well guys, i decided to buy a pair of Revel Salon 2 and try again with this speaker. i figure now i have massive horsepower and all the front end needed for these so why the hell not try them.
first impressions: NO BASS. very detailed, no oomph and they do not have the attack the monitor audio platinum 500s have in my room. I suspect the revel salon 2s are picky with rooms. They need to be in the right room with the right walls in order to blow you away. My room is far from that, but the platinum 500s are killers. They don't give a damn how big or wide or tall your room is. They will force 120 decibels in any space.
I will continue to play with the revels and move them around, but right now i don't hear any difference by playing with the rear knobs. i have them about 4 feet off the back wall and 3 feet from the side walls. |
Both Audioaficionado and Whatsbestforum have dedicated forums on Boulder and the synergy of the preamp & amp you might want to check out if you haven't already.
|
I see- felitopaz just a thought. Happy Listening! |
I understand the A5 doesn't compare to the Cary. I may be wrong though.
|
felitopaz
Have you thought about an Anthem 5-channel amp to match the D2v ? Happy Listening! |
I used to have a BAT VK-6200 5 channel and after auditioning the Cinema 5, I sold the VK, bought the Cary and pocket $2500.
I couldn't hear the difference between the two.
|
Hey Whitecamaross,
I have Klipsch Palladium P-37, P-27S and P27C in my home theatre set up. I use an Anthem D2v and Oppo 105 connected via 5 channel RCA for movies and 2 channel via XLR for stereo listening.
My amplifier is a Cary Audio Cinema 5 and although it sounds good,
I am looking for a better 2 channel sound.
Which stereo amplifier you think would make a more positive audible difference with my system?
Thank you kindly.
|
I was just told by boulder dealer that the 2060 will drop my jaw if I get the matching 2010 preamp. He said that the boulder isn’t even close to its full potential because the audio research reference 6 isn’t even close to the boulder preamp. Anyone here with boulder amps ? What’s your experience with boulder preamps??
|
I am right now holding on to both and considering buying the matching boulder preamp. I just want to hear the full bolder sound and see what it does for me.
I tried the luxman yesterday and it sounded really amazing again and almost to the point me wanting to sell the boulder. I then went back to boulder and once I biwired the speakers then I realize the luxman holds its own if I compare both amps without biwiring but if I biwire the boulder since it has 4 binding posts then that’s when things change drastically and the boulder wins. |
whitecamaross
with the Bel Canto out of the picture (for now), are you attempting to decide between Luxman and Boulder?
Happy Listening! |
13. Boulder 2060 is just as fast sounding as the black system. It is the fastest sounding solid state amp i have ever heard. Incredible the speed and dynamics that this monster possesses.
Also, i just took both preamps out of the race and i am using the lumin s1 as my preamp for the first time. I am VERY VERY IMPRESSED here to say the least. I expected it to get smoked by the luxman and audio research ref 6 and that is not the case. It can hold its own. |
+1 on both ways. And go with the one that sounds the best. |
Another + vote for trying both ways. Keep us posted- whitecamaross Happy Listening! |
As a generalization usually the better cable would be used up front between the source and preamp with the lesser one between the preamp and power amp, but in audio things don't always work according to theory or expectations. In the end I'd suggest trying them both ways to see which sounds best in a given application. Another factor to consider is that if you have more than one source using the best cable pre-power would benefit the sound of all sources, while using it to connect a source would only benefit that single source. Too many variables for a definitive answer.
|
Ok, so here is a question for everyone here:
Let's say you have 2 pairs of balanced cables of the same length and the same brand. One is 2 models below the other one which means one is entry level and the other one is higher level.
where would you use the better cable, between the amplifier and the preamp or between the source and the preamp? what do you think would yield the best results? the answer will shock you :) |
Thanks! for the updates- whitecamaross Happy Listening! |
12. BEST BASS AND MIDRANGE I HAVE EVER HEARD. No contest here. That said, it could also be the REF6 giving me the spectacular midrange from those tubes and the boulder is doing an outstanding job at translating that information. |
4. Best bass i have ever heard from any of my amplifiers ever. Clean, tight, fast, zero bloating. It just swings the bass notes with precision and without feeling taxed or compressed regardless of volume level.
