This one would be a good value if the new owner plans on using it as is. However it is not such a great candidate for upgrade to our newest Fet Valve CF preamp. The upgrade is a complete brand new mother board, replacing almost everything. Its cost is $1399 and includes a new three year warranty. The used unit listed actually was a bit more expensive as it has the optional remote control. The normal price was $2499 plus $299 for the remote, and included the now $200 optional silver faceplate.. The real original price in silver was $2798.
A new FV CF is $1899 plus $299 for the remote and $200 for the silver faceplate, total $2398.
If you add the asking price for the used unit, $1499, and add $1399 for the FV CF upgrade, you come up with $2898, whoops, $500 more then the cost of a new one, even though the original remote control and silver faceplate is retained at no extra cost.
We regret that the upgrade costs to some of our new units is more then it used to be. But in almost all cases, our new designs require complete new circuit sets, power supplies and all, so low cost simple upgrades just are not possible any more.
Frank Van Alstine
