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Related Manuals for Boulder 2108
Summary of Contents for Boulder 2108
- Page 1 2108 Phono Preamplifier !"#""#"$!% Boulder Amplifiers, Inc. Rev. 1.0 255 S. Taylor Ave. Louisville, CO 80027 (303) 449-8220 www.boulderamp.com !"#$ %&'() www.facebook.com/BoulderAmplifiersInc...
- Page 2 About About Boulder Amplifiers, Inc. Boulder was founded in 1984 and is the last high-performance audio manufacturer operating in North America to still perform all of its own design, engineering and manufacturing in-house. While this form of production may be more costly than outsourcing, the resulting quality control and reliability of the finished products are never compromised.
- Page 3 Please take a few moments to read through this instruction manual prior to using your 2108. This will help you understand the many functions and capabilities of the phono preamplifier. It will also allow you to maximize the convenience and performance for which it was engineered.
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Page 4: Table Of Contents
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Connecting the 2108 to the 2100 Power Supply •... - Page 5 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2108 Preamplifier Section Dimensions •...
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Page 6: Getting Started
Getting Started The 2108 Phono Preamplifier embodies years of development and is the evolution of the legendary 2008 Phono Preamplifier, one of the greatest phono preamplifiers ever made. Here are some of the fea- tures that set the 2108 apart from the competition: Audio features: •... -
Page 7: Unpacking And Care
The Power Supply section is front-end heavy. Please be aware of this when lifting it to avoid any accidental damage. Be sure to save all packing materials! The 2108 is shipped in a foam wrap to protect the fine finish of both sections. Try not to damage this... -
Page 8: Before You Start
Getting Started Before You Start The 2108 system comes in two assemblies that must be put in place and connected: the 2108 Audio section and the 2100 Power Supply section. You should have received two large, heavy boxes. The pieces included inside them are: 1. -
Page 9: How To Clean The Casework
Getting Started How to Clean the Casework If the 2108 must be cleaned, use only a soft, lint-free cloth moistened with plain water. Never use any type of chemical cleaner unless recommended by your dealer or the Boulder factory. Do not use bleach! Bleach will remove the anodized surface of the casework. -
Page 10: Installation
Do not place in an enclosed rack without ventilation. Both sections of the 2108 must have at least 2 inches (5 cm) of airspace around the chassis for proper cooling and airflow. Be sure to leave access to the AC mains and DC power cables when installing. -
Page 11: Connections
Getting Started Connections Making Connections to the 2108 Phono Preamplifier Input Connections 1. Input 1 2. Input 2 3. Input 3 4. Ground (or Earth) Binding Posts 5. Cartridge Demagnetizer Pass-through Output Connections. 6. Right Outputs 7. Left Outputs Power Supply Connections. -
Page 12: Making Connections To The 2100 Power Supply
Getting Started Making Connections to the 2100 Power Supply 1. AC Mains Connection 2. Master AC Power Switch 3. Right Audio DC Power 4. Left Audio DC Power 5. Digital (Control) DC Power... -
Page 13: Connecting The 2108 To The 2100 Power Supply
Getting Started Connecting the 2108 to the 2100 Power Supply Connect the DC cables from the 2100 power supply to the 2108 Pho- no Preamplifier. Because the cable connectors are keyed, they cannot be installed incorrectly. Please note that the Digital (Control) DC cable has a different number of pins and cannot be connected to the Audio power connectors. -
Page 14: Connecting The Analog Outputs