5. Luxman amp runs hotter than this boulder.
6. The longest decays i remember hearing. Instruments seem to linger in the air longer before fading out.
7. Instrument separation is better than i have heard in the past. In a couple of songs i can hear the guitarist playing off to the left when before i thought it was in the middle of the stage.
8. Although i can see WHY some may prefer the luxman due to its liquidity and musicality, the reality is that the boulder is a true window to your music. This can in fact come off as a cold sounding amp or dull, lacking excitement. however, this couldn’t be farther than the truth.
9. 107 decibels and still zero compressions, zero fatigue, huge attack,dynamics and immense pace. Bass is so tight and deep that it feels as if my 77 inch OLED tv is about to come off the wall where it is hanging.
10. This is the amp that you can throw a party in your house and let it loose and not one single person will say to turn it down because it doesn’t scream. It doesn’t sound harsh. The music just gets louder and louder without making you want to turn it down. Very interesting effect to say the least.
11. One downfall i have found is that this amp seems to fall apart at low volume. It seems to lose its magic. This could be perhaps the audio research preamp and not really the amp? who knows, i would have to buy the matching boulder 2010 preamp to really see what this amp can do. That will give me a very close idea of what it can do.
One thing i have learned to do throughout this journey is to NEVER EVER judge an amp from the get go. Alot of amps will blow you away when you first sit down and listen but CAN YOU LISTEN for extended periods of time without turning down the volume? that is the question that many of you need to ask yourselves. |
Ok, i have been listening for about 3 hours today. Here are a couple of things:
1. Huge, but HUUUUUUUUUUGE control of the speakers when you crank it up. I dare to find a speaker that this amp does not drive. It is just ridiculous how it handles loud passages.
2. I decided to bi wire the amp to the monitor audio platinums and left it on all night as well. It sounds very different from last night. It now has more of what i lacked. It has more detail than yesterday, more background detail are now more forward. The midrange continues to blow me away.
3. No fatigue with it. It just comes in and gets the job done.
I am starting to slowly like it. That said, i have not used the luxman amp today so i haven't done any comparison at all. i am trying to only focus on the boulder right now and then after a few days i will jump back to the luxman and see what i lost and what i gained. So far, the boulder is showing me its strengths I am also finding myself listening to music that i had not listened to in a long time (Tracy Chapman for instance, sounds incredible with this amp). |
My boulder isn’t new. It’s 5 years old. It has been off for about 3 months though. Yes you are correct that my judgement is preliminary which is why I am going to playing it for a few weeks to get used to it’s sound. Right now all I’m doing is what I am perceiving which could or could not change as time passes. |
My experience is that a judgement made before at least a few days have gone by might not be the correct one. FWIW
|
doesn't the boulder need to break in?...sounds like you are passing a judgement already. it's brand new and you have played it at a low volume level. my gear sounded way different at lift-off.
all your questions should be answered over the course of weeks if not months. like you said =you have to become familiar with it's sonic signature.
really enjoy your thread! good luck!
mike |
Right now, i plan to keep my luxman set up and begin to get acquainted with the boulder sound. This is new to me in terms of what true neutral amps are. I will say that this boulder amp is VERY VERY FAST SOUNDING. The music almost sounds as if it was on fast forward through it. Really interesting how it just pushes the music out. |
whitecamaross-
I had inquired about the Bel Canto vs. Boulder? Which combo is going to take up permanent residence in your system? Happy Listening! |
Alright guys, the boulder has been playing since 11pm and it is 145am right now.
