I need to recoup some funds toward my new DAC (another Theta)…I present to you my all American Battleship! This thing sounds awesome, a really weighty presentation with fluidity in the bass I haven’t heard before from CD. This is Theta’s lowest range DAC to feature their signature DSP chipset & programming, which set them apart in the nineties. (I am converted....) Their range-topper was over £6k!
This DAC was built in 1994, it is almost identical to the Theta DS Pro Prime II; it uses the same (18 bit) Burr-Brown PCM 67 DAC chip, and a Motorola 56001 DSP microprocessor; that makes this DAC more of a computer… It also features a comprehensive power supply with two high quality transformers – one for the digital board & one for the analogue section. The main difference between this & the more expensive Pro Prime II is the Progeny is single ended, ie: not a balanced design. That said, there is reportedly hardly any difference in performance between the two models, which made the Prime II unpopular.
This DAC was released at the same time as the Theta DS Pro Generation V as its budget sibling.
This Theta DS Pro Progeny is in excellent condition, I reckon nine out of ten cosmetically. It is UK 240v and functions perfectly in every way. It has a single Co-ax input & an Optical input, and a switch to invert phase. It accepts 31 kHz, 44.1 kHz & 48 kHz, so it reads CDs and also Digital TV/DVD output.
Included in this sale is an IEC power cord, original manual but no original box. I am including also a spare set of ‘Stands Unique’ Carbon fibre isolation stands as pictured, they work by sinking vibration out of the casing to ground, so improving the firmness of the bass. I will also include my favorite digital interconnect, a 50cm NVA Digital SoundPipe (I have another). This is a rigid digital cable that must be pre-bent by hand before plugging in. It is inconvenient to install, but I find these cables release so much mid-range texture that they are worth it. If you want something more flexible I have a very good Beresford cable (nearer 1m) I can give you instead if you want.
Value:
- Original cost Theta DS Pro Progeny: £1,400
- NVA Digital SoundPipe: £35.00
- Stands Unique Isolation Stands: £40.00 (approx)
Total of £1,475 new, I would like £325 (to offset against my new DAC) for which I will include UK mainland shipping with UPS & insurance at my expense.
More pics here.
Results 1 to 13 of 13
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05-07-2010, 08:35 PM #1Wammer
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Theta DAC for sale - DS Pro Progeny, with freebies!
Last edited by Alan; 05-07-2010 at 08:37 PM. Reason: link added
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05-07-2010, 10:06 PM #2Super Wammer
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At that price I'll bite your arm off. PM for very fast payment.
"War is God's way of teaching Americans geography" -- Ambrose Bierce
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05-07-2010, 10:21 PM #3Wammer
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I've sent you a PM, your Lordship. I hope it's very fast payment because bed beckons...
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05-07-2010, 10:22 PM #4Super Wammer
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great dac in very nice condition well worth the lolly !
its all about the music but box swapping is so much fun
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06-07-2010, 08:50 AM #5Wammer
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Sold, Subject to payment.
Well done David for getting in quickly, If the sale falls through I'll be in contact with the next fastest Wammer.
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06-07-2010, 09:42 AM #6Veteran Wammer
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An outstanding dac, I absolutely love mine!
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06-07-2010, 10:23 AM #7Super Wammer
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I'm sooooooo poor. sniff....
My Dac hates co-ax too. double sniff..."Before you play two notes learn how to play one note - and don't play one note unless you've got a reason to play it."
- Mark Hollis (1998)
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06-07-2010, 10:29 AM #8Wammer
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You can save for my even more outstanding DS Pro Basic III if you like
; it will probably have to go this Autumn when I move to computer audio & higher rez music files. I have my beady eyes on a few DACs, which I'll try to Dem over the suimmer. Having said that, the Theta might prevail... The Basic III is even more of a good thing than the Progeny.
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06-07-2010, 10:41 AM #9Super Wammer
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yep having owned both at the same time agree the pro basic 3 is very good and comes very close the pro gen v and for a one box solution the theta miles is a cracking standalone player
Last edited by mmar; 06-07-2010 at 11:03 AM.
its all about the music but box swapping is so much fun
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06-07-2010, 10:45 AM #10Super Wammer
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in that case Alan - give me first dibs!!!! Pretty please?
"Before you play two notes learn how to play one note - and don't play one note unless you've got a reason to play it."
- Mark Hollis (1998)
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06-07-2010, 10:53 AM #11Wammer
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Seriously? That was a throw away comment you know! I will of course contact you first in a few months, though I don't have a clue how to value it yet as I bought it in from the States. It runs off a hefty Tacima 500va step down transformer (that should do it
) and an American IEC lead. And it loves Co-ax. And Toslink, and AES/EBU whatever-it-is. It is a very lovely machine indeed.
Last edited by Alan; 06-07-2010 at 11:11 AM. Reason: too much port before lunch - it didn't make sense!
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06-07-2010, 10:56 AM #12Super Wammer
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oooooh TOSlink too - oh goody! Now wheres my brother, time for a Reservoir Dogs style chat about that money he owes me...
"Before you play two notes learn how to play one note - and don't play one note unless you've got a reason to play it."
- Mark Hollis (1998)
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06-07-2010, 09:19 PM #13Wammer
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Progeny is now sold & in it's new home. What a nice chap Lord Nitrogen is.
Thanks David.
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