BOULDER 2108 PHONO PREAMPLIFIER

In his review of this very expensive, very heavy, American-made, two-box phono preamplifier in the August issue,1 Michael Fremer enthused over its sound. “The 2108 produces both a sense of soaring exultation in the upper registers and gritty drama in the lowest one,” he wrote, adding “Boulder detractors who think their products are too analytical, sounding dry and bleached, ought to give the 2108 a listen.” Intrigued, and remembering how well Boulder’s previous flagship phono preamp, the 2008, measured back in 2002,² I suggested to Stereophile’s editor-in-chief, Jim Austin, that I measure the 2108 and write a follow-up review.

I measured the Boulder 2108). As the 2108 has balanced inputs, I floated the signal generator’s balanced output from ground. For logistical reasons, I measured with the preamplifier chassis sitting on top of the power supply chassis.