My journey to find a speaker + amp + setup for classical music (piano)

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.

• Amp Contenders

• 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

• Speaker Contenders

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.

• Molamola / MSB

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.