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Bought from a fellow SNA'er about 2 years ago, in top condition with all documentation & box for shipping!Rare one that I haven't seen come up often, if you're goal is to get as close to analog with your digital signal, this dac is definitely worth looking at.The previous owner fitted it with...
Timing matters here because this is an older Border Patrol DAC and the model line has been eclipsed by later variants, so value depends a lot on which exact version this is and whether it’s complete. At A$1,500, it looks broadly fair rather than a steal; used examples of similar Border Patrol DAC SE/SE-i units have shown up around A$1,200 to A$2,200, while older listings and forum sales often land near the middle of that band.
What makes it worth a look is the usual Border Patrol appeal: a very natural, saturated, non-glary presentation that many listeners prefer to more clinical DACs. It’s the kind of converter people buy for long-term listening, especially if the unit is original-owner, clean, and includes the PSU, remote, and any input options. If the seller can confirm the exact version and condition, A$1,500 is a sensible buy; if details are vague or accessories are missing, I’d push a bit harder on price.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
BorderPatrol Audio Electronics traces its origins to 1993 in Brighton, UK, founded by Gary Dews, a British audio enthusiast who began his career selling Audio Innovations tube amplifiers. What started as a personal experiment with 300B single-ended triode (SET) amps evolved into aftermarket power supplies for tube equipment, earning quiet acclaim among enthusiasts for enhancing bass and relaxation without sacrificing tube rectifier purity. Dews relocated to Maryland, USA, in 2005, shifting production to facilities in Waldorf and later Bristow, Virginia, while retaining the brand's contrarian spirit.
The company specializes in tube-based electronics, with a sharp focus on meticulously designed power supplies that define their sound signature. Their lineup features DACs like the ZOLA and SE-i models, employing vintage 16-bit Philips TDA1543 R-2R chips for non-oversampling conversion, alongside amplifiers that prioritize organic flow over hyper-resolution. This tube-centric approach extends to components rejecting digital aggression in favor of lifelike musicality.
BorderPatrol occupies a niche boutique position in the high-end hi-fi market, beloved by purists seeking refined, human-sounding reproduction that defies mainstream trends. Dews' stubborn defiance of conventional wisdom has cultivated a cult following among knowledgeable buyers who value simplicity, natural timbre, and emotional engagement over technical specs, positioning it as an antidote to fatiguing digital playback.
See all Border Patrol listings on RADAR.
eBay UK
GB
eBay UK
GB
StereoNET
Excellent
NZ
StereoNET
