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Dan D'Agostino Progression Preamplifier, Black - As Traded
Condition: Used. Very good, some very light oxidation difficult to photograph, one remote screw not threading (see photos)
Includes: Original Box, Remote, Umbilical, Power Cable, Gloves and Cleaning Cloth
SN: PP0053P
Includes 3 month (90 day) warranty
Overview
What else needs to be said? One of the finest preamplifiers on the market. Also, it's gorgeous.
The Progression Preamplifier adds new features previously not included in a D’Agostino preamplifier. Most noticeably, the Progression Preamplifier features an optional digital module. The digital module adds coaxial, Toslink, and USB inputs to the analog base model. Negative feedback is not used anywhere in the Progression Preamplifier, nor is it necessary. Open-loop distortion is less than < 0.006% and the open loop bandwidth extends to over 100KHz.
Contact us for a price including an installed optional digital module.
Also new is the Bluetooth technology featured in the included remote control. The Bluetooth backbone extends the range of the remote by a factor of five and eliminates line of sight limitations that are inherent in IR remote controls.
The volume control is realized with a stepped balanced resistor ladder, using high-linearity solid-state relays and discrete precision resistors. The bandwidth and transient response of the preamplifier circuitry are unaffected by volume setting. The Progression Preamplifier has two independent outputs that can be individually operated or used simultaneously for driving a second amplifier in a subwoofer based system.
Housed in a separate chassis, the power supply makes use of extensive electrical and magnetic shielding to keep radiated interference away from critical preamplifier circuits. Internal circuitry filters RF noise on the AC power line and compensates for asymmetric power waveforms and DC on the mains. A second DC output is included to power future Progression source components.
Two analog meters, inspired by Swiss watch faces, function as signal meters during music playback. When volume is adjusted, the meter needles change to volume setting indicators. After adjustments are made, the meters revert back to signal meter operation. The meters also function as balance indicators when adjusting balance.
Specification
Frequency Response 0.1 Hz to 1 MHz, -3dB / 20 Hz to 80 kHz, +/-0.5dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio -95 dB, unweighted
Gain +8 or +14 dB, Switchable
Finish Silver or Black with Custom Finishes Available Upon Request
Distortion < 0.018% THD+N, 20 Hz to 20kHz
Outputs 2 stereo pairs of balanced XLR
Power Consumption (at Standby) < 40W
Analog Inputs 4 stereo pairs of balanced XLR, 2 stereo pairs of single-ended RCA
Digital Inputs (w/DAC Module Installed) 1 USB Type A, 1 Optical Toslink, 1 SPDIF Coaxial
Control RS-232, 2 12V trigger outputs
AUDIO CONNECTION QUALITY GUARANTEE
✔️Comprehensive three month warranty on Trade In's*
✔️Passed our checks for functionality
✔️A full inspection noting for any defects
✔️A full completeness check for all included parts and accessories
Are you getting a properly priced shot at a serious preamp, or paying a bit of a premium for the privilege of buying now? At A$30,000, this sits above the A$29,273 75th percentile of the recent comparable AUD listings and is clearly ambitious versus the A$26,911 median, so it’s not a bargain-price grab.[user-provided ground truth]
The upside is that this is a highly regarded statement preamp with the sort of control, authority, and refinement that tends to keep it desirable on the used market. If the unit is genuinely clean, complete, and from a careful owner, the premium is easier to justify; I’d just want strong proof of condition, provenance, and included accessories before paying top-of-range money.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems emerged in 2011 from the vision of its namesake founder, a legendary audio engineer who pioneered high-performance amplification as the creator of Krell Industries in 1981. After a contentious departure from Krell in 2009, D'Agostino launched this American brand from its Cave Creek, Arizona factory, channeling decades of expertise into uncompromising designs unhindered by corporate constraints. His heritage as a solid-state amplifier innovator shapes every product, blending relentless innovation with a passion for musical fidelity.
The brand concentrates on a select trio of equipment families—Progression, Momentum, and Relentless—dominated by power amplifiers, preamplifiers, and integrated systems renowned for their massive power reserves and precision engineering. Select models incorporate DACs, streaming modules, and phono stages capable of handling multiple MM and MC cartridges, forming sophisticated analog workstations. Absent from their lineup are speakers, turntables, headphones, or cables, underscoring a laser focus on amplification excellence.
Positioned firmly in the ultra high-end market, Dan D'Agostino commands cult status among discerning audiophiles seeking state-of-the-art performance and breathtaking build quality. Its products challenge industry benchmarks with forceful momentum, achieving rapid growth and deep penetration in the boutique realm where supremacy in music reproduction reigns supreme.
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