Oh man, Doug, I'm sorry to see that. Can't hurt to try to file a claim with the carrier (if it works the same there as it does here). More importantly, though, that damage looks almost like it was pre-existing. Maybe it's just hard to tell from the pictures, but it almost looks like...water damage?

I'm going to sift every single tiny piece of varnish out of the packaging and if it doesn't go towards covering the extent of that damage (there were no pictures of the rear of the unit on the auction). I'm going to want every single penny of my money back ASAP. I'd have cared less and swapped the panels with the stock unit I've got. But these chips are almost certainly fakes and thats fraud.

Doug, if you have time, take some more pics of the unit, post 'em and we can try to help out with some comparisons, if possible.

Doug, my advice is to bail on the transaction and seek a refund now.

Doug, my advice is to bail on the transaction and seek a refund now.

I agree.

Interesting mods.

Fake chips if they are fake and wood thats damaged before or during postage doesn't matter because it doesn't even power up.

Bad times... I hope you get a refund.

Seller says he has a stock DAS-R1 he could have sent the panels from but this one is broken so its moot. Arranging refund and return now.

I will now take suggestions for another DAC I guess.

Esoteric D-07.

Please report back!

At least the seller is saying he'll refund, get that money and run Doug.

I wouldn't necessarily think those TDAs were fake; the date code is valid, etc. There is a big thread on diyaudio covering these, but they look plausible to me.

Since it doesn't power up and is damaged, the refund and return is the way to go. Good luck!

the SF:

-bass hugely inferior. slow, fat, bloaty, doesn't extend as deep, midbass boomy in comparison to D1.

what, no love for bass that's like a fat black woman shaking her booty?

that's one reason I really really like the SFD2 mk2. the bass doesn't turn on a dime.

if you listen to stand-up bass in jazz tracks it sounds more real.

not to mention it extends pretty f'in deep as is, before comparing it to the d1, which has a solid state design and probably pretty fault-less bass reproduction

yeah, it gets a little wooly with the midbass.

again, another reason I like it so much..

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1r7qc_sir-mix-a-lotbaby-got-back_music

Jesus, Doug, what luck. So sorry you got screwed on this deal, but at least this time you appear to have found a seller willing to honor his end of the deal.

Best of luck finding another proper double crown. In the meantime, Eejit's Pass looks promising...

In the meantime, Eejit's Pass looks promising...

That's what I was thinking as well. If I had the means it'd be mine, unfortunately I have 1/10th the means so I went with something else.

I'm trying very hard not to get that Pass.

AnalogStretch is unmoved.

Well one thing's for sure Duggeh, I'm not taking you to Vegas with me anytime soon.

I hope your bad luck is soon to run out.

Most important 1st question: Is the Pass 230V switchable?

I will now take suggestions for another DAC I guess.

the Parasound 1600HD is a great value, also sounds better with headphones than other DAC's (Sonic Frontiers) due to its solid state prAT and nice headstage/soundstage

it also just simply doesn't fuck up imo

EDIT: I doubt the 1600hd is 230v switchable without switching out the trafo

I wouldn't necessarily think those TDAs were fake; the date code is valid, etc. There is a big thread on diyaudio covering these, but they look plausible to me.

Since it doesn't power up and is damaged, the refund and return is the way to go. Good luck!

I thought all double crowns were S2, is this not so? Not a TDA1541 aficionado or anything.

I thought all double crowns were S2, is this not so?

That was my understanding, too.

Damn that sucks Doug but if you've got a full refund then that is great. There is no excuse for packaging something this hefty in a small box and hope for the best. I do have fond memories of seeing the staff at the post office trying to handle the DAS-R1 I sold you.

I will now take suggestions for another DAC I guess.

What are you looking for (in a DAC)? Prat? Accuracy? Musicality?

Sorry to hear about your misfortune.

Doug, my advice is to bail on the transaction and seek a refund now.

+1

The metal surrounding the damaged wood looks too well for those to be hits on transport, and doing a bad packaging may be part of the plot. Does not look too good to me: refund ASAP.

(edited: I have been a little slow to answer sorry)

Oh and afaik both D1 and Para1600 have double primaries on its tansformers, so rewirable for 230VAC.