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
- 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.
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
3010
reviews
[{"title":"Boulder 3010 Preamplifier and 2108 Phono Preamplifier","link":"https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/boulder-3010-preamplifier-and-2108-phono-preamplifier","source":"The Absolute Sound","datePublished":""}]
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 via 3-pin XLR
- Balanced Outputs: 3 via 3-pin XLR
- Auxiliary Balanced Output: 1 via 3-pin XLR
- Maximum Input Level: 7 Vrms
- Maximum Output Level: 28 Vrms
- THD+N, 2V Output, 20 Hz to 5 kHz: 0.0008% (-102 dB)
- THD+N, 2V Output at 20 kHz: 0.001% (-100 dB)
- Maximum Voltage Gain: 20 dB
- Volume Range: 100 dB
- Volume Steps: 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 dB ± 0.01 dB
- Auxiliary Path Gain: -1 dB
- Frequency Response, 20 Hz to 5 kHz: +0.00, -0.03 dB
- Frequency response, -3 dB: 0.02 Hz & 300 kHz
- Input Impedance: 333kΩ, Balanced
- Output Impedance: 100Ω, Balanced
- Power Requirements: 90-120V / 200-240V, 50 - 60 Hz
- Power Consumption: 240W Maximum
- Preamplifier Chassis Dimensions: 19" (48.25 cm) W x 18" (45.75 cm) D x 9.25" (23.5 cm) H
- Preamplifier Chassis Weight: 78 lbs. (35.4 kg)
- Power Supply Chassis Dimensions: 19" (48.25 cm) W x 18" (45.75 cm) D x 5.1" (13 cm) H
- Power Supply Chassis Weight: 45 lbs. (20.4 kg)
- Shipping Dimensions: 27" (68.6 cm) W x 33" (83.8 cm) D x 26" (66.1 cm) H
- Shipping Weight: 235 lbs. (106.6 kg)
Description
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
$100,001+
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.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
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Boulder
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Dan D'Agostino
Relentless
149500
/
Released
2021
The new Relentless Preamplifier is the ultimate in preamplifier design. The preamplifier plays a critical role in musical playback; the point in the reproduction stage when the music signal is particularly susceptible to compromise through noise and distortion. The use of three separate chassis in the design of the Relentless Preamplifier—a dedicated audio chassis for each channel separated by a power supply/control section—addresses these challenges and brings other benefits as well.
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
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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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