Should i go Boulder 1060 or Jeff Rowland 625


I am in the market to upgrade my pass labs x260.5.
There is one used Boulder 1060 for sale that i hear lots of good words about it.

Anyone have compared the new Jeff Rowland 625 and Boulder 1060? My existing pre amp is Jeff Rowland Corus.

Thank You for any feedback.

My speakers are B&W 802D
msetjadi
Musicaddict, I found your comments interesting. You said "I'd be scared to hook up a Boulder to the already "hot" 802D". Mark_nz remarked in his earlier post -
07-03-11: Mark_nz
..I have auditioned the 802D in combination with Classe, and separately the 802 Diamond in combination with Corus & Jeff Rowland Model 625.
Both combinations sounded good - but I thought the 802D + Classe had a bit better overall tonal balance whereas the 802 Diamond + 625 combination was a bit bright. I also compared the Model 625 to my Cambridge Audio Azur 840W amplifier. (using Wadia CD player and Corus preamp).
Unsurprising the Model 625 best the 840W in terms of detail, transparency, soundstaging, bass control and extension. However the 840W (which has slight warm bass and soft treble) was a better tonal match for the 802 Diamond. The reason for this is that 802 Diamond is brighter and has tighter (less bloated) bass than the 802D.

So based on my experiences a slightly lean amplifier (with good bass control) will better suit the 802D.
Hifimaniac & Guido both remarked they thought the Boulder sounded slightly leaner than the M625, likely making it a better match with the 802D’s (or similarly bright sounding speakers).

You also accurately commented "I auditioned the 802D several times for hours and deemed it a speaker that begged for slightly warmer, but detailed, electronics.". I agree the Boulder needs a preamp with warmth, sweetness, holography and detail to balance it out. There are probably several reference tube pre's which would sound wonderful with the Boulder...Guido mentioned VTL, my favorite is Ayon. Vive la difference!
Too bad you don't live closer to Dayton Ohio! Ill have the 1060 on display in about a week and have the jeff rowland to company against. (used). You could choose any speaker in my store to try out! Always worth a test drive before you drop big bucks!
If any of you live near to Dayton Ohio we are having a Magico / Boulder Event. I'll have a Jeff Rowland (used) that I'll be getting rid of as well. If you'd like an invite to the event let me know. It's free but we always have food and spirits to make it a fun night. Also we will have lots of locals from the Dayton/Cincinnati/Columbus/Indiana area of music enthusiasts. Shoot me a message if your interested. August 25th.
Hi HansenAudio, which Rowland amp will you be featuring during your August 25th event? G.
this is a great question but it lacks enough information for me to make a helpful suggestion. the Pass 260.5 MONOBLOCK amps are some of the best you can buy for starters. unless you get Magico speakers (or something similar on an "ultra-refined" level)
i don't see much need for an amplifier upgrade here. having owned rowland amps and preamps i can certainly recommend them but with B&W 802D's (i am guessing these are not the latest diamond series?) the question requires what is specifically lacking with such fine components as he already possesses. perhaps he would be better off upgrading his source component, or even a better pair of interconnects between the source and the corus preamp?
in my personal experience i had so much faith in the sound of my speakers (eggleston andra's) that i went overboard and purchased ever-higher grade wire.
by the time i was done the results were truly stunning- and so was the price tag, but i took it one step at a time over a +2 year period.