FS: DNA Stellaris

Hi Everyone,
This is a gorgeous piece of engineering artwork. But I have submitted to the fact that it just does not synergize with any of my headphones or any headphones I'm going to have in the future. I only use orthos and the Stratus sounds better with my higher impedance RD-4, and I have a First Watt speaker amp for harder to drive orthos and none of the DNA amps work well with low impedance orthos.

But as you know, with the right headphones this amp is legendary.

I'd like to keep it in the community. But a local sale is much much preferred to avoid any damage in shipping. However, it's important to me that this goes to someone who will really love it.

it's in pristine condition. I bought it from @dubharmonic about 6 months ago or so and have used it on and off trying various tubes to try to find synergy. But iv'ed been very careful with it, I even dust it with a microfiber cloth to keep dust out of the internals. No scratches anywhere or marks or dings. The only thing is that 2 of the rubber feet (there are 2 feet per corner, so 8 total) have migrated a few mm on the bottom of the amp in one corner, likely from me carefully sliding the amp into my shelf. they're sticky rubber so grab onto the shelf. But Donald would happily send you some new feet if you need them or you could just pull these off and stick them on again Not necessary at all though. We're talking a few mm here.

@dubharmonic bought it new from DNA and only had it for a few months, so I'm the second owner and it is a very new amp, the latest version if there are versions of the Stellaris.

I paid $6200 for it and selling for $6000 even (see posts below). Paypal and shipping are extra though I use Pirate Ship so shipping won't be too crazy.

The amp came to me with an Elrog 5U4G included in the price, which I'm keeping for my Stratus, so I will include a full set of tubes, two pairs of 2a3 tubes and 2 input tubes. FWIW I really liked these Full Music 2a3's with the Stellaris and they'll be unobtanium soon as Full Music went out of business 5 years ago.

Full Music 2a3/se ($680)
JJ 2a3 -40

Sophia Electric 5U4G or 274B Aqua II

RCA 6BQ7A and stock 6N1P​

I'd rather not take pictures as it seems a waste of my valuable energy and you all know what this amp looks like. It looks like a pristine Stellaris. I'd rather sell this to someone who trusts me anyways But if you really need pictures I can take them...

Let me know if you are interested. I will ship it, but priority goes to an awesome local member.

 

Here’s a picture I have already.

 

Whitney are you including the super fancy tubes that came with it when you bought it for $6200?

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/fs-dna-stellaris-31.13379/

 

I don’t remember getting all those tubes from Dubharmonic but I’ve just asked him. I bought my own pair of Psvane Acme Globes and don’t know anything about the French tubes with adapters.

I did get an Elrog 5U4G which I’m keeping to use /try with my Stratus.

I’ll be sure to include tubes that make the value the same as my purchase, I updated the original post. Thanks for pointing that out!

 

There’s some confusion between me and @dubharmonic about what tubes were sent with the amp to me. I thought only the Elrog 5U4G because I bought my pair of Psvane Acme Globes. And I’ve never heard of the French tubes:

• ECC40 Siemens Halske made by La Radiotechnique France NOS 1967 with adapters (2)

I want to make sure I’m not profiting off the sale though so I’ll lower the price to $6000 even and include enough tubes to cover what Dubharmonic sent me. Like I said I have a lot of tubes for this amp so we can figure out what you’d like best.

 

I added a bunch of specific tubes to include with the amp.

Sorry I didn't think of this beforehand, I only fully gave up on the Stellaris yesterday and decided to just go ahead and sell it today and just wanted to post it for sale to be done with the long process I've spent tube rolling trying to get the sound that everyone talks about. But there's no accounting for synergy. Anyways, I was just a bit hasty that's all. Hopefully this makes me break even or loose some.

 

I'm not sure how long I'll wait until I post this elsewhere, as in my experience if something doesn't sell here right away, it never sells. I also have some NOS 5U4GB tubes I could include in addition to the Sophia Electric.

 

I've had great success on selling audio equipment on Head-Fi and US Audiomart. I'm sure it'll sell there. As much as I would love the Stellaris and the asking price being very reasonable, it's definitely a bit of a reach financially for me, and I suspect others.

 

Yeah I've sold a lot on USAM, but I just want to give people here a chance first. And I don't want to let it sit here for weeks as that has never worked. you guys are on top of the FS ads here!

 

I'm not lol.

But yeah, once something is in the top 1% of gear in a given category (in this case headphone amps) in any hobby, I feel like it's just hard to move b/c it's (that much more) niche. It's going to be more of a luck and timing thing than anything else.

Regardless, to anyone seeing this and on the fence, if you can responsibly buy it, $6k for one of these is worth it IMO. I have personally had a better time with a Stellaris as my one "big amp" vs having 2 separate $3k amps.

 

How about a trade involving my Stellaris for a vintage Eddie Current 445 or Tribute or other pre-Afficianado/Studio Jr/B Eddie Current tube amp?

Anyone interested?

 

I’ve got my Studio B that I’ve been enjoying immensely.

I want to buy this to compare. Your trade sounds enticing but funny enough, I use the speaker output on the Studio B every week.

Are you comfortable with shipping?

 

I'm comfortable with shipping. I'm going to list this amp on USAM next week.

Sorry, I meant that I'm interested in trading for an Eddie Current amp made before the Aficionado or Studio B. I've already heard those amps and they don’t work well for me.

thanks!

 

It’s my mistake, I read too quickly. Thanks

 

sold sorry. @shotgunshane please close thank you!