Boulder 2120 DAC

[Mike]

Boulder 2120 DAC

- Inputs include: AES, S/PDIF, USB, HDMI and Ethernet
- Will handle sample rates up to 32-bits and 386 KHz
- Internal digital volume control
- Separate chassis for the left channel, right channel, user interface and power supply
- Large display and all available metadata (including cover art) are displayed
99S gain stages in the analog output section

Thanks to Paul for sending me this!

[JDLaudio]

WOW. Sure looks impressive. Any info on DSD compatibility ??

[Ritmo]

+1...and the price is

[Mike]

+1...and the price is

How much?


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[asiufy]

Heard it today as CES, with YG Sonjas.
Fantastic!
The interface is cool and simple, and it works smoothly. No hiccups.
It is a beast of a machine!
The price is $60k, though...


alexandre

[JDLaudio]

[QUOTE=asiufy;109003]Heard it today as CES, with YG Sonjas.
Fantastic!
The interface is cool and simple, and it works smoothly. No hiccups.
It is a beast of a machine!
The price is $60k, though...


alexandre[/QUOTE


Might as well charge $160,000 for it. It's too expensive for anyone sane, and way too cheap to be considered the best in the world for the top 1% audio elite.

[Mike]

Heard it today as CES, with YG Sonjas.
Fantastic!
The interface is cool and simple, and it works smoothly. No hiccups.
It is a beast of a machine!
The price is $60k, though...


alexandre

Looking at this purely from my IT hardware/software background perspective, what in the world is in this to justify $60,000?

[Rantzmar]

The more important question is why would any one spend that kind of loot on it? digital is changing way to fast. All computer audio Is headed to DSD and beyond....and in my opinion, if that thing ain't doing DSD, it's already behind....especially if it's not upgradable!

[Rantzmar]

Looking at this purely from my IT hardware/software background perspective, what in the world is in this to justify $60,000?

I too have a IT background and can tell you...you're paying mostly for the board technology in that thing. I mean, look at the gui! Very impressive! Also the name Bolder.

[still-one]

Looking at this purely from my IT hardware/software background perspective, what in the world is in this to justify $60,000?

It's beautiful. Does that qualify?

[tunes]

Eye of the beholder i guess. Even if it sounded great, i couldn't stand looking at the screen. I always appreciate a display that can be turned off, but in this case, part of the reason for the hefty price tag.

[still-one]

The more important question is why would any one spend that kind of loot on it? digital is changing way to fast. All computer audio Is headed to DSD and beyond....and in my opinion, if that thing ain't doing DSD, it's already behind....especially if it's not upgradable!

Actually very little music is going to DSD. Even less that interests me.

[Mike]

The more important question is why would any one spend that kind of loot on it? digital is changing way to fast. All computer audio Is headed to DSD and beyond....and in my opinion, if that thing ain't doing DSD, it's already behind....especially if it's not upgradable!

Agreed 100%. New formats are continuing to be created.


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[asiufy]

It's beautiful. Does that qualify?

I agree, it's beautiful. And the build quality is outstanding.


alexandre

[apdoc2004]

It may be first rate in sonics but for that price I expect it to cook my breakfast and drive me to work

[Rantzmar]

Actually very little music is going to DSD. Even less that interests me.

Dont deny what's ahead! More and more music in DSD format is coming. There's plenty now if you know how to find it. The market, once it catches up is going to demand it. Besides...you got DACs doing DSD on the fly! And once a person hears native DSD128, well they upgrade the drives and demand more......it's just a matter of time. A good DAC with great clocks doing DSD can have just as great of resolution and dynamics as a good vinyl rig...hell, My buddys Lampizator 7 right now sounds as good as vinyl.

Right now on Acoustic sounds one can purchase DSD64 for the same price as Flac files. If you got the space and the DAC, which one would you purchase? Audiophiles will catchup. And besides, DACs are getting better and cheaper at the same time.

[still-one]

Dont deny what's ahead! More and more music in DSD format is coming. There's plenty now if you know how to find it. The market, once it catches up is going to demand it. Besides...you got DACs doing DSD on the fly! And once a person hears native DSD128, well they upgrade the drives and demand more......it's just a matter of time. A good DAC with great clocks doing DSD can have just as great of resolution and dynamics as a good vinyl rig...hell, My buddys Lampizator 7 right now sounds as good as vinyl.

Right now on Acoustic sounds one can purchase DSD64 for the same price as Flac files. If you got the space and the DAC, which one would you purchase? Audiophiles will catchup. And besides, DACs are getting better and cheaper at the same time.

Wow. I just checked. A whole 478 DSD titles on Acoustic Sounds and it is the SOS titles. Until we start seeing new releases it will remain just another option in a very segmented market.

I have heard DSD on several occasions and have never heard it sound much better than good PCM.

[Rantzmar]

That's just it! There are newer releases...you just don't know where to look. If you search for them online, you'd find a few more sites offering down loads...mostly classical now, but it's growing now.

I wonder if you heard native DSD128? Native DSD 64 sounds better than PCM. Even in my experience, DoP...sounds better than PCM. There are a few things that can keep one from hearing DSD....software not configured properly....computer software not strong enough ( remember now, this format takes a lot of processing and one must have a very powerful computer to handle the job)....supporting gear not resolving enough....bad clocks in the DAC......and the most important one......the person just can't hear, or know what to listen for. DSD 128 properly set up can be breath taking. I've listened to the Lampizator DAC, level 7 with "The Dude" tube preamp, and Coda amps and if you didn't know any better you'd think you where listening to a great vinyl rig.

