power per channel. It shares the same operational features as the larger 1160 but in a more manageable size.
Boulder 1160
- Positioning: A high-performance model in the 1100 series, offering significant power and advanced features.
- Description: With 300W per channel, it features improved thermal management and a new grounding system, setting it apart from the 1161 by offering greater power and clarity.
Boulder 2160
- Positioning: A premium model in the 2100 series, offering top-tier performance and power.
- Description: Provides 600W per channel, making it one of Boulder's most powerful amplifiers. It features a fully-balanced design and advanced thermal management, surpassing the 1160 in power and performance.
Boulder 3060
- Positioning: The flagship model, representing the pinnacle of Boulder's amplifier technology.
- Description: Delivering 900W per channel, the 3060 is designed for the ultimate audio experience, with unmatched power and precision. It features a pure Class A operation and extensive use of Boulder's highest performing gain stages.
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Avg. Product Price
$75,001-$100,000
Used For Sale
26
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
126
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
16
Founding Year
1984
Our take on the brand
Boulder is among the elite tier of hifi amplifier brands. Based in Colorado, they are recognized for their exceptionally low-noise and high-power Class A and Class AB amplifiers. They are frequently cited as "dream systems" by audiophiles and reviewers.
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Our interview with the brand
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Boulder
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What if you spend more?
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- The 3010 offers a wealth of controls, including six pairs of outputs which can be separately attenuated, and a 'blend' function to change stereo to mono
- Notes start and stop precisely, but in a refined manner, and grace notes appear fleetingly before disappearing
- Startlingly pure reproduction, especially noticeable on smaller-scale recordings
- Captures the ringing peal of the organ in the nether regions with great power, and distinguishes tonal fidelity
- Music 'rips without any compression', and sorts out complex musical passages
Product Considerations
- If you prefer the sound of tubes, the Boulder 3010 will not give you a sumptuous tonal balance or holographic soundstage associated with tubes, because it seeks fidelity to the source
Takeaway: The 3010 offers precision and clarity in music reproduction, making it a highly addictive listening experience. The 3010's control and accuracy allow the music to breathe freely.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Boulder is among the elite tier of hifi amplifier brands. Based in Colorado, they are recognized for their exceptionally low-noise and high-power Class A and Class AB amplifiers. They are frequently cited as "dream systems" by audiophiles and reviewers.
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Product Page
Dan D'Agostino
Relentless
149500
149500
/
2
Reviews
Dan D'Agostino is an ultra-premium hifi brand distinguished by its unique copper heat sinks with holes and distinctive circular green-lit VU meters that give their amplifiers a steampunk aesthetic. Their amplifiers feature proprietary "Super Rail" technology that maintains high voltage for front-end transistors, while their three-chassis Relentless Preamplifier uses 30-pin interlocking connectors to eliminate wiring anomalies.
Expand Details
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Over-engineered, hugely heavy, and XLR-balanced-only design aimed at clients who accept balanced-only systems
- 'Dual Zone' functionality provides two playback zones with independent sources for each
- The two mono preamp chassis form a sandwich with the power supply/control section in between, communicating through interlocking gold-plated 30-pin aerospace connectors, eschewing cabling between the three sections
- The heavily shielded power supply is housed in its own chassis, which is intended to sit between the boxes housing the two audio channels, incorporating internal line conditioning circuitry
- Volume control knobs are very smooth, and the volume control has no sweet spot
Product Considerations
- XLR-balanced-only design might require adapters for RCA-only devices
- The remote control was initially a 'huge, weighty affair', though a new version was almost ready at the time of review
Takeaway: The D'Agostino Relentless Preamplifier is an extremely well-engineered, high-end product intended for those wanting the best possible audio quality and are unconcerned about cost. It offers unique features such as dual-zone functionality and a sophisticated multi-chassis design.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Dan D'Agostino is an ultra-premium hifi brand distinguished by its unique copper heat sinks with holes and distinctive circular green-lit VU meters that give their amplifiers a steampunk aesthetic. Their amplifiers feature proprietary "Super Rail" technology that maintains high voltage for front-end transistors, while their three-chassis Relentless Preamplifier uses 30-pin interlocking connectors to eliminate wiring anomalies.
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What competes at this price?
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Gryphon
Commander
93800
/
Released
2022
Since Gryphon's founding in 1985, the company's philosophy has remained constant: the relentless pursuit of sonic perfection without compromises in design, construction or cost. The culmination of Gryphon's four decades of design and engineering expertise are fully realized in Commander: the most advanced preamplifier ever made.
