2. amps-preamps
  3. 127541-80275

Who would buy a Boulder 3050 amplifier?

Sorry, this is probably a completely pointless thread but I'm just simply baffled by even the existence of such incredible products and real curious about the folks who would feel the "need" to own such a component. Are these made just for bragging rights or there actually components out there - up or down the audio signal, that demand something like this piece. I'm asking this independently from the price tag because there are a lot of very expensive things out there ranging from a gold Rolex to a Ferrari and people buy temp for various reasons. Obviously a $50K Rolex will not keep time any better than a $20 Timex. Are these made to cater to the same type of consumers?
128x128kalali
wlutke
724 posts
 
kalali,
I suspect many non-audiophiles and most women have a similar view of our "modest" systems.

jafant's avatar
jafant
19,403 posts
 
kalali

there are no pointless thread(s). Now, to answer your query;
no doubt that this is a niche' product. Boulder does possess a different sound. It is best demonstrated in an all -Boulder system (pre, power and source). This is not the kind of component that mixes/matches well w/ other brands.  Yes, it is a sonic match for Wilson speakers.

ARC, Ayre, Bryston and Conrad Johnson are less expensive alternatives w/ Wlison speakers. Happy Listening!
kalali's avatar
kalali OP
1,977 posts
 

joey_v, my comment was related to this particular model within their product range. I personally would love to hear (and own only if I could afford) one of their "lower" models. No disrespect (to anyone) was intended. And, my original question was meant to be honest and based on curiosity. I assume, maybe naiively, that the audiophile folks pay for sound quality and not for show and was wondering what would drive a person to look for a component with such massive capabilities.

Anyway, as someone mentioned earlier, I should have trusted my first instincts.

Post removed 
brauser
524 posts
 
Had a chance to spend some time with a full line-up of Boulder components which I think included the 3050's(?). The full set-up retailed somewhere North of 300K. Listened to a lot of my music. I have an ultra high-end 2 channel system at home which cost perhaps a fourth of the system just mentioned. The Boulder based system did an incredible job of mining out the micro detail of every disc. Overall, however, the musicality of the system was just not there. I attribute this in part to the room and perhaps the lack of applying useful tweaks. 

Bottom-line is that there is a real point of 'diminishing returns' in this hobby and to my ear the differences were absolutely not worth the cost. In fact, I'm not sure I would swap systems if it meant living with it the rest of my days.
More to discover