someone should just cut open the seal on their Oade mod'd UA-5 and find out what's in there, then do the mod's themselves for less money.
I believe the Oade Bros remove identifying marks from the replacement components they use, so opening it up won't provide one with the ability to duplicate the W/P/T mods, anyway.
but the price is a bit exorbitant for these mod's IMO, and it's simply because they have a captive audience.
Captive? Hardly. Anyone who wishes is welcome to mod their own. And Busman2 offers his own flavored mods. Besides, the Oade Bros have put time and money into developing the mods, in addition to the labor involved in producing them. They're entitled to reap the benefits of their hard work. Whether the price is exorbitant or not depends on one's perspective. Considering the price tag, I'll still stack up my T+ UA5 against any but the best pres/ADCs out there - and even against the best it compares mightily favorably. I don't know of another pre/ADC out there (at the moment), at the same price point, that can do the same.
more power to them, I guess, but the market is flooded with these units now and an extra $400 just isn't worth the sound difference to my ears.
So...sell your current UA5 and pick up a W/P/T mod on the used market - that'll shave your $400 upgrade price down a fair amount.
good idea to sell my current digi-mod and just buy someone's else premod'd unit straight out... I was thinking the same thing but am not sure I'd save that much. although I think a wmod just sold for $420 in the yard sale... add the + mod to it and I'm still under $550. many of the W/P/T+ mods are selling for $600+ though, so there isn't much savings anywhere if I sell my existing digimod for $200-250. but hey, $50 is $50.
by captive audience, I'm referring to
their specific mods. I know I'm free to mod it myself or have Busman do it but if I want the sound that Oade offers through his W/P/T+ mod, I'm forced to get it from him.... unless, again, I can find a steal of a deal in the open market.
I've heard nothing but positive remarks regarding the mods as compared to other high-priced preamps. I didn't know he scratched off the descriptive info on the mod chips... that makes it even more difficult to replicate. thanks for the info, Brian.