Gryphon is one of the most respected high-end amplifier brands in the world. Its bass grip is phenomenal, thanks to an unusually high level of capacitance, which keeps everything tight and controlled, even with demanding speakers. Gryphon is also known for its bold, brutalist design—a look that a lot of people love. You’ll find their gear all over Europe and Asia, and the Diablo 333 is often considered an ‘endgame’ amp by those chasing the very best sound and aesthetics.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Superlatively low noise floor contributes to dynamic prowess and resolution of fine details
- Linear and immaculate signal processing with minimal alteration of the source signal
- Delivers silky black backgrounds on recordings
- Provides effortless relaxation and clarity of musical line due to exactitude
- Excellent soundstage depth
Product Considerations
- The unit produces a lot of heat, so ensure adequate cooling
- Physical buttons and volume knobs are absent on the preamplifier
- Infrared remotes are not as good as Bluetooth remotes
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Commander preserves the signal about as well as a Boulder preamplifier, but adds a degree of silkiness to the proceedings
- The Gryphon lacks a bit of the supernatural musical flow and midrange bloom of a darTZeel preamplifier, but has superior dynamics, a lower noise floor, better bass control, and more accurate transient pitch definition
- The Commander improves upon the Pandora's widely recognized exceptional performance
Takeaway: The Gryphon Commander is a high-end preamplifier that offers exceptional clarity and control, making music sound pristine. It's a great option to explore for those who want a powerful and accurate sound.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Gryphon is one of the most respected high-end amplifier brands in the world. Its bass grip is phenomenal, thanks to an unusually high level of capacitance, which keeps everything tight and controlled, even with demanding speakers. Gryphon is also known for its bold, brutalist design—a look that a lot of people love. You’ll find their gear all over Europe and Asia, and the Diablo 333 is often considered an ‘endgame’ amp by those chasing the very best sound and aesthetics.
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soulution
727
77975
/
Released
2023
What a difference noise makes! soulution's new reference preamplifier sets new benchmarks in terms of noise, phase errors, common mode rejection and distortion.
Soulution Audio is distinguished by its ultra-wide bandwidth and high-speed circuitry, which allows for high levels of local negative feedback without adverse effects, and uses switch-mode power supplies that provide stable voltage under any load. The brand's amplifiers minimize signal path length by using copper bars instead of wires, while achieving exceptionally low noise floors and precise bass control through their high-speed, high-feedback circuit design.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The Soulution 727 preamplifier sets benchmarks in terms of noise, phase errors, common mode rejection, and distortion
- Offers improved noise reduction, increased resolution, and more extended bandwidth compared to its predecessor, the 725, without significantly altering the tonal balance
- Timbres are natural, uncolored, and true to the source material
- Provides impeccable control from deep bass to stratospheric highs, with excellent timing
- The soundstage gets wider and deeper with more air around instruments and performers, offering higher resolution combined with more lifelike musicality, even more heft and authority in the bass, while smallest details get resolved with greater delicacy
- Careful attention to grounding is needed, as the quality of the electrical ground can significantly impact the sound
Product Considerations
- The new layout of buttons and knobs might take some getting used to for existing Soulution users
- The maximum gain for the balanced and unbalanced inputs to the balanced outputs was a little lower than the specified 4dB, at 3.7dB
- The optional MC/MM phono section is not included in the base price and must be purchased separately
- The 727 might require assistance to put in place because it weighs 62lb
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Soulution 725: The 727 offers incredible detail, focus, and definition without the leaned-down, more analytical presentation of the 720, and the 727's imaging is more embedded in the recorded acoustic, while the 725 tended to project images forward
- Vs Dan D'Agostino Relentless: The Relentless threw a wider and deeper soundstage, also surrounding instruments and voices with a lovely extra cushion of air, yet sounded even faster than the impressively fast 727
- Vs Soulution 720: The 727 now offers the incredible detail of the original 720—maybe even in a greater amount—without the 720's somewhat leaned-down, more analytic presentation
Takeaway: The Soulution 727 is a top-tier preamplifier lauded for its neutrality, detail retrieval, and accurate reproduction of sound, making it a solid choice for audiophiles seeking uncolored and honest sound. Its advanced engineering and meticulous design result in a sound that's both revealing and musical.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Soulution Audio is distinguished by its ultra-wide bandwidth and high-speed circuitry, which allows for high levels of local negative feedback without adverse effects, and uses switch-mode power supplies that provide stable voltage under any load. The brand's amplifiers minimize signal path length by using copper bars instead of wires, while achieving exceptionally low noise floors and precise bass control through their high-speed, high-feedback circuit design.
Product Page
Product Page
VAC
Statement
82000
/
Released
This VAC Statement dual mono triode vacuum tube phono (MM/MC, three gain modes, adjustable load, stereo/mono operation) preamplifier is designed for extreme applications. On the back panel there are two DC umbilical cords and large Amphenol aerospace connectors, a reminder of the massive dual mono power supply. There are inputs for four independent phone sources. In addition, each input may be of the conventional single-ended type or may be fully balanced.
