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
- 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.
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
Relentless
reviews
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An excellent review of a great product
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Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
Description
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.
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:
- The lacquered copper heatsinks with venturi tunnels and Breguet-style dials are distinctive visual elements that have been a consistent feature of D'Agostino's amplifiers from the beginning.
- Dan D'Agostino designs his solid-state creations to be as accessible and 'ear-friendly' as the best valve amps, achieving a sound that is organic, natural, pleasant, and even friendly.
- D'Agostino amplifiers are meticulously hand-built, with painstaking attention to detail and precision in component placement.
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Progression Series
- Positioning: The entry-level line in the D'Agostino amplifier lineup.
- Description: Known for powerful output and musical finesse, making them suitable for larger rooms and those seeking high power without the flagship price.
Momentum Series
- Positioning: Sits in the middle of the D'Agostino lineup.
- Description: Delivers substantial power and refinement in a compact chassis. They incorporate advanced circuit topologies and a unique input stage, setting them apart from the Progression series, which focuses more on raw power.
Relentless Series
- Positioning: The flagship line of D'Agostino amplifiers, representing the pinnacle of performance and luxury.
- Description: Designed without limits, offering practically unlimited power and the ability to drive any loudspeaker to its fullest potential. They feature groundbreaking circuit topologies and new power transistors, differentiating them from the Momentum series, which focuses on compact design and refinement.
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Avg. Product Price
$100,001+
Used For Sale
29
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
139
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
14
Founding Year
2011
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.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
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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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