[still-one]

That's just it! There are newer releases...you just don't know where to look. If you search for them online, you'd find a few more sites offering down loads...mostly classical now, but it's growing now.

I wonder if you heard native DSD128? Native DSD 64 sounds better than PCM. Even in my experience, DoP...sounds better than PCM. There are a few things that can keep one from hearing DSD....software not configured properly....computer software not strong enough ( remember now, this format takes a lot of processing and one must have a very powerful computer to handle the job)....supporting gear not resolving enough....bad clocks in the DAC......and the most important one......the person just can't hear, or know what to listen for. DSD 128 properly set up can be breath taking. I've listened to the Lampizator DAC, level 7 with "The Dude" tube preamp, and Coda amps and if you didn't know any better you'd think you where listening to a great vinyl rig.

Just what I want. A DAC with a tube in it. No thanks. No wonder it only gets to the level of vinyl.

[Rantzmar]

What sounds better in your opinion...SS?

[Rantzmar]

Well Jim...I'm certainly not mad at cha for not liking tubes. Tell you what....you seem capable enough. Why don't you fly into St.Louis this weekend. Lukasz Fikus, Cheif engineer and founder of Lampizator will be at a friends house....that way you can hear the DAC with tubes in them.....would you like to join us? Perhaps we can change your mind?

[mep]

Just what I want. A DAC with a tube in it. No thanks. No wonder it only gets to the level of vinyl.

Jim-Are you having a bad day?

[Mike]

Just what I want. A DAC with a tube in it. No thanks. No wonder it only gets to the level of vinyl.

Even though I don't agree, that was pretty funny.

[mep]

Even though I don't agree, that was pretty funny.

Interesting. I saw zero humor in his statement and I'm always looking for some humor.

[cmalak]

mep...you need to know Jim. He is one of the most stand-up guys in this hobby and while he has his strong biases, such as SS over tubes and digital over vinyl, etc...he tells it how he sees/hears it and is known to give tube- and vinyl-heads a hard time for sh&ts and grins every once in a while. Knowing the source you would have known he was simply teasing Rantzmar.

[dlb2]

Just what I want. A DAC with a tube in it. No thanks. No wonder it only gets to the level of vinyl.

I've never heard a DAC that gets close to the level of vinyl.

[cmalak]

Doug...Jim would ask you if you have had your ears checked for wax recently....

[dlb2]

Doug...Jim would ask you if you have had your ears checked for wax recently....

That he would. Ha!

[wisnon]

7

Well Jim...I'm certainly not mad at cha for not liking tubes. Tell you what....you seem capable enough. Why don't you fly into St.Louis this weekend. Lukasz Fikus, Cheif engineer and founder of Lampizator will be at a friends house....that way you can hear the DAC with tubes in them.....would you like to join us? Perhaps we can change your mind?

Ahhh, Dsd done right is magical indeed.

the latest craze us to upsample all to dsd128 and above.

the future is multibit PDM, no doubt.

[wizard]

[audio.bill]

This DAC has been confirmed by Boulder to support single and double rate DSD. They also said the final price has not yet been set, but expected to be between $50 and $60K.

[bmichels]

Just what I want. A DAC with a tube in it. No thanks. No wonder it only gets to the level of vinyl.

"A DAC with a tube in it." ? get a NAGRA HD DAC !

[Mike]

"A DAC with a tube in it." ? get a NAGRA HD DAC !

Nagra gear is pure audio porn.


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[bmichels]

Nagra gear is pure audio porn.


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I guess this is a compliment or NAGRA :-)

[Harmonix]

I guess this is a compliment or NAGRA :-)

The Nagra is very very good DAC?..

[Harmonix]

I've never heard a DAC that gets close to the level of vinyl.

Hmmm... I hear it everyday in my living room and I have Vinyl. 10 years ago definitely the case. In the last 2-3 years have to disagree.

[wizard]

2120 is based on delta sigma, multibit R2R or maybe negative beta encoder?

[wizard]

2120 is based on delta sigma, multibit R2R or maybe negative beta encoder?

After I heard a Ternary R3R dac, I'm not interested in this very expensive dac anymore.
R3R beats all other binary parallel, serial R2R and delta sigma dacs.

[Kingrex]

I heard DSD and PCM through a sound Gallery music server into a MSB select 2 with dual power bases. All equipment was placed on electronic isolation stands for electron microscopes with custom tops and custom linear power supplies powering the stands. It wasn't my system obviously. It was relatively difficult to discern PCM from DSD.

[bmichels]

I heard DSD and PCM through a sound Gallery music server into a MSB select 2 with dual power bases. All equipment was placed on electronic isolation stands for electron microscopes with custom tops and custom linear power supplies powering the stands. It wasn't my system obviously. It was relatively difficult to discern PCM from DSD.

Interesting, but what is the connection of your writing with the Boulder 2120 ?

[Kingrex]

Interesting, but what is the connection of your writing with the Boulder 2120 ?

I was thinking the same as this thread had diverged so much from its original post.

[FRO]

Got a deal on a Boulder 1021 CD/Streamer Player.
Anxious to see how it performs next to my Ayre QX-5 Twenty????