I apologize for the long delay regarding on the Boulder 865. I think it is a fantastic amplifier, and for the price, it is a giant killer. I was talked into the Boulder 865 by a dealer. I had actually wanted a Boulder 1010/1060 and the dealer insisted that 1) the 1000 series was being replaced and 2) That the money to invest in the next series would be better used on other components. I still think I want separates, but he might not have been wrong. Investing in top quality cables, balanced power, and an exceptional digital source have all contributed to the excellent music. Even when I hear a 1010/1060 combination, I think it is not that much better than what I have (given all the upgrades i made in balanced power-- the single most noticeable upgrade-- and signal/power cables). Not to mention many of the new integrated amplifiers are truly spectacular.
The Boulder is a spectacular instrument to convey what is on the recording. The boulder 865 is plays only what it is fed, it does not cover it up, it does not add anything, it does not take away anything. It simply amplifies the signal. And it is dead quiet. For example on Laurence Hobgood’s "First Song" the piano notes not only sound real, but have the power and decay as if I went over to the Steinway and played the song. The base, arguably the star of the track, was perfect. The plucking had the metallic sound and body, down to the vibrations. The rest of the track is perfect. The spacing between the performers is exceptional. That means the soundstage is great. It is not as layered as say my Viva, but that is a different system with different set of speakers, cables, and speakers.
Moving on to pop music, the 865 is equally good. On Razorlight’s Wire to Wire the melodic rock song comes alive with clarity, detail, and accuracy. The piano notes ring true, the voices come alive, with a sense of space and accuracy that very few other amplifiers can do. The drums sound great, the snare drum sounds eerily real. Classical music is just as strong, clear, accurate, and open.
The buid quality is top notch. It is a Boulder amplifier. The remote is awesome, the casing is great. They saved costs, clearly, but leaving off the trademark heatsinks. You know what though? It doesn't matter. it looks like a Boulder and if it made it more affordable, then its worth it!
I do not like many of the audiophile terms, to be fair, I really do not know what it all means. What I can tell you is that the amplifier is open, meaning the instruments, voices, and placement is as open as one can imagine. Is the 1100 or the 2100 series better? I am sure. But with the balanced power the 865 is extremely close to the 1060.
So am I happy? Yes, I am very happy. Have I considered selling it and upgrading? Yes. I have thought about moving to the Gryphon 300, which you are talking about. I have not heard it and I worry that its not a step up but a step sideways. I also worry that it is a bit darker than the Boulder and I am not sure that will work my system. I have considered the Vitus sia-025 as well, but again I have not heard it in my system or with equipment like mine. I have considered moving up within the Boulder range and if I find the right opportunity, I might very well do that. I have a Viva Solista Mk III in my library and its great as well, different than the boulder, but conveys the signal in a very organic way. I am lucky that I get to enjoy the best of solid state and the best of tubes. I am not sure though that even my Viva would best my boulder in that system. Other great systems I have heard just did not wow me the way that my system continues to make me happy.
The other thing to remember is that the boulder is great in my set up with the equipment I have, I have heard Boulder sound bad with other cables, and have heard great systems with other amplifier designers that sound like dreck in my system. For example the DartZeel just sounded plain bad (the CTH 8550) in my main system. It sounded as though it was underpowered. I have heard the same DartZeel in other systems and it sounded great... and the separates can also be excellent.
The only other shout out I want to suggest is that the Core Power Technologies Equi-Core 1800 was transformational in my system. I rarely give product shout outs but it really quieted the whole system down and really made the 865 sound more similar to a 1060. Would the 1060 sound even better? Sure, but I do not have one in home to test and the 865 is dangerously close. Even my professional musician friends could barely tell the difference.
In all, the Boulder 865 is fantastic.
