1110 & 1160

naim

Well-Known Member
Mar 6, 2019
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@spiritofmusic, surely, after the arrival of Focal, the strategies have changed, then maybe they're right and mine is just a nostalgic feeling.
 

spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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Naim, I've had the Koda K10 pre at home, about 5 years ago. Despite some minor misgivings, it did things I've never heard from an amp before.
 

spiritofmusic

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2013
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Oh Naim, I just meant some of the character of the Koda was a little too full for me. Could be system/room dependent. It's a stellar amp in many ways.
 

shakti

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May 9, 2015
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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
I never heard the 1160, but I owned the 1060 , which has a similar tonal balance.
My combination with the Koda Takumi K10 (MKII, means younger than 2 years) was a very nice one. The K10 has all the benefits of a tube preamp, without being one, means, that the output impedance does fit to the needs of the Boulder amplifiers.

Your decision should include your sources and your cabling, as the K10 has only one xlr input (plus 3 RCA), the 1110 has only! XLR inputs. Depending on your personal signal sources, you cannot interchange the two preamps easily, as the demand on cabling is very different.
 
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naim

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Mar 6, 2019
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Your decision should include your sources and your cabling, as the K10 has only one xlr input (plus 3 RCA), the 1110 has only! XLR inputs. Depending on your personal signal sources

Hi shakti, to only XLR input of the K-10, I would connect in balanced mode Bricasti M1 dac (with digital player and cd transport). While to one of RCA input, I would connect a phono preamplifier that I shall buy later. Between K-10 and 1160 an XLR-XLR cable, and it seems to me that there is nothing else ...
 

chuck

Well-Known Member
Dec 19, 2011
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Connecting RCA cables to the 1110 is not a problem. Boulder has excellent adapters -- I use a pair to connect my turntable to the 1008 phono stage.
 

shakti

Well-Known Member
May 9, 2015
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Hi shakti, to only XLR input of the K-10, I would connect in balanced mode Bricasti M1 dac (with digital player and cd transport). While to one of RCA input, I would connect a phono preamplifier that I shall buy later. Between K-10 and 1160 an XLR-XLR cable, and it seems to me that there is nothing else ...

sounds like a perfect fit :)
you will find a German K15 in the WBF used market, might be an alternative to a new K10 :)
 

shakti

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May 9, 2015
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Connecting RCA cables to the 1110 is not a problem. Boulder has excellent adapters -- I use a pair to connect my turntable to the 1008 phono stage.

I do use the Boulder adapter ob my Boulder 2008 Phono stage as well,
but still prefer the direct connection using XLR connectors on the phono cable. It is more precise in all matters.
 

naim

Well-Known Member
Mar 6, 2019
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Boulder has excellent adapters

Boulder will send me a couple along with 1160, to temporarily use in unbalanced mode Convergent preamp.
But I think I'll often use Bricasti M1 direct in balanced (at least until I will buy the definitive preamp).
 

naim

Well-Known Member
Mar 6, 2019
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you will find a German K15 in the WBF used market

I don't find used market link.
Only to take a look: :) I found K-10 already expensive...

Moreover, K-15 will sound magically, but I find it aesthetically a bit too Baroque.
 
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shakti

Well-Known Member
May 9, 2015
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naim

Well-Known Member
Mar 6, 2019
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Italy
A question:
I am preparing power cables (removing banana plugs) waiting for 1160, and I was wondering if the terminals also accept bare wires without any termination or I am forced to use spade terminals...
 

naim

Well-Known Member
Mar 6, 2019
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Italy
I asked why I have never seen 1160 output terminals except in the picture, and I don't know if they have a central hole suitable for a cable with a large diameter, or a sufficiently wide grip to achieve optimum tightening without spades.
 

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