Before i begin, please know this session was done at about 85db in loudness which is a little too low in volume for me, but the baby is asleep so i gotta try to do what i can for tonight. Anyhow, my initial impressions were so so. I was not really like holy sh@t wow. I felt like the sound was dull, bland, non exciting. I was using the audio research ref6 as a preamp and i wasn’t really impressed. I then switched to the luxman preamp and the feeling was even worse unless i used the loudness button on it. So i decided to go back to the luxman combo and yes there was noticeably more detail and sparkle happening. I felt as if the treble knob had been turned to the right. Anyhow, i went back to the audio research ref6/boulder combo and again i felt as if the detail lost a few ounces of sparkle. So i sat down, let music flow through the system with the boulder/ arc combo and i started to notice that the words to certain songs were more articulate. I felt as if the words were easier to understand. There were songs that i couldn’t ever know what they were saying and with the boulder i can actually make out what these words are. I thought that was very interesting. So i kept playing and playing more music and started to realize that some songs sound good (at 85 decibels still which sucks) and some other songs not so much. In essence, the boulder is not forgiving. It does not give a damn to present you with the raw truth of your material. If it sucks, it will let you hear it. For instance, try to watch a youtube video from any show from the 90s on your 4k tv right now and notice how crappy it looks? Same thing goes for this amp. It does the same with your music.
Here is the compromise, do you want ALL YOUR MUSIC to sound good? the luxman has the edge here, but it may not be the true definition of transparency because it is "coating" the sound with its flavor. That said, do you want to hear what your system sounds like as it is? the clables, the source, the material, the preamp, etc? the boulder shows you this.
Lastly, i noticed that my ears don’t get fatigued nor do i want to turn the sound down after hours of listening. Is it because i am listening at 85 decibels or because the boulder is not bright or forward, but rather dead neutral? I am leaning towards the latter.
One more thing, let's not forget system synergy is key so maybe this amp needs a boulder preamp to really shine? who knows...
Next session will be over the weekend when the wife and kid are out of the house. I prepare to do full throttle sessions of 100 decibels or more and hear what these 250 lbs are all about. |
|
Does the amp come with a free hernia operation?
|
Ok guys,
the boulder 2060 will be picked up Friday. Here we go again!! |
Hi,
no never. i have not spent any time with subwoofer amps. |
|
alright guys, the negotiations have started with the boulder 2060. If we reach an agreement, the boulder 2060 might be the first amp i will begin to review this year. Stay tuned... |
i have now listed my Mark Levinson 585 integrated at a great price. Grab it while you can! |
As far as the lumin s1 vs the ps audio direct stream (red cloud installed), i will say i heard the lumin s1 edge out the ps audio when i was using the expensive 16,000 dollar wireworld speaker cables, but once i went back to the silver eclipse 7 speaker cables i felt like i could not tell them apart anymore. It was harder to pick up any difference between the lumin and the ps audio through my luxman set up when using the silver eclipse 7 speaker cables.
Anyhow, today i decided to just plug in the Reference 6 after not using it for a month or so and man it sounds so incredible. I really feel like both preamps are spectacular, but it really depends on what is it that you are using them for. Both uncover different things within the music and both are amazingly smooth and detailed. The only thing i would say the reference 6 is a pain about are those tubes that need to be swapped out and that it does not fit in standard rack spaces and it runs very hot. The luxman doesn't have any of those issues. |
Hi guys,
right now i own the luxman 900u amp and preamp as well as the audio research ref6 preamp and gs150 amp. That said, i am contemplating purchasing the boulder 2060 so i can use my reference 6 with it and see if it can indeed best my luxman 900u combo which i have praised here for a few months. However, i don't buy things that i am not 100% sure of because it would be one expensive test. I have access to a boulder 2060 that i can have in my hands tomorrow, but what if i don't like what it does? i could potentially be talking about losing a couple of thousand dollars to try it and not to mention the back breaking session to go along with it. I have attempted to see of my connection will let me audition it in my home and even offered him 250 dollars to let me hear it here in my home and he said he does not want to deal with the hassle and the lifting required. He said if that amp leaves, it is not coming back so hey i understand it. That said, i love everything about that amp when i see it, but i can't say that i am going to for sure love it. The luxman amp is intoxicating at many levels and it only weighs 100 lbs.
Time will tell... |
Can I put in a review request for 2 Luxman 900 amps running as mono blocks? : )))) |
He stated he was sending the Bel Canto back to the dealer and await the upgraded version that recently was released. |
whitecamaross-
are you running (2) different systems? Per following this thread, I interpreted that the winner was Bel Canto Black gear?
