1110 & 1160

[Bodhi]

Hamburger, your sound description of the 1100 series amps is pretty spot on. As I mentioned, the Boulders sound better with some tubes in the mix. I last auditioned the 1160/1110 combo with the APL Hifi DTR-MR transport & DSD-MR dac. The APL dac has a pure Class-A, differential analogue output which employs vintage E182CC tubes and ZNF. That added just enough tube virtues, incl: holography for my tastes. As much as a full tube setup? Obviously no, but "enough" to make me smile .

 

[naim]

Hi,
I hope to write comprehensibly.
Next week I'll get a new Boulder 1160. In the coming months I'll have to think for a new preamp to be paired with this amplifier. Initially I was sure to want to buy his patner 1110, but speaking in some forums, I was advised to look in other directions,
(in their opinion the amplifier is superior to the preamp), and they advised me to consider the Robert Koda Takumi K-10
(alternatively CH Precision L1), claiming that I would have higher results than the Boulder preamp.
How do You see a Koda K-10 + Boulder 1160 combo? (or CH Precision)
My system includes a pair of PMC BB5i, a Bricasti M1SE dac (which can also be used as a preamplifier), the current preamp is a
Convergent SL1 Ultimate MKII, and a Bryston BDP-2 like digital player.
Other speakers: Rogers LS3/5a and LS5/9.

Roberto

 

[dan31]

I would try to stay balanced as that is a big chunk of what you are paying for with the boulder amp. If not the boulder preamp, then the CH L1 is nice and you can always add the external power supply later as an upgrade. Your Bricasti dac is a great dac.

 

[naim]

I would try to stay balanced

In fact it is also for that reason that I would change the Convergent SL1

 

[chuck]

Congratulations on the amp. I have used an Audio Research Reference Anniversary Preamp for 9 years, first with a Boulder 2060 and then with my current Boulder 3060. I would recommend the Audio Research Reference 10 for a tube preamp. I auditioned the Boulder 1110 in my system for about a week and was quite impressed -- it is an excellent preamp -- but a lot of audio people believe a system should include tubes. I have not heard the 1160, but if it is like all Boulder amps I have heard, it is very neutral and will match well with a good tube preamp. I know nothing about the Koda. The ARC has 7 balanced inputs, is versatile, and easy to use. The Boulder has 5 balanced inputs and is also versatile/easy to use. The ARC is well built but nothing is built as well as Boulder gear.

 

[naim]

Thank You chuck, honestly, I prefer to compose a solid-state system only,
after several years I'm a little tired of living with tube electronics

 

[chuck]

That is why I would recommend you buy the 1110. I don't think anyone should tell you not to buy the 1110 if they haven't heard it. I don't like dealing with the tubes on the ARC and will likely get a Boulder preamp later this year, good chance it will be the 1110.

 

[naim]

Chuck,
to be honest, who told me, besides owning an 1160, he tried and compared the 1110, and tells me that he does not particularly like the Boulder preamps. He did not say that 1110 sound bad, but he preferred other preamps, and above all Koda's K-10. Then maybe I will not listen to him and I will take 1110. For the moment I will use the CAT with the adapters, or the dac Bricasti direct in balanced.

 

[Bodhi]

@naim, having auditioned the Boulder 1160/1110 on a few occasions, and previously owned the 1060/1010 for reference. Imho the 1160/1110 are a lot better than the old series and are more musical. I don't quite understand the forum commentary you read suggesting the 1160 is superior to the preamp. They must have been commenting on the old model (1010), or have a general bias toward tube preamps? (which is fine).

I personally like some tubes somewhere in the mix with Boulder. As I mentioned earlier, with a tube dac or phono stage, there is enough tube virtues of warmth, liquidity & dimensionality to nicely round out the terrific Boulders. Playing Pink Floyd's Pulse cd on the APL Hifi DTR-MR/DSD-MR transport/dac produced sound which had me shaking my head. I was transported to the concert venue in a more convincing way that i've experienced with any other transport/dac/pre/power combo.

The earlier mentioned CH L1 is very good also, though if you were leaning toward CH, I would advocate going for the A1.5 for synergy. That said, buying CH can be a slippery slope with all the upgrade options. Before long you system might end up looking like this..

