From the Editors: Thoughts on Reviewing the Boulder 812 and 1161

FROM THE EDITORS – Thoughts on reviewing the Boulder 812 and 1161 amplifiers. The eternal pursuit of high fidelity: between progress and regression

Anyone seriously interested in high fidelity and willing to invest in this demanding hobby knows the feeling of uncertainty only too well. The question of whether a new component actually represents an improvement often hangs like a sword of Damocles over every audiophile's decisions. Is the new amplifier really better or just different? Does the newly acquired cable lead to a sonic improvement (or deterioration)? Or is it even a step backwards?
Dissatisfaction is a constant companion in the world of high fidelity. A clear sign of this is the frequent recourse to small tuning measures, in the hope of improving the sound quality minimally and thus at least getting the feeling of being on the right track.
I'm speaking from my own experience here. One of my reliable sound guarantors in the past was the Cello Audio Suite preamplifier. Now that the unit is getting on in years, it's increasingly prone to repairs. I'm currently waiting for a part that hasn't been produced for decades. That puts the often-propagated “built for eternity” into perspective…
With the temporary farewell to the Audio Suite, my sonic standards blurred a little. It wasn't really bad, but no longer as incisive and clear either. That changed abruptly, however, when the Boulder 812 took over the job. With a precise hand, this preamp brought clarity and also differentiation between “right” and “wrong.”
Now my view may seem somewhat radical to some, but let me illustrate it with a concrete example: the Boulder 812 is spartanly equipped (but offers an excellent headphone section). Although it doesn't offer a connection for a conventional tape machine with recording and playback function, you can of course listen to recorded tapes through this preamp without any problem. In doing so, the 812 reveals tiny inaccuracies in the tape's equalization so clearly and unambiguously that it blows you away. Anyone who just thinks “so what?” here misses what high fidelity can really achieve. That's exactly the “Ticket to Ride” in the world of real high end. Because “real” is never arbitrary.
In my professional career I've reviewed and used various preamplifiers, including models from Accuphase, Mark Levinson and Audio Research. All of them took me further in some way. But the Boulder 812 now adds a new, outstanding dimension to this list. With an entry price of 11,700 euros, it marks access to a better world of listening pleasure.
I can only recommend that anyone seriously interested try the Boulder 812 before making further changes to their hi-fi chain. Only through the current configuration did I realize how good my loudspeakers, the Canton Vento Reference 1, really are. Only now have I been able to fully exploit their potential, and I'm so satisfied that I'm currently not considering replacing them.