I love this very sweet sounding, older DAC from Frank, but I am doing a spring cleaning/inventory and just have wayyy too much gear. So I will offer here for a fellow AC-er to enjoy.
This is a circa-2000 AVA FET Valve TOPP Dac, using the old school Philips TDA-1541A D/A conversion chip, and dual 12AX7 vacuum tube output stage. I bought this some 4 years ago and it was used primarily in my second system with ProAcs and Primare I-30.
Key point to note is that the input is limited to CD resolution (44.1k) via RCA/coax. So it works great with digital outputs of CD players but if you use a modern streamer make sure it has the ability to send redbook resolution output to the downstream DAC. I ran this in my main rig using Roon, downsampling streamed music to 44.1k, and the sound is really wonderful, sweet sounding, sufficiently resolving/organic with terrific imaging. The choice of output tube shapes the sonic profile too, as you would expect. I will sell the unit with new production TungSol 12ax7 (Russia made) tubes, as well as a quiet, loverly sounding pair of 1960's old stock Sylvania O-getter grey plates.
As you can in the pics the unit is in great shaoe, no issues at all. There is a little aging on the labels at the rear, that's it. The unit is dead silent with either set of tubes. (BTW I have all the chassis screws, I just removed them for a photo of inside the unit.)
Offered at $400 plus shipping (via UPS ground insured). If you are local in NorCal you are welcome to pick up in person.
If you are seeking a nice outboard DAC that sounds like music for a reasonable price, this one is hard to beat.
Here is a thread I initiated when I first got this DAC and was trying to fully understand it. Frank was nice enough to chime in.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=172726.msg1826521#msg1826521
Thanks for looking.
