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  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    East Bay, CA
    Posts
    20

    Boulder 2160 vs MSB S500

    Just purchased an MSB Select DAC to replace my Linn Klimax; should be arriving soon. Will run the Select straight to the Burmester 911 amp.
    Wilson Audio Alexx speakers. Planning an amplifier upgrade next.

    Which amp would be better suited for my system, the MSB S500 or the Boulder 2160? Only have room for a stereo amp in the rack.

    A few other considerations:
    1-As the gear is in my living room, the Boulder would have a much more imposing footprint and would require a 9" deeper rack (room is about 18.6 feet in this direction), which would require repositioning the Alexx speakers closer to my listening chair (now sit about 12 feet away).

    2-The living room gets quite warm, so less heat production preferred

    3-I may purchase the Wilson XVX in the future, which I understand are very tough to drive and require lots of power

    4-No room for subs, so want to get the best bass possible from the speakers.

    5-I like that the Boulder line would allow for an upgrade to the 3000 line, while for now the S500 is the top of the line for MSB stereo amps.

    By the way, I love this forum,and just donated
    Mike B, would love to visit Suncoast as I know you have both lines, but I'm in California!
    Thanks for any suggestions.
    Speakers; Wilson Audio Alexx
    Amp; D'Agostino MxV 400
    Source; MSB Select II
    Power: Stromtank S2500Q

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    37

    Re: Boulder 2160 vs MSB S500 for MSB Select DAC

    I have the 3060 and it never gets hot, just warm to the touch. Why not just get the 3060 now?

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Poland
    Posts
    1,760

    Re: Boulder 2160 vs MSB S500 for MSB Select DAC

    Did you consider an used S250 ? This really is one of the best amps money can buy. And a perfect match for the Select + Alexx. Plus, it is relatively compact (although quite deep), looks fantastic and doesm't heat up the room.

    A friend of mine just got one for his Maxx 3 + MSB DAC V Diamond combo. I have also build a Sasha DAW + MSB Premier DAC + the older S200 for a close friend of mine. Both sound fantastic.

    There is really no need to reivent the wheel.
    Adam

    Speakers: Magico M3
    Amp: Dagostino Momentum Stereo
    Digital: Lampi Horizon + Lampi DSD Komputer

  4. #4
    Audioshark
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    30,027

    Re: Boulder 2160 vs MSB S500

    Quote Originally Posted by Kippyy View Post
    Just purchased an MSB Select DAC to replace my Linn Klimax; should be arriving soon. Will run the Select straight to the Burmester 911 amp.
    Wilson Audio Alexx speakers. Planning an amplifier upgrade next.

    Which amp would be better suited for my system, the MSB S500 or the Boulder 2160? Only have room for a stereo amp in the rack.

    A few other considerations:
    1-As the gear is in my living room, the Boulder would have a much more imposing footprint and would require a 9" deeper rack (room is about 18.6 feet in this direction), which would require repositioning the Alexx speakers closer to my listening chair (now sit about 12 feet away).

    2-The living room gets quite warm, so less heat production preferred

    3-I may purchase the Wilson XVX in the future, which I understand are very tough to drive and require lots of power

    4-No room for subs, so want to get the best bass possible from the speakers.

    5-I like that the Boulder line would allow for an upgrade to the 3000 line, while for now the S500 is the top of the line for MSB stereo amps.

    By the way, I love this forum,and just donated
    Mike B, would love to visit Suncoast as I know you have both lines, but I'm in California!
    Thanks for any suggestions.
    No problem!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

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  5. #5
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2022
    Location
    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
    Posts
    1

    Re: Boulder 2160 vs MSB S500 for MSB Select DAC

    I may not be of much help. I’ve only listened to Burmester 911 Mk3, MSB DAC IV Signature platinum and MSB M204 extensively. I probably have listened to some Boulder amps in passing at store demos. I’m not sure why you want to upgrade your Burmester. MSB Select direct into Burmester should sound pretty amazing.
    Is this to lower the heat in your room? Except most of those amps cooler running amplifiers don’t sound as warm.
    Or is this to gain even more transparency than Burmester? But not sure how much more you would get from the upgrade.
    Either way, I’m sure your MSB Select upgrade will sound awesome.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Denmark
    Posts
    639

    Re: Boulder 2160 vs MSB S500 for MSB Select DAC

    ecwl , welcome to the forum
    Flemming

    Lumin X1
    Rotel Michi S5
    Focus Audio FS788

    Inter connect : Nordost Tyr 2 ( 2 Meter )
    LS cable : Yter
    Power Cables : Nordost Frey 2 ( 2 Meter )
    Nordost QB8
    Fibercable for feeding the Lumin X1
    Rack : Finite Elemente Pagode

  7. #7
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2021
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    24

    Re: Boulder 2160 vs MSB S500 for MSB Select DAC

    Your decision to skip the preamp: did you run comparisons to conclude this? This is such a sticky topic, sorta like the “Do cables matter?” thing.

    But this is all relative to each person’s ears, room and equipment. So this is a sincere inquiry into your journey to arrive at your direct/no preamp choice. What preamps have you demoed with what amps and speakers, for instance? Or have you only used the Wilsons and Burmester for listening?

    Thanks.

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Boulder 2160 vs MSB S500 for MSB Select DAC

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