Getting Started Connecting the Analog Outputs Connect the left and right interconnect cables from one of the 2108’s LEFT OUTPUTS and RIGHT OUTPUTS to your preamplifier or inte- grated amplifier’s left and right input connections. To maintain best sound quality, Boulder recommends that balanced audio connections always be used. -
Page 15: Connection To Ac Mains
WARNING: It is important never to disconnect any of the DC power cables when the unit is powered ON via the AC master power switch or damage may occur, even when the 2108 is in Standby mode! Always turn the unit OFF from the rear panel of the 2100 power supply or disconnect the AC mains power cord before disconnecting any of the DC power cables. -
Page 16: Turntable Connection Types
Turntable Connection Types To get started listening, you only need to connect a turntable to the 2108 as you would any other phono preamplifier. Please take note of the following: The 2108 can be connected to many different types of turntables. To fully realize the sonic potential of your 2108 Phono Preamplifier, use balanced cable connections with XLR terminations whenever possible. -
Page 17: Connecting A Turntable
Getting Started Connecting a Turntable Because a phono cartridge is actually a balanced source, balanced inputs are provided on the 2108. Connect the output cables from your turntable to the LEFT and RIGHT CHANNEL INPUT 1 connections of the 2108. -
Page 18: Ground
Getting Started GROUND 1-13... -
Page 19: Connecting A Cartridge Demagnetizer
Connections Connecting a Cartridge Demagnetizer The 2108 is able to connect an external cartridge demagnetizer to your phono cartridge via a pair of RCA connectors on the rear panel. Connect each channel of the demagnetizer to the RCA inputs labeled DEMAG on the rear panel of the 2108. -
Page 20: Connecting The Outputs To A Balanced Preamplifier
Getting Started Connecting the Outputs to a Balanced Preamplifier The 2108 has balanced output connections on XLR jacks. With the low output impedance of the 2108 Phono Preamplifier, distances of more than 100 meters between the 2108 and preamplifier or integrat- ed amplifier are practical. -
Page 21: Connecting The Outputs To An Unbalanced Preamplifier
Getting Started Connecting the Outputs to an Unbalanced Preamplifier If you are connecting the 2108 to a preamplifier or amplifier that does not have balanced input connections, you will either need a pair of Boulder XLR-to-RCA adaptors (ABL2) or need to have your cables properly terminated. -
Page 22: Setup And Loading
Getting Started Setup and Loading Personality Cards Each input connector of the 2108 has a slot below it for a Personality Card, one for the left and right channels of each input. These cards have four functions: 1. Selection of the type of cartridge to be used with the input (MC or 2. -
Page 23: Moving Coil Or Moving Magnet Selection
Getting Started Moving Coil or Moving Magnet Selection Set the Cartridge Type DIP Switch to either MC (Moving Coil) or MM (Moving Magnet), depending on the type of cartridge mounted to your turntable. From the factory, the Personality Cards for INPUT 1 and INPUT 2 are set to the MC position. -
Page 24: Cartridge Loading Adjustment - Resistive
Getting Started Cartridge Loading Adjustment - Resistive Set the Cartridge Type DIP Switch to either MC (Moving Coil) or MM (Moving Magnet), depending on the type of cartridge mounted to your turntable. From the factory, the Personality Cards for INPUT 1 and INPUT 2 are set to the MC position and the resistive cartridge loading is 100Ω, with a maximum unadjusted load of 1000Ω... - Page 25 Getting Started Desired Cartridge Loading Value Resistor Value To Install in Position R1 175 ohms 212 ohms 200 ohms 250 ohms 225 ohms 290 ohms 250 ohms 333 ohms 275 ohms 379 ohms 300 ohms 429 ohms 325 ohms 481 ohms 350 ohms 538 ohms 375 ohms...
- Page 26 Getting Started Desired Cartridge Loading Value Resistor Value To Install in Position R1 850 ohms 5667 ohms 875 ohms 7000 ohms 900 ohms 9000 ohms 925 ohms 12333 ohms 950 ohms 19000 ohms 975 ohms 39000 ohms 1000 ohms Open (no resistor installed) For MM cartridges, the maximum resistive load is 47kΩ.
