808

Phono Preamplifier

The Boulder 808 Phono Preamplifier brings the company’s uncompromising approach that Boulder Amplifiers is known for to analog playback into a compact, elegantly engineered component. Designed and built in Colorado by Boulder Amplifiers, the 808 distills decades of circuit design expertise into a dedicated phono stage that reveals the full emotional and sonic potential of vinyl.

Like all Boulder components, the 808 is housed in a meticulously machined aluminum chassis. It is housed in a chassis that has the same footprint as the 812 DAC/Preamp and the 861 Stereo Power Amp Beyond its striking aesthetic, the enclosure provides critical mechanical stability and shielding from external interference. Internal layouts are carefully considered to shorten signal paths and reduce noise, preserving signal integrity from input to output.

The Boulder 808 Phono Preamp takes what was already immaculate in the 508 Phono Preamp and improves upon it while also adding some of the versatility that can be found in the larger 1108 Phono Preamp. The 808 completes the 800 Series product line from the analog domain all the way to digital.

Features

  • Customizable resistive and capacitive cartridge loading and setup (MC and MM) via removable rear panel Personality Cards

  • Interlocking casework damps vibration and shields the delicate analog phono signal inside

  • Selectable mono mode for those rare mono vinyl pressings

  • Toggle-able Low cut filter to alleviate any low frequency noise caused by turntable rumble or record warpage.

  • Balanced outputs to minimize distortion and drive long cable runs with no loss of fidelity

  • Precision built and compact main PCB, produced on Boulder's own surface-mount pick and place machine

  • Shielded Power supply to prevent any interference to the delicate analog audio signals

  • Styled to match the elegant yet subtle 812 DAC/Preamp and the 861 Stereo Power Amp.

  • Gain settings of 70 dB (MC) and 44 dB (MM) enable use with virtually any phono cartridge

Specs

808
Phono Preamplifier

  • Inputs

    1 Pair Balanced XLR, adaptable to unbalanced.

  • Outputs

    1 Pair Balanced XLR, adaptable to unbalanced.

  • Input Impedance

    MC: Maximum 1000 Ohm
    MM: 47 kOhm.
    Resistive and capacitive loading is adjustable on individual Personality Cards.

  • Output Impedance

    100 Ohm Balanced

  • 1kHZ Gain, RIAA

    MC: 70 dB MM: 44 dB

  • Frequency Response, 20 Hz - 20 kHz

    + 0.25dB

  • Distortion, THD

    0.01%

  • Noise (EIN), MC

    123mV flat, 20 Hz to 20 kHz

  • Maximum Output level

    16 Vrms

  • Crosstalk, L to R or R to L

    -90 dB or better, 20Hz to 20kHz

  • Weight

    10.5 lbs. 4.76 kgs

  • Power Requirements

    90 - 240 VAC, 50 - 60Hz

  • Power Consumption

    15W Maximum