It is beautiful

Great amp by a phenomenal designer. Legendary. Not sure why you'd let this one go!

if I had this, I wouldn’t be selling it. That’s for dang sure.

RSA....oh my. if you had this you would have sold it a long time ago. Old days are wild; but it's not competitive these days unfortunately.

chesebert said:

RSA....oh my. if you had this you would have sold it a long time ago. Old days are wild; but it's not competitive these days unfortunately.

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I honestly don't think the amps these days are necessarily better than the good ones from 10+ years ago. However DACs does have significant advancement.

And the DS is still more powerful than anything out there. I tried using to drive the HE6SE v2 through the iFi IEM match+ with the ultra settings (-24db)

It drove the HE6se through IEM match to loud listening level with no clipping whatsoever, 24db is about 250 times the power. That's what I would call "effortless". Every other amps I had, clips before reaching normal listening level.


Then I turned volume even higher than the DS literally blew up the resistor inside the IEM match with smoke coming out from the iem match lol. The DS still works fine. Yes I am crazy.

But I have to say it isn't the most transparent amp though. Given the fact that the DS is actually discontinued.. I guess I am keeping it.

Maybe I’m in a minority but I’d even just rock that as decor in my house. I love it

whitefang said:

I honestly don't think the amps these days are necessarily better than the good ones from 10+ years ago. However DACs does have significant advancement.

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I completely agree. Amp tech hasn't changed much in 30 years. A good design is a good design. The Dark Star is legendary, one of the best headphone amps ever made.

Quick story: I have a Krell KSA-100s from the 1990s, designed by Dan D'Agostino. A cap blew last year and it needed servicing. I took it to George Meyer in LA. They quoted me $2000 for the recap job. I asked them if it was worth it? I could buy a new amp for that price.

Without hesitation: This was one of the best amps ever made, by one of the greatest designers in amp history. You MUST recap it. These sound as good as any amp on the market today, if not better. It may not be shiny and new. The faceplates change, but the bones are and principles are the same.

He could have sold me a new amp. I paid for the repair.

chesebert said:

RSA....oh my. if you had this you would have sold it a long time ago. Old days are wild; but it's not competitive these days unfortunately.

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Ha. Do you remember when Eddie Current was selling Dark Star kits for $400. Gainclone amps were never competitive.