The Boulder 812 brings lucid neutrality, tight bass control, and richly textured detail to a beautifully machined DAC/preamp/headphone hub. The Absolute Sound admired its cohesive, transparent presentation, while Future Audiophile highlighted exceptional resolution and premium construction. Stable Roon streaming, balanced connectivity, and versatile headphone outputs complete an unusually polished compact-system centerpiece.
WATT RECOMMENDS
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
92/100
Build Quality
95/100
Features Connectivity
89/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Transparent, neutral, and cohesive sound with lucid imaging, strong depth cues, and convincing dynamic contrast.
Tight, articulate bass and high resolution reveal fine instrumental texture without sacrificing musical engagement.
Exceptionally robust, precisely machined construction with premium controls and metalwork.
Versatile all-in-one functionality, including stable Roon endpoint operation and four headphone connections.
Cons
Synth-heavy electronic music may sound softer, looser, and less visceral than through some competing DACs.
No unbalanced analog inputs, phono stage, AES/EBU input, or room correction.
Volume indication lacks an on-unit dB readout, and the limited analog outputs may constrain some systems.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100
Reviewers describe the 812 as exceptionally transparent, neutral, cohesive, and musically involving rather than sterile. Its tightly controlled bass, lucid spatial presentation, fine textural information, and notably quiet presentation make it a highly resolving DAC/preamp, though one reviewer found synthesized electronic material less visceral than through a Benchmark comparison.
Tonal Balance and Musicality
92/100
The Absolute Sound hears Boulder’s familiar transparent, neutral, non-editorial character, alongside unusual solidity and cohesive energy. Other reviewers call the presentation disarmingly natural, richly textured, saturated in tone, and compelling enough to encourage long listening sessions; the main caveat is slightly softer, less forceful electronic-synth dynamics than one comparison component.
Resolution and Detail
92/100
Reviewers repeatedly note strong resolution, from the water-droplet character of a keyboard sound to drumstick-on-cymbal contact, guitar-string texture, pick attack, and the distinct role of supporting instruments. The 812 also maintains lucid imaging and separates recorded acoustic environments convincingly without being described as overly analytical.
Digital Performance
92/100
The presentation is described as clean, informative, neutral, and emerging from a "black silence," with no sense of added glare or processing. Roon playback was reported as stable, with no dropouts, stuttering, or slow file loading, while the DAC was judged difficult to distinguish from the Gold Note DS-10+ in controlled comparisons.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
95/100
Construction receives unusually emphatic praise: Future Audiophile calls the metalwork possibly the best it has seen and describes the 812 as a stunningly well-made component. Reviewers specifically praise the rock-solid machined casework, precision-feeling controls, substantial stability, and carefully engraved headphone cover, although Boulder provides relatively little public internal-component documentation.
Features Connectivity
89/100
The 812 combines DAC, balanced preamp, headphone amplifier, and network-endpoint duties, with Ethernet, USB-B, USB host ports, coaxial and dual optical inputs, balanced analog inputs and outputs, and four headphone connections. Roon endpoint operation was notably reliable, and Bluetooth, AirPlay, DSD, MQA unfolding, configurable output behavior, and app control broaden its usefulness; AES/EBU, unbalanced connections, phono capability, and room correction are absent.
