So we are going to install the projection set up. Thank you for the suggestion. It was something my wife and I never considered. Do you like the JVC DLA. Can you remind me what speakers you are using? I think we will keep the 2 channel set up and not bother with “surround” lol.
Boulder 2060 vs Gryphon Mephisto
- Thread starter kswanson27
- Start date
Glad to hear...we genuinely enjoy and hope you do as well. We love the JVC DLA...for us (non-videophiles), it is a very special look when you bring the lights down in a properly dark room and let the movie play. Really gives you a sense of luxury when you watch. We also use 2 channel...actually 2.1 . We use Wilson X1/Grand Slamms with the big Velodyne DD18+.
I think you would be very lucky to find an amp with as impeccable timing as the Boulder amps 2060 or 3060, which results in the most coherent sound stage I have ever heard. The Boulder amps are sadly out of my budget, so I have IMHO the next best option which is one of the Krell 250wpc class A Evolution power amps. Again wonderful timing accuracy with my ATC SCM-40-2's, so that there is never a gap between the speakers.
I agree so I decided to try a few preamps with the 2060. I auditioned a ARC Ref 10, VTL 7.5 III and 6.5 II, my Pass Labs XP-30 and my Berkeley DAC direct. The VTL 7.5 bested the other combos by quite a bit. It has terrific synergy with the Boulder so I ordered one and plan to keep the 2060 indefinitely.
Congrats. And I have to say...
1. The VTL is supposed to a super awesome preamp. I know Roy Gregory and respect his views a LOT...he is a super-big admirer of VTL amplification...and somehow i could very much see your combination working exceedingly well
2. I totally support your decision to keep the 2060...that is a great amp...world class. As much as I am a big fan of Gryphon...i can honestly say i looked hard at the 2060 and my decision was entirely a personal one, where I could have been very happy either way.
Enjoy!!!!!
Congratulations
I find it interesting you preferred the VTL to the ARC.
Can you tell us why?
I haven't heard any VTL offerings, so don't know how they sound.
I might characterise ARC as impressive sounding, large scale, but lacking the musicality of Wavac or Boulder
I'd equally be curious to know how VAC pre amps mate with Boulder amps
I should mention I had Stirling Trayle in for the day to help with all this. We found the ARC exactly that--large and dramatic. There was a kind of bloom around the instruments that didn't sound realistic to us. The 7.5 was just right, preserving all the definition of the Boulder and adding a tiny bit of warmth. Curiously, the 6.5 finished well below the 7.5. We preferred the XP-30 over the 6.5 and the ARC. If you're a Boulder owner I would strongly recommend you give a current 7.5 III a test drive.
Having lived for many years with the ARC Ref preamps (5 and 6) and then with the VTL 7.5 II/III for over a decade, I think your comparisons are spot on. The VTL III is a gorgeous instrument that I have written about extensively previously. There is essentially no such thing as the sound of 7.5III in isolation as the two tubes that are used are essential components to its sound. Tube matching is therefore very important and is best done in consideration of the rest of one's system. I''ve been through heavy periods of various Mullard (long plate!), Telefunken and Siemens depending on the amp and speakers which underwent a few changes along the way. If I had to pick only one tube to take this unit to a desert island, it would be the Siemens but it has to be the E82C long plate triple-mica, which isn't terribly easy to find. Truly a great pre-amp!
It's been many years since I have had tube gear so I'm not well informed about the various characteristics of different tubes. And I don't know, although I'll find out Monday, what tubes were in the 7.5 i tried (which was the factory demo preamp). Given my system what tubes would you recommend? Still the Siemens?
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