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Page 27: Cartridge Loading Adjustment - Capacitive
Getting Started Cartridge Loading Adjustment - Capacitive The 2108’s inputs have “parasitic” capacitive of less than 50 pF direct- ly across the cartridge inputs. If desired, additional capacitance can be added on the Personality Card at position C1. The selected capacitor value should be 50 pF less than the desired value. -
Page 28: Gain Selection Adjustment
Getting Started Gain Selection Adjustment The middle switch on the Cartridge Type DIP Switch can be set to either LO GAIN or HI GAIN (+10 dB). This switch is used to raise the overall gain of the input for lower output cartridges. When using cartridges with very low output (less than 0.2 mV), it is recommended that the HI GAIN setting is used. -
Page 29: Demagnetizer Pass-Through Selection
Getting Started Demagnetizer Pass-Through Selection A pair of RCA connectors on the rear panel of the 2108 are provided for connection to an external cartridge demagnetizer. If you wish to demagnetize a cartridge connected to a particular input of the 2108, set the Cartridge Type DIP Switch to DEMAG OK. -
Page 30: Operation
With all of the connections and adjustments made, you are now ready to listen to your Boulder 2108 Phono Preamplifier. To turn the 2108 ON, move the Master AC Power Switch located on the rear panel of the 2100 Power Supply upwards. The 2108 will then go into Standby mode. -
Page 31: Standby
Operation Standby To bring the 2108 out of Standby mode, press the standby button on the front panel. The LED on the front panel of the 2100 Power Sup- ply will turn white and the 2108 will automatically unmute when it is ready for listening. -
Page 32: Mute
First, the outputs are muted for three seconds when the 2108 is pow- ered ON. Pressing the MUTE button while the 2108 is in this state will have no effect. Second, the outputs can be temporarily muted at any time for your convenience. -
Page 33: Input Selection
To select an input, press one of the INPUT buttons on the front panel of the 2108. The LED above the selected input will turn white. When changing inputs, the 2108 will mute the outputs for three seconds. NOTE: Do not select an input that does not have a cartridge connected. -
Page 34: Demag
Select the input for the cartridge to be demagnetized by pressing the button for that input, then press the DEMAG button on the front pan- el of the 2108. This will mute the outputs of the 2108. The LED above the DEMAG button will illuminate and the LED above the MUTE button on the front panel will be illuminated amber. -
Page 35: Mono
When played with a stereo cartridge, monaural or “mono” recordings can be enhanced by mixing the left and right channels to create a true monaural audio signal. It is possible to do this with the 2108 by putting the unit in MONO mode. -
Page 36: Equalization
Operation Equalization The Boulder 2108 Phono Preamplifier provides the standard RIAA equalization curve for recordings produced after 1955, along with the EMI, Columbia, and FFRR curves for records manufactured before 1955. Select the equalization curve you wish to use by pressing the button labeled with the name of that particular curve. - Page 37 Operation...
- Page 38 Operation...
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Page 39: Low Cut Filter
Operation Low Cut Filter The Boulder 2108 Phono Preamplifier uses a 3-pole (18 dB/octave) low cut filter that may be switched to one of two frequencies or can be turned off. When the Low Cut circuit is activated, response will be -3 dB at 10 Hz or 20 Hz. - Page 40 Operation Recording Connections The 2108 Phono Preamplifier has two pairs of outputs. These outputs are connected in parallel, so there is no benefit to using one pair of outputs over the other. When one pair of outputs is connected to a preamplifier, the second pair of outputs can be connected to a recording device.
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Page 42: Appendix
Appendix Technical Specifications Inputs 3 x 3-pin balanced XLR, adaptable to unbalanced Outputs 2 x 3-pin balanced XLR, adaptable to unbalanced Input Impedance MC: maximum 1000Ω, MM: 47kΩ. Resistive and capacitive loading adjustable on individual Personality Cards. Output Impedance 100Ω Balanced Maximum Output Level 28 Vrms Distortion, THD... -
Page 43: Dimensions & Weights
Appendix Dimensions and Weights 2108 Phono Preamplifier Chassis: 18” W x 15.5” D x 5” H 45.7 cm W x 39.4 cm D x 12.7 cm H (37 lbs./16.8 kg) 2100 Power Supply Chassis: 18” W x 15.5” D x 4.25” H 45.7 cm W x 39.4 cm D x 10.8 cm H... -
Page 44: 2108 Preamplifier Section Dimensions
Appendix 2108 Preamplifier Section Dimensions (Inches) 15.971 15.225 15.971 15.225 BOULDER 2108 15.225 PHONO PREAMPLIFIER DIMENSIONS 18.000 18.000 5.040 5.040 .967 2.000 14.000 2.000 .725 2.000 .967 14.000 2.000 2.000 .725 2.000 5.040 .967 2.000 .725 2.000 10.500... -
Page 45: 2100 Power Supply Section Dimensions
Appendix 2100 Power Supply Section Dimensions (Inches) 15.745 15.225 15.225 15.745 15.225 18.000 4.040 14.000 18.000 4.040 4.040 .965 14.000... - Page 46 Low line voltage Have line voltage checked Have power cable tested or re- Defective power cable placed Defective 2108 Return 2108 to dealer for service Red LED indica- Phono preamplifier is Wait until boot process completes tor on 2100 booting up...
- Page 47 Appendix One channel GAIN switches not set Set GAIN switches on Personality louder than the equally Cards to same setting other MC/MM switches no Set MC/MM switches on Person- set equally ality Cards to same setting Cartridge loading is not Check cartridge loads on Person- set equally ality Cards...
- Page 48 Appendix Notes:...
- Page 49 Appendix Notes:...
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