yolakim
02-05-2021, 15:50
I bought this DAC from Rich (dicy) on AoS in December 2019 and was blown away by how good it is compared to other DACs I've had. I immediately sold my Chord DAC and MCRU linear power supply and relegated my Border Patrol DAC to my office system - this was just more detailed with more space around instruments and a more enjoyable listen. I've now decided to look for an upgrade, so this is for sale.
https://i.imgur.com/vuVaLTu.jpg?1
The original listing is at https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?67130-FS-Audio-Note-DAC-2-(But-essentially-a-DAC-3).
https://i.imgur.com/Ja3VLre.jpg?1
It's a DAC 2 but has a few important upgrades. I'm not going to pretend to understand all of the detail, but the important bits are:
DAC3 output PCB with DAC 3 interstage line transformers and upgraded Jenson output signal capacitors
DAC chip is the AD1865
Brick wall filters removed and non-oversampling modification applied
https://i.imgur.com/Qhb4wh0.jpg?2
Apparently, this brings the DAC up towards DAC 3.1 level, though it has a single output transformer.
https://i.imgur.com/eA4UGuZ.jpg?2https://i.imgur.com/JWWnZ6V.jpg?2
You can see from the original listing that it was serviced by High End Audio Repair in E. Sussex in December 2019. The DAC has worked faultlessly since I've had it. I had the chance to compare this to a 2.1x with Black Gate capacitors recently (that cost near twice as much!) and preferred this, though the difference was very small in my system.
https://i.imgur.com/x6rHeCJ.jpg?3https://i.imgur.com/2ir2aST.jpg?2
The case is in very good condition. There are a few minor marks on the cover, but you have to catch it in the right light to see them. What looks like a scratch next to the bolt in the image below is just a piece of dusting cloth!
https://i.imgur.com/VWlmjU4.jpg?2https://i.imgur.com/RKUX2HX.jpg?1
I did pay the original asking price for it (I'd offered that before Rich reduced the price and felt I should honour my offer), so I'm looking for £900 or a very close offer. It didn't come with the original box, but it will be well packed and shipping should be under £20 with UPS.
https://i.imgur.com/vuVaLTu.jpg?1
The original listing is at https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?67130-FS-Audio-Note-DAC-2-(But-essentially-a-DAC-3).
https://i.imgur.com/Ja3VLre.jpg?1
It's a DAC 2 but has a few important upgrades. I'm not going to pretend to understand all of the detail, but the important bits are:
DAC3 output PCB with DAC 3 interstage line transformers and upgraded Jenson output signal capacitors
DAC chip is the AD1865
Brick wall filters removed and non-oversampling modification applied
https://i.imgur.com/Qhb4wh0.jpg?2
Apparently, this brings the DAC up towards DAC 3.1 level, though it has a single output transformer.
https://i.imgur.com/eA4UGuZ.jpg?2https://i.imgur.com/JWWnZ6V.jpg?2
You can see from the original listing that it was serviced by High End Audio Repair in E. Sussex in December 2019. The DAC has worked faultlessly since I've had it. I had the chance to compare this to a 2.1x with Black Gate capacitors recently (that cost near twice as much!) and preferred this, though the difference was very small in my system.
https://i.imgur.com/x6rHeCJ.jpg?3https://i.imgur.com/2ir2aST.jpg?2
The case is in very good condition. There are a few minor marks on the cover, but you have to catch it in the right light to see them. What looks like a scratch next to the bolt in the image below is just a piece of dusting cloth!
https://i.imgur.com/VWlmjU4.jpg?2https://i.imgur.com/RKUX2HX.jpg?1
I did pay the original asking price for it (I'd offered that before Rich reduced the price and felt I should honour my offer), so I'm looking for £900 or a very close offer. It didn't come with the original box, but it will be well packed and shipping should be under £20 with UPS.