Happy Listening!
|
whitecamaross,
I am very happy with my new amp purchase (thanks to you and your very informative forum posts). This year I’m planning on upgrading my source. Have you had the chance to compare the Lumin to the PS Audio to the Sim 650D (if you still have it)? Thanks, Ron
|
Boulder 2060 vs Luxman? I bet you never will listen to Luxman again. |
Whitecamaross, I’ve been following this thread since the beginning. Probably the best forum topic I’ve read in a long time.
The Boulder/AR combo should be a world class pair IMHO. But how will you know if you do not test it? This mission you have started is like hiking to the Everest. It is a long and dangerous mission (back pains + lifting the Boulder).
Will you stop the hike with only a few feet left? Will you be filled with remorses not knowing if the Boulder/AR combo could potentially have beaten the Luxman pair? Will you sleep well? Pleeeeeaaaaase go for it!
Good luck with the install, if you decide so.
A fan (LOL!)
|
You know the answer whitecamaross. If the Boulder is too heavy, too hard to sell or a pain to deal with in any way, don't buy it. There are plenty of other amps out there. Maybe your swapping has run its course and you just need to listen for a while. |
I sold my 1.2kws... now it’s time to decide if I should get the boulder 2060 and my ref 6 versus my luxman combo. Damn it... two people have said no don’t do it because I hate the boulder then I’ll take a very long time to sell since it’s a 250 beast that few want to deal with. I’ll go ahead and ask a few people here and see what the feeling is. Ok here we go, how many of you think the luxman combo WOULD BEAT the boulder 2060/ ARC REF6 preamp combo ?
|
If you upgraded to Redclould, and I have not heard the Lumin S1, my money is on the PS Audio Directstream, especially with the Bridge II playing MQA. |
Lumin s1 is in the House. I will be doing a/b comparisons between this and ps audio directstream. We shall see |
Update: i will be picking up a lumin s1 and test drive it here at home. The goal will be to see how much better it is than my ps audio direct stream dac. i suspect the lumin s1 will blow away my ps audio direct stream. Just a gut feeling based on my initial research. |
Whitecamaross- I just discovered your thread on audiogon 2 days ago. Frankly, I have read it to completion 3 times, since! I must say you are an inspiration and a bridge builder for all. I also take what reviewers write with a grain of salt. I have reembarked on this journey, albeit, on a smaller monetary scale than yourself, 6 years ago. I happen to be a Wireworld fan also. The last 2 years I have focused on tube gear. Buying and selling equipment so I can listen with my own ears in my own home and surround myself with like minded people who enjoy listening, not reading stats. A fine bottle of wine always helps! I sold high end hifi (actually Luxman, McIntosh, B&O, M&K, et al) back in the 80’s.
As you well know, everything has changed for the better.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU for sharing your journey! Messages like these are the reason why i keep doing what i do. I appreciate your kind words and i hope you enjoy the Hegel H30 that i am shipping to you tomorrow. Guys, anytime you have feedback that is positive and constructive, it fires me up to keep doing this day in day out. Remember, i do it for pure enjoyment and also because i want to share my personal opinions on what is out there. Thank you a lot once again and stay tuned. 2018 will bring even more twists and turn that will be all for the better. I don’t know if i review 30 amps this year, but i think 20 should suffice :) lol |
whitecameross, Consider contacting Leif Swanson about MasterBuilt cables, and Ozan Turan about Ansuz cables, both in the uber-fi category. Also consider Cerious Tech's new Graphene Matrix cables, new tech but not wildly expensive. |
It has been my experience the WW Gold gets you very close to the level of Platinum. If you want to hear a dramatic uptick in performance for short dollars, see if you can get your hands on a Furutech Flux-50 NCF http://www.furutech.com/2016/08/23/13623/It has been by far the most cost-effective tweak I have made in years! |
I am using silver 7 power cords. Same for balanced cables. That said, I may request gold eclipse 7 xlr and speaker cables and see what happens. Im amazed at how much better this set up sounds with these cables. I didn’t expect to hear this improvement.
|
@whitecamaross - What are you using for power cords? |
