@arro222
I like it when a manufacturer executes, takes some chances, innovates and achieves their design goals. The sound quality, check. Versatility and content, check. Angled front and user interface, check.
The heatsinks actually work extremely well, they aren't fragile in the least nor prone to bending like so many designs. They are sturdy and and actually are very convenient when lifting/moving the amplifier. They provide a wonderful non slip way for the finger to grip while placing the 866. They are not, however, capable of slicing cheese or your fingers like most heatsinks.
Cool with me if you wouldn't consider owning it. That's what makes things interesting.
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A firmware update just came out from Boulder and loaded without a hitch. It is now a Roon endpoint, seamlessly integrated. Volume and power on-off from within the Roon app. Just the way a high end product and support should work. |
@fleschler
The VAC is a great amp. I’m sure the reason it wasn’t included or recommended is that it isn’t solid state and it doesn’t have a built in dac/streamer. Other than that.... |
No offense intended but the McIntosh and the Hegel, while fine pieces, are not in the same zip code as the Boulder. The Boulder 866 could have been priced at $20,000 for the analog version and $25,000 for the dac version and the reviewers would still crow about it. Its that good. Its a good thing Boulder doesn't change models very often, it will probably take them several years to work through the order backlog once people get a chance to hear it. |
The Boulder is exceptional. Before I demoed the 866 I was predisposed to not like it as I was never impressed with the 865 (no offense to anyone who liked the 865, it just was too dry for me at the time I demoed it). I compared with Pass Int250, Lux 509x and my brief demo of a Gryphon was good but not enough to make me pull the trigger but that was over a year ago. I have also owned the Nagra Classic Integrated late last year, it is also superb. All these are superb integrateds but the Boulder was clearly superior to my ears. Maybe its my ears coming around to Boulder rather than Boulder evolving, I don’t know, but it is an exceptional integrated amp and that’s from a highly biased tube lover. I ended up buying it. It replaced an ARC Ref5SE/Ref75se in a second system driving Wilson Sasha 2. All transparent Gen 5 ultra cabling.
The Dac section I ordered as an "oh I might want it someday when I’m between dacs" kind of decision. I was biased that it would be so-so and a convenient bridge as we roll through dacs from time to time. I was dead wrong. It is really, really a nice dac! You would need to spend $3-5k or more to achieve the level of performance and even then, it would likely just be different and not necessarily better. Some of the finer points though on the dac section: The streamer is killer, there is no USB b port so you arent able to stream from a server via usb. It is not yet a roon endpoint (upnp presently is the only option), they are presently in the certification stage. The aes-ebu input is very nice, I havent tried the other inputs or direct attachment of external usb media. I use Mconnect hd to stream qobuz and its very, very nice. I have an Innuos Zenith MkIII running roon core but it is presently only utilized to stream to my external Aqua dac.
The remote control is via an iPad app or an optional remote via a usb dongle. Both work well.
Overall, I am thrilled with the purchase. There is so much great gear out there and you would likely be happy with any of a handful. If I didn’t already own some really good dacs, I wouldn’t necessarily feel the need to buy one. Dacs on hand: Lampi Amber 3, Aqua La Scala Optologic MkII. Former dacs: Chord Dave, Nagra Classic Dac, Lampi Golden Atlantic, Totaldac D1Tube, etc.
The dac in the 866 is terrific. The amp is terrific. It is like an ingot of aluminum. Build quality is very high. All the burbling of the look of the heatsinks is BS. The amp is to0 beautiful to tuck away unless you live in a lavender Victorian....then, the amp deserves to be shielded from the Victorian aesthetic to perform it best (LOL).
In summary, this is the first integrated amplifier that I’ve heard that is reasonably priced that will seriously leave you wondering why you feel the need for separates. The Boulder may not be for you but I assure you, it will be a major hit for Boulder. And thats coming from someone who was Boulder agnostic before experiencing the 866 for myself. Demo a number of different amps and buy the one you like. |
@speedbump6
You misinterpreted my post. I'm not saying Hegel can't hang, they very well might be able to. The most glowing review of the Hegel 590 (I think it was soundstage but I dont remember) I saw came from a reviewer who already owned a 390 and also had a Hegel dac. I remember thinking to myself that that was probably the right guy for Hegel to get to review the 590 amp so he could communicate the differences. I also remember thinking to myself that I hoped he wasn't a "captive" reviewer...natural jump to a conclusion. Likely unfair on my part.
