Update (8/14): DAC has been shipped for buyer to try, with money back if it's too noisy in system. I will update thread with a formal sold or returned and still available
Selling a
really nice sounding
Promitheus NOS DAC. These get great reviews and rightfully so; they sound excellent, they are the best NOS I've heard.
I had actually sold this here before at ~$400, and when available, they sell for that used on Audiogon.
BUT.....
This one has some hum/noise. Many earlier units from Nicholas did. This was actually my second one from him, my first was unlistenable because of huge hum on one channel only. Long story short, after MANY months trying to resolve it, he finally sent me this new one. (Despite best intentions, Nicholas can be a PITA to deal with, just too busy). This model has many upgraded parts (caps, resistors, silver RCA's, etc.), SOME of which Nicholas now sells standard, but at a higher price.
In my system, it still has some noise, but only at higher volumes, and with no music playing. FWIW, I've used this with a customer Hypex UCD-180ad integrated, and a Virtue Audio Two integrated. In both cases, I didn't hear noise to any real level (IE, at listening seat) until at least 12-1 o'clock.
With music playing, no issues, even on relatively quiet passages.
Now that said....it DID have significantly more hum/noise in the buyer's system. His system apparently had more gain, and it was well before 12 o'clock for him. He said it still sounded great with music, but understandably he could not get past the hum.
He tried to work it, though. At one point, Nicholas offered to "fix" it if the buyer would desolder everything from the main board and send that to him. VERY unrealistic. So I refunded money plus shipping costs back, and it's in my hands again. I've pinged Nicholas again to discuss other options, but no response.....it's been weeks.
So, after all this diatribe, I offer this DAC for
$225 shipped - US only. If you have a low gain input (pre, integrated, receiver), this is a steal for a great DAC with a bit of hum. Or, if you have good DIY skills, you may be able to trace the issue and resolve.
[EDIT: BTW, this is very close to, if not exactly, the latest rev of the board and design]
Bottom line, don't expect Nicholas to help. Again, nice guy, good intentions, just too busy and often non-responsive.
I take Paypal, no fees charged. Included will be the DAC, manual, and if desired, a basic power cord.
Thanks,
Todd - skullguise
Pics (one chip in top plate, covered with Sharpie
looks worse than it is):
FS: Promitheus NOS DAC - possible GREAT deal, pls. read the long story