VAC is a hifi brand known for its unique iQ Continuous Automatic Bias System, which maintains optimal tube performance and prevents drift during music playback. Their amplifiers feature point-to-point hand wiring and custom film and foil capacitors, with each unit undergoing extensive quality control including listening sessions before shipment.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Renders timbre accurately with unassailable truthfulness, conveying tonal color in fine gradations of shading and articulation
- Offers a balanced, coherent, and color-free spectrum of sound across the entire audio bandwidth
- Conveys the dynamic range of musical scaling, including its weight and impact
- Delivers unflappable power, offering unsullied transient response and exhibiting a vise-like grip of control of the loudspeakers
- Recreates space and acoustical properties of recordings in a stunningly authentic and credible way
Product Considerations
- Compared to transistor-based electronics, it falls perceptibly short in macrodynamic scaling, microdynamic nuance, perceived speed of transients, and assured control of the lowest bass frequencies
Takeaway: The VAC Statement 452iQ Musicbloc™ amplifier offers unmatched tonal purity and spatial presentation among tube amplifiers, pushing the boundaries of what's possible with valve-based amplification. It delivers engaging, emotional, and credible sound, making it a worthwhile consideration for those seeking a top-tier listening experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
VAC is a hifi brand known for its unique iQ Continuous Automatic Bias System, which maintains optimal tube performance and prevents drift during music playback. Their amplifiers feature point-to-point hand wiring and custom film and foil capacitors, with each unit undergoing extensive quality control including listening sessions before shipment.
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NAGRA
HD Phono
87500
/
Released
2023
After years of intense research and development, the HD PHONO is finally available for discerning listeners of vinyl. It is the ideal complement to the HD range and the world-acclaimed HD PREAMP, HD DAC X and HD AMP monoblocks.
Nagra Audio, a Swiss brand with roots in professional recording and film (including two Oscars for soundtracks), brings watchmaking-level precision to their hifi equipment through extensive in-house manufacturing of components like transformers. Their HD Preamp and Classic DAC showcase unique technologies, including virtual battery power supplies and PCM-to-DSD conversion, while their commitment to quality is demonstrated by rejecting over half of their tested valves to maintain exceptional standards.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Reference-class device that orchestrates an audio experience of enchanting clarity
- Impeccable construction with a flawless machined chassis housing complex technology
- Extraordinary custom cobalt core transformers that are cryogenically treated and hand-coiled with meticulous care
- Six vacuum tubes are used, including the rare use of EF806S—a high-gain pentode tube, which is extremely low in microphonics
- Switchable loading from 5 to 390 ohms with 5 ohm incremental adjustability and a remote control allowing refined adjustments
Product Considerations
- Best suited for pairing with the finest cartridges for optimal vinyl reproduction
- It is important to consider cartridge pairings to achieve the desired sound
Takeaway: The Nagra HD PHONO provides an audio experience of enchanting clarity because of its exceptional design and construction. It's a great choice for people who really love listening to music on vinyl.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Nagra Audio, a Swiss brand with roots in professional recording and film (including two Oscars for soundtracks), brings watchmaking-level precision to their hifi equipment through extensive in-house manufacturing of components like transformers. Their HD Preamp and Classic DAC showcase unique technologies, including virtual battery power supplies and PCM-to-DSD conversion, while their commitment to quality is demonstrated by rejecting over half of their tested valves to maintain exceptional standards.
Product Page
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CH Precision
P10
80500
/
Released
2023
The latest introduction to our flagship 10 Series, the P10 phono-stage joins the benchmark L10 and M10 amplifiers, products that have quickly establishhed themselves as an almost universal reference. They followed in the footsteps of our original P1 phono-stage, a unit that has also long been recognised as THE benchmark for phono performance, by reviewers and end-users alike.
CH Precision is known for its modular design philosophy that lets customers tailor and upgrade their units over time without replacing the entire component, with sophisticated controls accessible via tablet from the listening position. Their amplifiers offer five different operating modes (stereo, bridge, passive and active bi-amplification, and monaural) and allow users to adjust specific audio parameters like global feedback ratio and input gain settings for optimal speaker matching.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Dual monaural twin-chassis design
- Offers both MC current-sensing and MM/MC voltage-sensing inputs for versatile cartridge compatibility
- Provides gain adjustment, input impedance selection, and selectable EQ curves for precise sound adjustment
- Incredibly low noise (less than -144/142 dBu) and low THD+N (less than 0.001%)
- Delivers crystal clear, airy, and incredibly detailed performance with excellent stage construction and holographic sound
Product Considerations
- Maximum power consumption from the outlet is 400W
- External power supply weighs 23 kg, while the preamplifier itself weighs 20 kg, making it a heavy setup
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to R2R-system based on master tapes playback, it brings the sound of a high-quality vinyl path closer
Takeaway: The CH Precision P10 is an extraordinary phono preamplifier that unlocks incredible dynamics and detail from vinyl records. Its advanced features and exceptional performance make it a top-tier choice for serious audiophiles.
Video review
Our take on the brand
CH Precision is known for its modular design philosophy that lets customers tailor and upgrade their units over time without replacing the entire component, with sophisticated controls accessible via tablet from the listening position. Their amplifiers offer five different operating modes (stereo, bridge, passive and active bi-amplification, and monaural) and allow users to adjust specific audio parameters like global feedback ratio and input gain settings for optimal speaker matching.
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