Listen, I hope the Hegel is great. I too was trying to answer the OP's question and was trying to do it from a position of this is what I've personally experienced. I have heard the McIntosh and summarily dismissed it. It was not very good and the dac section is, well, just meh. I made an incorrect assumption that you had heard the Hegel and the McIntosh because you were listing them as alternatives and since I had heard the McIntosh and it sounded mid-fi, I unfairly lumped in the Hegel. My bad.
Peace.
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@speedbump6
Indeed the Hegel has been getting some good reviews from the Hegel owners. The 390 is supposed to be a really fine amp/dac, especially at the prices you see them discounted at both new and preowned. The 590 had better be good at $11k. The strongest reviews seem to be from the reviewers who already own Hegel, which can be a strong statement or a channel, depending on perspective. There is some great gear being made and designed throughout the world and I'm certain the Hegel falls into that camp.
Until you hear the Vitus, the Nagra, the Gryphon and then the Boulder...the refinement is just there. The elegance is just there. It does come at a price but to many its worth it. I don't know if Hegel really knows how to play in the 5 figure game yet, we will see. Go hear all of the aforementioned amps, no matter what you buy, its really amazing what is available today in high quality gear.
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Holy grail is strong...and polarizing.
I was contacted by someone via private message who recently purchased a 866 and replaced a Gryphon. He or she may or may not post but that is high praise. Once again, there is some great gear out there and so many are upping their game to compete. We end users are the beneficiaries.
It will be interesting to see what comes in both the marketplace and the fallout of the Covid-19 related disruptions. The Boulder is pretty special, whether it floats anyone's boat is the fun of this hobby. |
The Luxman 509x is a fine integrated but it doesn’t meet the criteria of the OP. It is 120wpc and doesn’t have an inboard dac let alone an inboard streamer.
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@jo1mtb Hi and thats an excellent question. Its a difficult question because I heard them so far apart timewise. The 865 was a fine amp. At the time it seemed a little too chilly and clinical for me years ago. The Gryphon will find its audience and when I heard it it seemed a bit of a chameleon, maybe trying too hard to include some tube like cues. I wanted to want it but it just didn’t move me. The 866, for what it is, is simply amazing. As many of my posts indicate, I am biased toward tube amplification and am fortunate to have the room and the resources for multiple systems.
The Boulder checks all the boxes of the OP and the sound is sublime. If dead neutral is noon on the clock face and 11 oclock (warmer), the Boulder 865 would be at 2 oclock (cooler) to my ears, the 866 at 11. The Gryphon, I dont know maybe 10 oclock, maybe 11:30, its been too long. I believe though that if it had made a significant impression on me I would have bought it. I believe the DAC in the 866 is a real treat in this package. It is so well integrated, it performs far better than it has any right to and for many the 866 could be an end game piece. As Ive said before, and I realize I have a psychological problem in this regard, but somewhere in my house at all times there will always be a tube based system.
Another nice feature of the Boulder is the volume comes on ever so gently, maybe even too gradually for some. I would venture a guess to say that you could connect the 866 to horns and have tremendous range in the volume with an absolutely black background. How many of us have had systems where you maybe had usable volume range of only zero to 10 on your 100 step volume control and thats all? That isnt the boulder. On Sasha 2’s the listenable range for me is 40-65 and 70 is far too loud.
If you you like neutral with an ever so slight side dish of warmth, the Boulder 866 is the ticket. I find it humorous all the arguing over Luxman vs Accuphase vs Gryphon vs Pass vs whatever else. The Accuphase, Pass and Luxman don’t meet the OP’s spec qualifications and I find NONE of those in the same league as the Boulder. Some might prefer Gryphon, others the Boulder. Everyone should just go hear these amps for yourself, let your ears and your equipment align with your listening taste. The Boulder 866 isn’t quite as warm as the ARC reference separates it replaced but, given that I have tube based systems to listen to, I kindof feel like I have it all covered. I hope this helps.
Once again to the OP, listen to the choices out there and buy what you like, this is rarified air that you are flying in. Im not sure if things can get much better for an all in one streamer, dac, 200wpc at 8ohm that doubles into 4 ohms class ab amp than the Boulder. Listen, when you can afford to buy what you want, and at your budget you can, you should wait until you hear something that moves you.
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Congrats! An heirloom from day one. Enjoy. |
@rick2000 Im sure the Kora sounds nice, it just doesnt meet the requirements of the OP.
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