Boulder 866 experience? Users?

I've owned the Boulder 866 with the onboard digital for about five months or so and just love it.  I'll cut to the chase with my appraisal: it is the most correct and complete presentation of music that I've ever had in my room. For the relatively small difference in cost, getting the analog + digital version is a no brainer.

I had a Devialet for about a year and thought it sounded clean, dynamic, and quiet but it was ultimately not as musical or involving as the tube gear I was used to, so I moved on. The Boulder is another story entirely, at least in my system. The only way I can think to describe it is also pretty boring--it is just about dead neutral, neither over nor under emphasizing any particular aspect of the sonic picture. Don't get me wrong. The Boulder is anything but boring. In fact, it checks all of my boxes, has plenty of power, and is the first solid state unit I have owned that did not have me pining for tubes within a couple of months. I guess I've always felt that tubes have that "breath of life" that solid state just can't do, but the Boulder 866 is definitely alive. It is dynamic and resolving, but also has texture and a holographic soundstage, though not artificially so. I can and do listen to it for hours without a hint of fatigue, and it excels with all kinds of music, which is crucial for me.

I have heard some Pass Lab mono blocks at length at a friend's house and was suitably impressed, but I would be hesitant to draw much of a conclusion without a head-to-head comparison in my room and in the context of my own system. I have always been intrigued by darTZeel gear, but once I was able to audition the Boulder, I knew my search was over. When I listen to the 866, there is no nagging sense that something is missing or just a bit off. It just sounds right to me.

I am able to stream Amazon Music HD and Qobuz from my iPad, so I wouldn't think you would have any issues there, though I am unfamiliar with your source and would obviously defer to a dealer on that question.

If you can get an in-home audition, do it. Yes, it is "really damn good."

Yes, in regards to the Technics SU-R1000 there's a local dealer who expects to get one in, I will definitely go give it a listen.

Another integrated which I heard a few years ago at a show and which managed to turn my head was the Mark Levinson No.585.  I've been so happy with my Odyssey though that I haven't been in a huge rush to upgrade. Maybe I won't until it's time to move into something endgame.

I've learned a very dear lesson over the years -- most people online aren't as discerning as I am with audio quality. The Odyssey Stratos (now a Kismet) was a happy surprise since I had picked it up originally to be a filler amp until I get one I really wanted. It's not a high-end competitor, please don't get me wrong, but the performance checks all the boxes for a very decent price. Besides that all my best choices came from listening to them before hand. When I can't listen I always end up going around an expensive buy-return-sell chain of frequent disappointments until finding a winner.

@Waltersalas, I’ve sent the message. You’ve experienced most of them from the perspective I’m in. I’m really curious about your further opinion.  

I’m in this same place. I have a moon 390 streaming Dac in my work office with focal Utopia headphones. At home I use a PS Audio Directstream dac with bridge II through a Violeletric HPA V281 final edition and the Utopias as my reference. My main listening room is a Lumin T2 and Atoll AM 400 amplification playing SF Guarneri Evolution speakers along with 2 REL carbon special subs. All cardas clear beyond cabling and speaker wire and all music is roon/tidal streamed. I’m feeling like taking the next step in electronics in my main room. Not sure if I should invest in a top shelf preamp to go with the Lumin and atoll amplifier or scrub the existing electronics and go all in with something like the Boulder 866. I will be auditioning the Boulder 866 at Music for pleasure it ST Louis as soon as I can get out that way. Not an expert but I feel magic is missing in my main room. My utopia headphone through the Violectric is so emotionally engaging. I need this magic in my main room. I know I need to invest in more acoustic treatments for this room, and this is the priority. Any experts out there as to synergy with tube equipment and the Guarneri‘s?  It feels like getting an audition list together for tube equipment and including the Boulder is next. Thanks. 

@sonyedman2
I’m looking forward to hearing back from you once you audition Boulder 866. Unfortunately, my local dealer doesn’t have one, and Boulder is likely do drop shipping to me once I order one. 

I heard Boulder doesn’t compromise in its DAC section, and many people hold genuinely high regards on Boulder’s top line sound. (Neutral but refined manner.)