Boulder 2018 Phono Preamplifier

Boulder has released its 2018 phono preamplifier. Its first public showing will be at the upcoming AXPONA show in the US, but it’s already available here in Australia.

Part of the US manufacturer’s 2100 Series of components, the Boulder 2018 is a second-generation phono preamp, based on Boulder’s award-winning 2008 phono stage. According to Rich Maez, of Boulder, the new model has better ground paths and planes, revised circuit topology, and a lower non-signal noise floor. ‘ Increased use of surfacemount PCB technology, manufactured on Boulder’s own SMD manufactur- ing machines and ovens has also yielded improvements in noise radiation, propagation delay, parasitic capacitance and the elimination of lead inductance in selected circuits,’ he told Australian Hi-Fi Magazine.

The new 2018 has four different user-selectable equalisation curves fitted. In addition to standard RIAA de-emphasis, owners can alternatively use FFRR, Columbia, and EMI de-emphasis curves. All are selectable from the front panel. As with many phono preamps, Boulder is reducing noise by using two separate chassis, one for the high-voltage electronics and the other for the low-voltage electronics.

The moving-coil input of the 2018 has 10dB more gain than the older 2008, which Maez says has improved its signal-to-noise ratio, enabling substantially improved lowlevel resolution and dynamics. A pair of RCA connections on the rear panel enables the use of an external cartridge demagnetiser for those MC cartridges that are compatible with this feature. To enable the use of multiple phono cartridges, the 2018 has three phono inputs, each fitted with its own customisable circuit board (Boulder calls them ‘Personality Cards’) which can be tailored to provide the correct resistive and capacitive loads for any phono cartridge, with the input impedance of the moving-coil input adjustable to up to 1kΩ and the input of the moving-magnet input adjustable up to 47kΩ.

Other features on the Boulder 2018 include a switchable and selectable low-cut filter with 3dB down-points of 10Hz or 20Hz, and a mono mode to enable monaural recordings to be played using a stereo cartridge. Available now from Boulder’s Australian distributor, Absolute Hi End, the Boulder 2018 Phono Preamplifier retails for $81,800 For more information, contact Absolute Hi End on (04) 8877 7999 or via the website at www.absolutehiend.com