XXHighEnd

All,

It is unavoidable that the price of the NOS1 goes up, with the notice that the current price setting actually originates from December 2010 (later only the cost price of the USB interface being added).

For reasons, generally, the cost price of all components went up. This is related to the EUR - USD currency rate (was a factor of 1.6 at the time, now is 1.3 for a steady long time) while most components are based on the US dollar. Besides that, the used PCM1704U-K D/A chip (8 of them in there) has almost tripled in price (this accounts for 360 euros increase alone).

As of August 1 2013 the new price of the NOS1 will therefore be 3890 euros. This is excluding VAT for those liable to VAT (countries of the European Community).

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It is to be noticed that the new price includes better low phase noise (-100dBc/Hz @ 10 Hz offset) and low jitter (200fs RMS) oscillators;
This has been a hidden secret since already February/March 2012, and everybody who ordered a NOS1 since then knows it's (in) there as they paid extra for it. SQ increase is really significant. Everybody was also told to keep this a secret please, because we felt that nobody who obtained a NOS1 just before that period of time would like to send in his NOS1 again, which for most implies high shipping costs against the cost of the upgrade (today 100 euros). Even Dutch citizens weren't told, to keep it fair. Still, occasionally a NOS1 was upgraded because for example the person came by anyway. Now, 16 months later, people may be up to it with the prospect of again really really better sound (more genuine bass, again more accurate highs). So please go ahead with it if you like.
I sadly have to add that for people in the US the upgrade will cost 140 euros because of the 40 euros import duties we need to pay and which seems impossible to avoid (from the US at least).

Peter

Hi Peter,

Is it possible to buy the components for the upgrade from you & do it ourselves? The cost of shipping to & fro is Euro 320, besides the customs hassles.

Regards,

Arvind

If there is a waiting list please sign me for the upgrade.

Best regards,
Juan

Arvind (and al)l,

You were actually ahead of me. Nah, not really - I wanted to send you an email but I forgot.

In your case it is quite doable because you have the example ... (a few doors away let's say). Maybe it only needs a somewhat better than average skill of soldering and some guidance from here. In the end this would count for everyone I guess.

One very explicit remark about this : Chances exist that after you did this yourself you will see FiFo errors on the USB interface and you can't get them away anymore. This would be the time that you'll need to send in your NOS1 after all. On the other hand, these FiFo errors will emerge at 32/768 only (so not 32/705.6) so then you may wonder whether you use that ever.
So, there is a risk.

Let's put it like this :

For the same 100 euros we can send the new oscillators, but, with normal mail for that price. This can mean that they never arrive or that it takes ages. I didn't look it up, but say that slow UPS transport costs 40-60 euros. Then it will arrive (or it is guarenteed otherwise).
The 100 euros now actually is too expensive, but for that expect personal help and outlay how to solder (this is a bit special because a certain temperature needed, plus cooling facilities).

I think this might be better than crazy shipping costs, which is the exact reason why I never told about it (psychological problems on your side).

My general advice is to look for some electronics repair shop with decent de-soldering and soldering stuff. And might you have a 30W soldering iron only, please forget it (to do it with this). Next, you should even bring your PC to that shop, so on the spot the FiFo errors van be watched. When they are there, "blame" the guy with the iron, but know that all you'll have is the ability to friggle around things to get rid of it again. So, you can ask the guy to do just that, but you can not blame him for doing something wrong.

Afraid now ? Not necessary. You will loose nothing unless it was sent by UPS for the (actually crazy) 40-60 euros for the farther countries. Then you will loose that. Yea, maybe pay the soldering guy as well.

Again, we will provide a document with what is to be done and how, which of course anticipates avoiding problems.

One more thing to add :
Over here we always re-measure everything. Outside the FiFo errors (which can be seen in the Driver Control Panel) it exactly never happened that things were wrong. However, which of course requires the good soldering (and please don't think you are skilled because you were able to soder interlink connectors and such - which of course doesn't tell that you are unable to do it). Point is : as far as we can tell from experience this measurement isn't necessary, plus we did it in two occasions on the spot (at home there). There we didn't bring an analyser as well. Takes half an hour all together when you did it before. Count an hour of work for the soldering guy, our document at hand, outside any time needed to fire up your PC and check the FiFo errors (let that run for 5 minutes to be sure).

Remember that your fall back always is sending your NOS1 in after all. No problem or additional charges in that case (but the stupid shipping costs of course).

Peter


PS: Arvind, I told your "few doors away" not to tell you about this (but no different from anybody of course). Don't blame him ...

Hi Peter,

If its possible for you to e mail the procedure to replace the oscillators, I could show the same to an engineer to make sure he is confident of doing this job.

Regards,

Arvind

Ok Arvind. We hope to do this somewhere next week. I will announce in here when it is ready, so everybody who likes to have it can ask for it via email.

Regards,
Peter

Small reminder about the price going up soon ...

Last time to "up" this ... :)

Peter

Question about pricing.  So the correct price for the DAC as of today is 3890 euros.  Does this include any and all upgrades available?  If not what are the upgrades and their prices?

Thanks

Hi there !

Yes, the 3890 includes everything available.

Best regards,
Peter