Boulder Amplifiers announced the release of its new 2120 D/A Converter and Stereo Amplifier system, offering a reference-level updated digital music source with multiple options. The company says its 2100 Series “marks a substantial increase in performance over the previous 2000 Series, moving the game on from what has long been considered the benchmark in high-performance audio.”
Boulder is an audio manufacturer based in Boulder, Colorado, focused on luxury and high-performance products. The company is one of the last remaining “high-end” electronics manufacturer in North America to engineer and produce all aspects of its products in-house. Boulder was founded in 1984 as a manufacturer of broadcast and studio equipment, transitioning later to home audio electronics.
Boulder Amplifiers’ original 2000 Series was in continuous and unchanged production since 1996. The replacement 2100 Series is Boulder’s highest performing, continuously produced product line, encompassing the latest technology and thought regarding high-performance home audio reproduction. The company now announced the full release and shipment of its 2120 D/A Converter following the completion of the HDMI input module.
All electronic circuitry within the 2160 Stereo Amplifier is entirely new and all technological changes were developed over a six-year period that included the engineering of a complete SoM (System on Module) host processor and dedicated video driver to support the front panel display. The new D/A converter completes the system, with multiple fully modular digital input options available to tailor the 2120 to the user’s system needs and prevent obsolescence.
Basically, the solution includes a four separate chassis: left analog, right analog, user interface and power supply. The separate power supply casework ensures optimal noise isolation. The large, full-color, 12.3-inch (31.2 cm), 1280 x 480 LCD frontal display provides complete metadata readout, selected input or customized source listing, progress bar, resolution and data rate.
The numerous features of the 2120 D/A Converter include standard traditional digital inputs, coaxial S/PDIF, balanced AES3, and Toslink (EIAJ) optical, with optional HDMI inputs. Both Standard (computer) and Slave (memory device) streaming USB connections are accepted and there is DLNA/UPnP via Ethernet for network streaming.
Digital processing features include asynchronous digital streaming, with support for PCM, DSF (DSD 1x and DSD 2x), AIFF, ALAC (Apple Lossless), FLAC, WAV, MP3, and OGG Vorbis digital audio file formats. All sources from 16-, 20-, 24- and 32-bit with word lengths at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8 and 384 kHz are also supported.
The unit features digital volume control for direct connection to amplification, featuring an 80 dB range and 1.0 dB step resolution. A balanced variation of Boulder’s Precise Interval Clock to substantially reduce noise in the clock circuit and maintain ultra-precise data timing at the DACs is also available, complemented by Boulder’s Eigen-algorithm digital filter for optimized frequency and phase response.
Analog features of the system include a three-output power supply (analog left channel, analog right channel and digital), plus an independent supply for low power consumption standby modes, isolated left and right channel analog sections as in the 2110 Preamplifier, ten proprietary Boulder 99S gain stages per channel, and dual balanced outputs for each channel.
The new 2100 system also supports function control by multiple control points on Apple- and Android-based tablets and mobile devices as well as iTunes. Album art is displayed when available and the unit allows for automatic software updating when attached to an active Internet connection. The complete system supports multiple Standby modes for quick start, standard and ultra-low power consumption and there are comprehensive setup and configuration modes, including IP control with two-way communication for integration with external control systems, such as Savant or Crestron.
The suggested US retail price for the 2120 D/A Converter is $65,000. International export prices will vary by country.
www.boulderamp.com
