my short review of the Bolder Cables modified Squeezebox2(SB2) and Bolder powersupply. First of all a little background on how I came to buy it. An Audiocircle member, Tirade, was selling his recently modified SB2. I bought it and Tirade shipped it directly to me. Tirade recieved it from Wayne at Bolder without opening the package. Anyway when I got it the PS was damaged pretty bad by USPS... I emailed Tirade who in turn emailed Wayne - they both emailed me back. Wayne said he would replace the PS and also upgrade it and the SB2 for free
Wow - no claims hassle with USPS. Now thats great service
SO, I ship it back and they get updated. I get it back and installed it. By that time I had sold my unmodified SB2 so I didn't have a reference to compare. The modified PS had a bit of a hum that I could hear so Wayne offered to send me another - that one is dead quiet. Again, super service.
Just this weekend my friend brought over his unmodifed SB2. We did a bit of testing and although my audio description skills are lacking I'll give it a shot. The stock SB2 using the digital out sounded OK(into my Tact RCS 2.0S DAC) - nothing spectacular. The soundstage was kinda compressed - bass was strong but diffuse and one noted. The highs were a bit stringent and thin - midbass was shallow. Imaging was congested and localization not very good. SO, we installed the Bolder SB2/PS and WOW!!! Everything that I ascribed as negetive to the stock SB2 was completely reversed!! The soundstage now extends beyond the side walls, depth is amazing, bass is strong and very much delineated, imaging is pinpoint and steady. Highs are sweet and non sibilant. You know the old audiophile phrase "I never heard that in the recording before", that was happening constantly
It really is an amazing upgrade for the cost. We tried the stock SB2 with the modified PS and although not nearly as good as the modified SB2/PS combo, it did improve the stock SB2 - just not to the same degree. We put the stock SB2 back into the system and YUCK! We both wanted the modified SB2/PS back. So, just my few thoughts. If your sitting on the fence maybe it will help push you to a PC based transport. It's amazing to be able to pick from 1800+ cd's all with a remote or laptop or PDA
