How does Boulder equipment avoid obsolescence?

I completely understand your concerns. I shared similar worries before I bought my 1012. I totally agree with the posts above and have only a little more to add.

When auditioning the 1012 against "newer" competitors, I realized I tended to automatically equate newer with better. But I learned newer usually means "different" and any given person might like that difference. But maybe not if you listen carefully.

When I checked my biases, as much as anyone really can, the 1012 outperformed the newer and similarly priced equipment to my surprise.

So I stuck to my ears and bought it. And, after the same process, a 1060 to go with it.

The 1012 is a remarkable piece.

For those curious of my diatribe on Boulder the why, I am considering purchasing the 1012 as a one box front end solution and can't help but wonder am i buying old technology here ???

If you're looking for a rock-solid performer thats flexible, very dynamic, dead silent and very neutral, then go for it! The 1012 will deliver with no sonic drawbacks. I owned the 1012 for two years and loved every minute, having moved to it from a Levinson N°32, N°30.6 combination.

If however, you're looking for the ultimate in analog transparency, the very last word in DAC resolution, and support for USB etc, then go separates, but be prepared to pay significant more than anything close to the 1012.

They are probally thinking why change a design that is succesfull,sells and is reliable;most likely my guess is they make small changes to improve on sound quality and perhaps change looks;then give a price change to cover the expense involved to accomplish this.

There really isn't any magic here. Unless there is some significant engineering/electronics breakthrough, a very good design is a very good design. Typically I have found that manufactures do one of two things. They base their products on reviews from magazines and since magazines rarely if ever review older products (even if they are still in production), to get their names in the magazines, manufactures simply come out with a "new" product. It really isn't new or better, but a cosmetic change or a change in the type of capacitors, etc. The other thing that they do is come up with an outstanding design in the first place and stick with it. Yes, you can tweak a product over the years and make it better. Use different tubes, or different bias circuitry or different transistors. But a current mirror is a current mirror, a differential input is a differential input. I haven't seen really any major design improvements in years. Boulder simply makes great equipment. So does Audio Research, Pass, etc. and most importantly, these type of manufactures will maintain their older equipment and not leave you hanging. Audio Research, Boulder, Bryston, Pass and others will maintain their older equipment. That is very important to me.

To see how important that is, look at the resale value of used equipment. If the company continues to maintain their older, well designed equipment, the price is constant and stays up.

enjoy