BorderPatrol Audio Electronics

Music Servers

Review of the BorderPatrol DAC SE by
Jason Kennedy of The Ear

BorderPatrol DAC now available in new improved SEi specification with Jensen Paper in Oil signal coupling capacitors for an even more natural and organic sound.

Stereophile Review of the
BorderPatrol P21EXD.
By Ken Micallef

The Best Gear of 2017
BorderPatrol DAC

Scot Hull: This single component defies many conventions and audiophile assumptions. It’s not FPGA-based, it’s not a streamer-enabled endpoint, it does not support high-resolution audio files. Like, at all. There’s no filtering, no over-sampling and no up-sampling. All of that means, to the computer-savvy audiophile, that this DAC really shouldn’t promise much. And yet it does. It offers one of the most open-sounding, transparent and full-range presentations I’ve ever heard.

John Richardson: A month or two after hearing Scot’s unit, I purchased my own.

'Right away I knew the BorderPatrol wasn't just another digital converter; there was more life, more body and soul to the sound of files.'

'Once I stopped comparing and just listened, I fell in love with the sound. The BorderPatrol DAC has a musicality that you just don't get from everyday digital gear.'
Steve Guttenberg, C-Net

'I cheerfully confess that this DAC has been the most entertaining thing to hit my rack in years. The performance easily earns the BorderPatrol DAC SE an Editor’s Choice award, but also puts it firmly into Best of the Year territory. An absolute must-listen.' Scot Hull, Part Time Audiophile

AV Showrooms Certificate of Achievement
Capital Audiofest 2016.
BorderPatrol/Triode Wire labs/Living Voice.

'OK, so this isn’t really a new product introduction, but I was so blown away by the BorderPatrol S20’s performance with Volti Audio’s Vittora speaker system that I just had to include it here. Two 300B power triodes are paralleled per channel to deliver 18Wpc. The overall layout is dual mono. Massive dual external power supplies are used. Designer Gary Dews offers several power supply options with the EXC+EXS representing the ultimate configuration—weighing in at 90 pounds each in copper casework and extensive cryogenic treatments. The rest of the setup in the Volti Audio room included: BorderPatrol’s DAC1, CEC TL3N belt drive CD transport, and Triode Wire Labs cabling. A gem of a system'.
Dick Olsher Rocky Mountain Audiofest 2015 BEST IN SHOW (COST NO OBJECT)

'All in all, a fantastic sounding room from some of my favorite audio conspirators, and easily one of the very best sounds at AXPONA this year. Again.' Scot Hull Part Time Audiophile

BEST IN SHOW

Hardcore Vinyl Die-Hard finds Music in Digital Form Shocker!
Bill Hart, The Vinyl Press

BorderPatrol DAC SE review.
'All things considered and in the grand scheme of DACs, this makes the BorderPatrol DAC SE a very special character and one I recommend you give more than an ear. If you're anything like me, or Herb Reichert who remains one of my favorite writers (and people) your ears, heart and mind may tell you the same thing--- Julie Andrews be damned! This is the sound of music!'
Michael Lavorgna.

YouTube Video Review of the
BorderPatrol DAC
by
Steve Guttenberg

I have to admit that initially I was so wrapped up in the instrumental and vocal timbre that I failed to notice how well the soundstage developed with both acoustic and studio recordings. The fact that this relatively inexpensive digital-to-analog converter can produce such musical nuances is pretty amazing.

In many respects, the DAC SE is a digital cousin to my Denon DL-103R and Ortofon SPU phono cartridges. I’m a proud owner of both, and now of the DAC SE. I encourage you to seek out an audition because you may become an owner of this bargain-priced DAC too.
The BorderPatrol SE DAC
Mark Blackmore, The Audio Beat

Volti Audio/BorderPatrol/Triode Wire Labs voted Runner Up for Best System Performance at the California Audio Show 2017.
The Volti/BP/TWL system was considered the second best at the show by the attendees that voted. First was the Von Schweikert Audio/Valve Amplification Company system with a total cost of close to $1Million.

https://caaudioshow.com/cas-awards-2017-results

WHAT'S BEST FORUM
Axpona 2017
BorderPatrol/Volti Audio/Triode Wire Labs
Report by Al Moritz

Border Patrol wins the "Peace and Crickets" prize for Best Sound two
shows in a row from Herb Reichert Stereophile

In my report from the 2016 AXPONA, I wrote a whole blurb about how I thought the Border Patrol room had the best sound of show, but I couldn't turn it in because I had forgotten to take photos. (Sorry Gary Dews.) This time, however, Gary had two rooms and maybe they both will win that honour. The loudspeakers were different in each room, but the sound quality and music quality were equally wonderful in both.........
Border Patrol might win my "Peace and Crickets" prize for Best Sound two shows in a row.
Herb Reichert Stereophile
Capital Audiofest 2016.

'What the Border Patrol EXD/EXS combination does superbly well is to establish what may be an industry benchmark in reproducing the correct and fully developed tonal envelope for every instrument and voice played through it. It just gives music a sense of rightness in this critical aspect of realism that places it firmly in the playing field with the finest 300B SET amps of the day.' Steve Marsh 6-Moons

'The P20 is a mightily impressive amplifier and one that explodes the triode myth. Once again, it proves that it's not what you use but how you use it that counts. Good engineering will win out. I've listened long and hard to the push-pull Border Patrol and still haven't got its full measure.'
Roy Gregory Hi-Fi+.

'The SE300B is packed up for shipment back to BorderPatrol, and I'll miss it a lot. I was impressed with its great bass coupled with soundstage definition that is so hard to achieve. During my review the amp worked perfectly and gave the impression that it will last for many, many years. The output tubes are expensive, but the rest of the tubes are moderately priced and that counts for something when you're looking for a long-term amplifier relationship.'
Mark Blackmore THE AUDIO BEAT