Grace Design m905 DAC/Linestage/Headphone Amp—a fully-featured Stereo Monitor Controller with Transferable Factory WarrantyHere we have on offer—for that discerning audiophile who simply can’t resist a bargain—a one-owner, Made-in-USA Grace Design m905 DAC/linestage/HPA, with hard-wired remote control unit and special cable. This coddled, well-loved, one-owner unit was shipped from the Grace Design factory in Lyons, Colorado USA on October 17, 2013. It therefore has more than 3 years left on its transferable 5-year factory warranty. This unit was purchased from an authorized dealer; the reason for sale is that the owner has purchased a much more expensive (but admittedly less versatile) DAC, the name of which sounds like it should be a resort town on the Mediterranean coast of Italy. When new, this Grace Design m905 had a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $3495. What you should know about the m905 and about this unit: There is not enough space in a for-sale ad to cover all the features of the m905. Furthermore, we cheerfully admit that nearly all audiophile owners use the m905 in “set and forget” mode. That is, most audiophiles do not need independent control of three different pairs of level-adjusted monitoring speakers, nor the sophisticated studio capabilities that include a Talkback button. That said, the facts that the remote control unit includes not only a headphone jack additional to the one on the mainframe but also an embedded miniature microphone for real-time listening-position SPL monitoring, we find both appealing and useful. The m905’s asynchronous Class 2 USB playback supports up to 24 bit/192kHz. The m905 also supports DSD playback. The fact that the m905 is a full-sized unit means that its mainframe’s rear panel can accommodate many more inputs, outputs, and function connectors than the typical book-sized half-rack-width DAC. Of particular interest are the Subwoofer outs that have great control flexibility, and the Mono button. Not to be forgotten is that unlike most DAC/HPAs out there, the m905 has both single-ended (RCA) and balanced (XLR) ANALOG inputs, and a very high-quality analog line stage. The current owner used the single-ended inputs for his phono stage when he spun vinyl. Complete information can be found in the section of Grace Design’s website dedicated to the m905: http://www.gracedesign.com/products/m905/m905.htm And in my coverage of the m905 in my column in Stereophile. http://www.stereophile.com/content/fifth-element-84 Please take note that I am listing this item as a favor for a friend, and that the item was purchased through normal dealer channels. The m905’s sound is high-resolution but not fatiguing. This unit comes with the original inner and outer boxes (one outer box flap partially missing, hardwired remote control and cable, original manual (since superseded) and warranty card (the warranty was registered online). The supplied control cable is 15 feet or more; the Grace factory can sell you a control cable in any reasonable length, shorter or longer. We understand that the factory can retrofit this unit (a hardware and firmware upgrade) for remote control via Grace Design’s own remote, Apple’s silver or white remotes, or Logitech Harmony. We do not know how much that costs. This unit also comes with a cryogenically treated OEM-style power cord that is, as far as we can see, identical to the original power cord in every respect; it is just not that specific one. That's worth circa US$70 for the cryogenic treatment and shipping both ways. The mainframe and control unit are in “Very Good+” or “Excellent-” cosmetic shape. Please examine the photos carefully. Who is the right buyer for this great-sounding, amazingly flexible DAC? Just about anyone who wants a rich-toned, FATIGUE-FREE, built-like-a-brick DAC/preamplifier from a renowned maker. One of Grace Design’s first customers (circa 25 years ago) was the jam band Phish. Grace Design professional gear is in use at Skywalker Sound, the Metropolitan Opera, and at Steinway & Sons’ NYC headquarters. Join a classy club! Who is the wrong buyer for this item? If you want a DAC/preamplifier that delivers “in your face” sound that can peel the wallpaper off the walls, this is not the piece for you. Also, in all honesty, if having more than one input and one set of outputs on a DAC is going to raise anxieties with you, the m905 might be a bit too complicated, or at least perceived to be. Note please, the m905’s Speaker outputs are all on XLR (balanced) jacks. For single-ended (RCA) use, you will need adapter plugs or adapter cables. Both are available inexpensively from Markertek. To Sum Up: The only reason this unit is for sale is that for more than twice the money, the Brindisi (or whatever it is called), does sound better. Sometimes, you get what you pay for. The owner, who is rather fussy about sound, was thrilled with the improvement the m905 made over his previous JRDG preamp and Marantz SA-14 SACD player. But then the upgrade bug bit. Here’s a chance to get a one-owner unit from a non-smoking music-loving home at a very fair price, and with circa 3 years to go on its factory warranty. This AA classified will be up only three or four days before it gets yanked and the unit put up on eBay, so, don’t dither! If this unit goes up on eBay, the price will only be higher. Free insured shipping to US addresses; reasonable offers considered. # # #
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