Value for Money
85/100
At roughly $9,200–$9,450, the 812 is undeniably a costly compact component, and one reviewer bluntly calls its price high. Still, Future Audiophile considers its value relatively high, noting that it combines capabilities beyond the similarly priced Pass Labs XP-22 while matching its overall detail resolution; its all-in-one functionality is especially persuasive for premium desktop, nearfield, and headphone systems.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
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Specifications
- Product
- 812 DAC Preamplifier
- Connections (Front)
- 4-Pin XLR Headphone Connector 1/8" Headphone Connector 1/4" Headphone Connector Pentacon Headphone Connector
- Connections (Back)
- 2 Pair XLR Analog Inputs 1 Pair XLR Preamplifier Output 4x USB Host Ethernet USB-B 2 Optical Digital Inputs Coaxial (RCA, SPDIF) Digital Input
- Software Features
- Based on 866 DSP Filter and DAC topology Configurable Headphone Sensitivity Available Fixed DAC out HTML Programming Control through Boulder Controller App Input Trim
- Hardware Features
- Switch Between Headphone and Preamp Outputs Volume Knob & Chassis Machined In House 100 db Optically Encoded Volume Control Innovative Protection Circuits
- Maximum Input Level
- 6.0 Vrms
- Maximum Output Level
- 14.0 Vrms
- THD+N, 2V Output, 2khz
- .0017% (-95.5 dB)
- Maximum Voltage Gain
- 19.4 dB
- Volume Range
- 100 dB
- Volume Steps
- 1.0 dB
- Frequency Response 20 Hz to 5 kHz
- +0.00, -0.03 dB
- Frequency Response, -3 dB
- .02 Hz & 250 kHz
- Clip to Noise Ratio
- 116dB
- Input Impedance
- 100kΩ Balanced
- Output Impedance
- 100Ω Balanced
- Power Requirements
- 90-240V
- Power Consumption
- 50W Max
- Headphone Amp Section 32Ω 200mW Output
- 2k Hz: 0.0010% 20k Hz: 0.0053%
- Headphone Amp Section 150Ω 200mW Output
- 2k Hz: 0.0010% 20k Hz: 0.0034%
- Headphone Amp Section 600Ω 80mW Output
- 2k Hz: 0.0011% 20k Hz: 0.0043%
- Dimensions
- 12"x12"x 3.5"
- Weight
- 14 lbs
Manufacturer's Description — Boulder Amplifiers
Through the worldwide success of the 866, Boulder has expanded the 800 series with the 812 DAC, Preamplifier, headphone amp.
By applying the design philosophy from the 866, and over 35 years of experience designing DAC’s, preamps, and amplifier circuits, you get a device that has precision, top of the line performance. Plus the quality and reliability you would expect from a Boulder product, in a refined package.
The 812 is Boulder’s first headphone amp, and we didn’t hold back. It has a separate sophisticated headphone amplifier circuit, four types of connections, and headphone sensitivity settings within the Boulder Controller app. With 200mw into 8 ohms and 80mw into 600 ohms, the amplifier section in the 812 will drive any headphones or multiple headphones at once. It is a headphone enthusiast’s dream come true.
It can be used just as a preamp, a DAC, a headphone amp or any combination of the three. With all the features and its versatility, the 812 is perhaps the highest value product Boulder has ever produced.
The 812 is something for long-term Boulder fans, headphone enthusiasts, or for someone starting their first Boulder system. We wanted to create something accessible and multifunctional that could fit into any sound system or become the system itself. The 812 accomplishes that.
Sophisticated headphone amplifier. Allows for 1/8" mini, 1/4", 4-pin balanced and Pentaconn headphones.
Streaming capabilities, Roon endpoint, UPnP playback and Air-Play functionality.
A software-enabled fixed DAC out option.
A dedicated Boulder app controls the 812 and makes custom setup adjustments, like headphone sensitivity. Optional RF remote for volume control and switching inputs also available
Two pairs of balanced analog inputs. One pair of balanced analog outputs. Two Toslink optical inputs, one coaxial input and one USB-B input.
Along with assembly and testing, every circuit board and piece of metalwork is produced in-house at Boulder's dedicated facility for unparalleled quality assurance.
In-house manufacturing efficiency improvements have made the 812 an incredible value in comparison to previous preamplifiers and DACs.
Stylish headphone bay cover to keep dust out of headphone jacks.
Easily switch between headphone and preamp mode with the output exchange button.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Boulder Amplifiers 812
- 3mA Audio — online and in-store — Houston, Texas, United States (website)
- Absolute Hi End — in-store — Ormond, Victoria, Australia (website)
- American Sound — in-store — Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Ana Mighty Sound — online and in-store — Paris, Île-de-France, France (website)
- Audio Advisors — in-store — West Palm Beach, Florida, United States (website)
- Audio Element — in-store — Pasadena, California, United States (website)
- Audio Gallery — online and in-store — Las Rozas de Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Audio Y Cine — online and in-store — Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain (website)
- Class A Audio — in-store — Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia (website)
- David Lewis Audio — in-store — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (website)
and 35 more verified dealers
