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FS/US: ADI-2 DAC FS with upgrades

prav66

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I am selling an ADI-2 DAC for $850 that I bought for new on Amazon for $1200. Selling with upgrades worth an additional $450 if bought separately, so I have priced it accordingly to be a very good deal for a used condition unit.

This is the model with the AKM AK4490 DAC.

DAC is in perfect operating condition and sounds amazing. I am selling because I travel a lot, and have just not been using with my current mobility, it works best for home use as you can imagine. So letting it go to someone else who could use it more.

Includes the unit, remote control, manual and upgraded power supply and an audiophile USB cable.

So you know what you are buying, here are 2 caveats to note:
a. I no longer have the box or original power supply cord
b. The unit has some cosmetic scratches on the top plate (so it is not in brand new condition). This does not affect functionality in any way.

Having gotten that out of the way, let me share what the upgrades are:

1. Upgraded power supply: iFi iPower Elite - Low Noise Power Supply Adapter (12V). (Bought for $300)
More details here: https://www.amazon.com/iFi-iPower-Elite-Supply-Adapter/dp/B08S622SM7?th=1
This is a $300 unit that was a major upgrade in the sound of the unit. My hifiman headphones suddenly sounded much more dynamic, with a larger soundstage. The ADI has a great DAC but the amplifier unit's soundstage can sound slightly compressed and one dimensional compared to some top end dedicated headphone amplifiers. But this upgrade fixed that for me. I had heard some skepticism from several folks online that the ADI already had good power supply filtering and this wouldn't make a difference. My observation on the unit with this power supply upgrade was the opposite of the experience. The unit was so much better that I couldn't go back and never used the original power unit it came with again and subsequently lost it in a move. Hence why I am selling this as a set with this upgraded power supply. I'm including a 3 pong medical grade power cord to connect with the IFI, it does the job well.

2. USB Cables: Anti-cables interconnect. (Bought for $150)
I tested many USB cables and settled on this one as the best in sound quality for connection to my laptop and to my phone (with an adaptor) as a digital inter-connect. Anti-cables does great stuff for fairly inexpensive prices. I no longer need this USB cable since I am selling the DAC, so adding it in here for use as part of the bargain.

With both upgrades, you are getting a used unit with notably better sound quality for less money than buying a new one stock *from my experimentation and listening*. Please don't turn this into a discussion on what upgrades do what or don't matter or how much, this is all obviously to some degree subjective depending on your ears and setup. I'm an audio geek too, and this is what I settled on in terms of major upgrades after quite a bit of testing. I've no doubt you will love the sound when you try it - I consider it an end game setup in headphone DAC/Amp.

Payment will be via PayPal goods & services, so both you and I are protected if any issues. Shipping will be separate and approx $25 depending on location.

I'm a donor so I could list this item for sale, but I've been a follower of this site for a while and have learned a bunch from the community already. Hence why I am posting it for sale here.

PM if any questions.

Thanks!
Praveen

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