Aha! Yes, that is right...thank you for reminding me! Yes, I find the Robert K15EX to be super pure, very very even keeled and yes, very very quiet. A lot of information just seems to surface up through that extraordinary quiet.Hi Lloyd,
The Boulder 2150s in my system had better control of the bass, and were much more dynamic both macro and micro. In my system, the FM combo sounded a little more closed and soundstage slightly narrow. I bet they sound amazing in another room and system.
The 3060 still has same signature as the 2150s just better in every way and slightly more forgiving. With the 3060, my system just sounds like the sources I am using. As we exchanged earlier, I am using the VAC statement pre and also the Robert Koda K15ex SG just like yours. Both combos sound amazing, the Koda has more extension in both LF and HF, also super quiet whereas the VAC’s midrange is more magical and fleshed out. I spend an equal amount of time with both of them.
Regarding the FM Amps, personally, I came to a not dissimilar conclusion after my more limited experience with the FM 108 monos. They were mellifluous and impressively so...nuanced and natural, illuminated beautifully and naturally in the highs, and showed great nuance in the music playing of artists. That confirmed what I had read about FMA and all of its legendary status. However, I came away missing the tightfisted power of the Gryphon. My only thought would of course have been to hear the 1811 stereo or their big monos...but the costs escalate dramatically at that point, and so I left it having learned a lot and really learned to appreciate a little bit about what the FMA sound is about.
Now I recognize that the Gryphon is designed with some serious mid-bass heft which adds foundation to a lot of music...a welcome thing for me whether it is true or artifact, I did not care at that time. In sum, I probably would have made a similar decision just based on what I have heard/read about the 3000 series Boulder and your 3060 particularly. It is very very hard to lose that heft once you have it. It can make listening at volume 1 so satisfying because the music feels whole.
Of course, in our case, we went with the full Robert Koda K15EX SG / K160 Monos. Definitely powerful and articulate in the very lowest bass (in fact more powerful and articulate in lowest bass than the Gryphon Mephisto which they replaced) just without the mid-bass extra heft.
Lloyd