Hello, my small room project is almost done, only left with a few acoustic touches. (Couple pieces from GIK, Vicoustics, maybe)
After leaving this hobby for years, I needed to spend quite a time catching up and got lots of help from the forum. I’d like to briefly share my little experience.
First of all, I don’t think I’m an audiophile who likes equipment... indeed I don’t try to listen to the equipment, I just like music. So sound quality comes first, but I only care about the quality of music I listen to (Classical, primarily Piano based and some Jazz) with my sources. This means that some of speakers I consider as “not really” work wonderfully for pop/rocks etc but somehow lack certain aspect in classical music.
I try to come up with the least amount of BS but a slight touch of personal voodoo too. Still, I only care “how it sounds” to me. - Best sound quality with least amount of money
Initially, I was considering something for a bigger space, but I decide to put something in a small room first. Anyway, here’s the result.
Note:
Contenders mean something almost equivalent. Boulder 866 has very slight edge over these for me. When I think “not really,” it just means that either not my personal taste, the quality isn’t in the same league, or the cost-performance ratio is not satisfactory.
Set up
- Boulder 866
- Marten Parker Duo
- Wireworld Eclipse speaker cable (wouldn’t go for expensive ones; also, I would avoid Jorma trinity and anything Nordost) PAD would be worthy considering but only top line meaning $$$
- Wireworld Toslink cable
- I got an Audiolab CDT to play cds. I have
- Roon, Orbi router
- Lan cable from Bluejean
- Dbpowrtamp for cd ripping
- Some Sacds and Qobuz subscription
- Butcher acoustic platform
- Now Playing easel from Daiso
Note. I thought I might need a sub like JL f110 v2, but it turns out I do not need it.
- CH Precision I1
- Gold Mund Telos 590 Next Gen 2 w $17k tag (including tax - 50% deal from a dealer, with full Msrp - nope)
- Dartzeel LHC 208
- Vitus sia 025
(Not really)
- Gryphon Hagel
- Pass int
- Jeff Rowland continuum S2
- Bryston
- Luxman
Honestly, I can’t find any other contenders with a similar price range of $11k - bottom line is I coudln’t find one for reasonable lengthy audition.
(Not really)
- SF Olympia iii
- Focal Sopra 2
- Magico A3 / S1
- Wilson Sabrina
- Brodmann VC 2
- Harbeth / Graham / Tannoy
- Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby / Liszt
- Boenicke w8, w11
- Steinheim alumin 2
- D&D 8c
- Avant garde Uno Fino
- Odeon Helix
- Genelec
- B&W 803
Fast, high sensitivity - in my case, ceramic/diamond is the starting point. I couldn’t find something horn for my case. - Matching Boulder is secret for ceramic and any other typically considered metallic sound.
“Depth” with the right amount of detail is the key - all about detailed tonality with the right amount of pressure when music coming out.
- Dac / Streaming Contenders
Very difficult to find one to compete.
Boulder’s integrated DAC is surprisingly good. Boulder knows something for sure. Streaming is flawless too.
Personally, I like MSB DAC but don’t like how this company does business. So If I had to go for separate boxes, I would pick Molamola or Dac from Boulder. (new, more affordable model coming.) Aurender topline product is interesting but a bit too much $.
- Possible upgrade or sidegrade (under 50k) for a bigger space
Boulder 866
+ Parker Quintet (no diamond)
+ Alumine 3 (it’s tricky one though)
+ Sabrina X
If I won a lottery, I would consider the boulder 1100 series with a bigger house.
Along with the 20% discounted Formation Duo that I picked up years ago for wireless, this setup is very cost effective considering its performance level, mainly boulder 866.
If there’s any question about the specific combo mentioned above, I will try to share my memory.
Have a nice day.
