Boulder's massive 3060 monoblock
 

Boulder Amplifiers, Inc., introduced its new Model 3060 Stereo balanced, class-A amplifier ($114,000), a huge, 900Wpc, solid-state amplifier that weighs 450 lbs! Sitting nearby was the company's flagship monoblock, the silver 3060 ($205,000/pair), a class-A 1500W power amplifier shown in my photograph. A large cylindrical tube, containing 4 large mineral-potted toroidal power transformers, runs down the inside middle of the chassis. This is said to dampen any transformer-induced vibration. The mono amplifier uses 120 high-temperature rated bipolar transistors and 48, 160V, high-temperature rated, 4700µuF electrolytic capacitors for energy storage. Large circuit boards slide into frames at the top of the chassis, each board containing hundreds of discrete parts. With a pair of these amplifiers weighing 440 lbs, Boulder does not want this amplifier to require service, and its build quality signifies that.


Boulder's massive 3060 monoblock | Stereophile.com

-- Some serious 'estate' here!

450lbs. Take 5 people to move it.

Our audio room is just up there... ;)

http://www.royalcorinthianhomes.com/...ircase_big.jpg

That outside railing looks like it was made to be a skid...:laughin:

-- That stairway, is it made of wood? ...Reinforced steel might be a good idea for future Boulder amps. ;)

Check out the orange for scale; that thing is Mcfreaking HUGE!! :yikes:
But all mirth aside, Boulder know what they're doing. What a showcase of Boulder's latest thinking on circuit design & newest cnc-milled chassis :)

It's nice to dream! But I am very happy with my 'little' 1060 ;)

How would these pure Class-A Boulder 3060s compare to say a McIntosh MC1.2KW or even MC2KW?

They are more sterile/neutral.

And freaking huge. But the look and feel in person is quite a nice sensory overload.

Vesuvius, I would not say the Boulders are "sterile", that suggests they are lean which from experience with Boulder products they are not. And this is Boulder's best Class A amp, so the sound should be very linear, smooth & spectacular. If there was too much neutrality in that system, easy solution is add a very nice vinyl source or warmer sounding cd player like Vitus. And maybe switch cables to some cables with good body/warmth like Siltech Royal Sig's or Jorma Prime.

Boulder has never hit it for me.
To say they are lean is not accurate nor are they cold sounding
To me they are lifeless, sterile and technical sounding. Not very organic. They have no soul at all.
You hardly hear of them other than the reaction to their size.....

no fighting now!

A hole in the roof/crane for the bedroom system?:scratch2:

I have post also on this little amp.I say we get Ivan to carry it up stairs
http://www.audioaficionado.org/mbl-d...nics-show.html

Ivan would never carry it... Rich would. :D

We both carried Aida down a flight of stairs; no easy task. :no:

Well I guess that has been your experience. The easy way to sum up a Boulder amp would be to say they have excellent control and bass, excellent resolution, are neutral in tonal balance & transparent. With Jorma cables & my Ayon CD-5s I found the Boulder to be natural and organic, as well as providing great control and bass, whilst the Ayon added some tube warmth, dimensionality & sweetness. I do like what tubes do, but prefer to keep tubes in the preamp where they're not stresed & have solid state amplification. Boulder amps demand a lot of upstream cables and equipment because of their nature, so i've found they are not very well understood and often dismissed. That doesn' mean they're not great amps!

Boulder .... The great Amplifier

I have plenty experience with Boulder's 2000 Series products (2050, 2020, 2010 and 2008)....in fact, I spent at least 4 nights a week for over 5 months listening to the Boulder 2000 Series with Focal, Accuphase and Tara Labs....I will tell you this....there was NOTHING sterile in the sound....IMO, the Boulder products, especially the amps, will reveal ANY shortcomings upstream in your system. Also, the gear is very dependent on a good room and QUALITY power, something too many people ignore....those who listen to the Boulder gear in sub par environments could very well find the sound to be "sterile" that I would NEVER blame it on the amps or make a general statement about the sound....

I will crow about the 2000 Series and by what few rumblings I have heard from people whose ears I trust, the 3050 amps will be a game changer.....

Are the amps big?? YES!!! Are the obscenely heavy?? AMEN!!!

Cheers,

Any word on the 2000's replacement.

According to what I have heard, the official release is late July, with the 2000 Series being discontinued/retired (wow, it is already the 10th of the month)....I hope that this is the case because I will be able to visit the Boulder factory after RMAF. If all is going according to plan, I will get to hear the 2110 Preamp with the 3050's through a pair of Focal's Grande Utopia EM speakers....if so, I am expecting some drool inducing/expletive murmuring moments during the listening session. If the 2110 is not ready, I guess I will have to suffer listening to the 2010...is life not tough??:music:

Cheers,

The 2100 Series (2110 preamp and 2150 monoblocks) will be shown at the upcoming Hong King Show and a press release will be out the same day the show starts. I am still not sure if there will be a 2160 Stereo Amp or anything else, but I would not be surprised if Boulder had another ace up their sleeves....

Cheers,

I don't think the whole 2000 series are going to be retired in late July. My understanding is that Boulder are initially only releasing two products in the 2100 series including the 2110 & 2150 mono's as you said. The 2060 should still be available under the stereo amp is released.

2160 is coming. I just returned Boulder's 2060 demo to them so that they could use it for testing of 2160 assemblies. Hoping to see my 2160 by the fall and my 2110 somewhat sooner than that.

A setup with 3050 and 3060.

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/attach...5&d=1419117025

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/attach...6&d=1419117069

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/attach...7&d=1419117094

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/attach...8&d=1419117118

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/attach...9&d=1419117158

Wizard, Great pics as always and thanks for sharing.

That system is epic mental! Love it.

Beautiful pictures and those amp are monstrous in size. Thank you for posting.

~Mike

Mike - you should get a pair to drive your Maggies :)

That just makes me feel so broke...

I heard a pair of Strads with Boulder amps and they sounded outstanding