 

[naim]

@Bodhi, the tests he did with the new series, although previously he also owned 1060. He made some comparisons with different pramp and probably the Boulder preamplifier did not enter his heart, in fact in the end he chose Koda K-10 .
It also sounded strange to me, so I wanted to write and listen to other opinions of those who have experience with this brand; in the end it is always about personal tastes, and I think that even with 1160 + 1110 I could listen in an optimal way.
Here, You talked about tubes mix with Boulder: as written before, I owned Convergent (SL1 + JL2), although with my BB5i monitors I used most frequently my Bryston solid-state amplification, more suited to big PMC loudspeakers. Now I've basically replaced both Convergent and Bryston (except LS1 preamps) with the new 1160, and my first goal is to eliminate tube electronics. It may be that the choice made in the direction of the Koda preamp is due to what You said about '' tube mix '', because I read from many parts that sound of the K-10 has many affinities with the tube while being a solid state.
I understood your CH speech perfectly, and I do not want to start thinking about a CH amplifier while my 1160 is still traveling from the USA .

I should not write such long posts with my bad English (sorry), moreover, it takes me hours to write 10 lines

 

[Bodhi]

@naim, I'd take your friend's conclusions on face value according to their ears/tastes then. Different manufacturer's preamps can work providing there is no impedance mismatch or weird synergy issue. You just need to do your homework so you go in eyes wide open. Personally, with separates I prefer to stick with the same manufacturer. I can certainly understand your wish to avoid tube maintenance/heat. I would say philisophically I like the concept of hybrid amplification & tube dacs based on my years of listening experience. That said, I am thoroughly enjoying my ss Vitus gear.

It sounds like you know which way you want to go, so I say go for it & fingers crossed you get the perfect balance you're after! Ps: no prolly about your English .

 

[naim]

Personally, with separates I prefer to stick with the same manufacturer.

I agree: I have always had pream/amps of the same brand: YBA Signature mono preamp/YBA Signature mono amplifier; Naim 52/135's; Bryston 26/7B's; Convergent SL1/JL2. This time with Boulder it would be the first time I mix two producers.
You will tell me: ''...just with Boulder you have to make a wrong move?''

I will reconsider the 1110 as the most logical preamp, also I have some months to reason (and make cash),
even if curiosity about Robert Koda remains, I noticed that @shakti has this preamp like avatar, I thought he wrote his opinion about the combination Takumi K-10/1160

 

[spiritofmusic]

So Naim, never any amps from Salisbury, UK?

 

[naim]

So Naim, never any amps from Salisbury, UK?

I had CDSII/XPS, NAC52/Supercap, NAP135's: the old school.
I still have some old photos ...

Now that I think about it, I even had an old CDI before that.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Very good, it would have been ironic if you hadn't
In the 90s, Linn LP12, Naim active 6 pack and DBLs was my dream system

 

[naim]

Very good, it would have been ironic if you hadn't

I understood the meaning of your question, although grasping irony in a language that I know in a limited way is sometimes difficult.
In any case, my nickname betrayed a past as a follower of the great Julian.
LP12 has some friends of mine, I have for a few years a Rega P9, but I rarely listen to vinyl (too much choice in a sea of files and new things to discover).

 

[Bodhi]

I agree: I have always had pream/amps of the same brand: YBA Signature mono preamp/YBA Signature mono amplifier; Naim 52/135's; Bryston 26/7B's; Convergent SL1/JL2. This time with Boulder it would be the first time I mix two producers.
You will tell me: ''...just with Boulder you have to make a wrong move?''

No, not at all. The Koda K-10, ARC Ref 10 and others may well be a good fit with the 1160 & give you the synergy you're after. Though I'd really want to hear them paired together before laying down my hard earned quan. If I couldn't swing an audition, I would (personally) take the safe route and go for the 1110.

I will reconsider the 1110 as the most logical preamp, also I have some months to reason (and make cash),
even if curiosity about Robert Koda remains

Wise. Good luck with the evaluation process!

 

[spiritofmusic]

Irony is a kind of British thing
Maybe hard to translate
A funny story about Naim
They produced a certain quantity of Statement monos for the market
Nearly the whole consignment taken by a single customer
He auditioned a pair, and asked for 3 more pairs for an 8.4 MCH system
LOL x8

 

[naim]

Statement monos

I've never listened to those amplifications, I suppose they sound good. But in my opinion, Naim has moved away a lot from what was the ''credo'' of Wereker. I don't think that Julian would have allowed to put in production a power cord like the Power-Line or just amplifiers like Statement. But maybe it's just my wrong thinking ...

 

[spiritofmusic]

Well, his synergy was always w Linn long before the tie up w Focal.

Maybe this has informed their future direction?