There is a tendency to think of “voicing” in terms of coloration. Having said this, it is here that I come to some of the major challenges in reviewing products this good. Both the preamp and amplifier have exceptional detail and transparency, exceptional air and “live” dynamics, tight but powerful and realistic bass, a broad soundstage with excellent width, and depth that is just slightly forward compared to much of the competition.
At $21,000 and $28,000 respectively, the Boulder 11 are scarcely cheap, but Boulder also has the more expensive 2100 series and the cost-no-object 3000 line.Īs I’ve just noted, the 11 have the general “voicing” I’ve heard in other Boulder products. They are products that approach the state of the art in sound quality, even though they are two steps down from Boulder’s top of the line. The new Boulder 1110 preamplifier and 1160 power amplifier reviewed here are excellent examples. Even though its earlier models are always good enough to make improvements in the new-generation matters of nuance, those improvements are always significant in long-term listening. Boulder also does not change product lines quickly or without reason. I’ve never heard one of its components that wasn’t excellent within its price range. The best manufacturers keep this voicing as limited as possible, but it is always there.īoulder is definitely one of these top manufacturers. You also detect that the company’s equipment tends to be consistently “voiced” in ways that prioritize a given mix of sound qualities. If you have listened to such manufacturers’ products over time, you also find that real improvements in the new series are always there but generally subtle. There are a number of top high-end electronics manufacturers that you can trust to put out an excellent new preamplifier and amplifier even before you audition them.