About this service:

You are buying a flat-rate service on your 1BX with priority turn-around (1-2 weeks).  You pay to ship it to me and I'll send it back to you free of charge via FedEx Ground. Please check your serial number and VCA Op Amp board. The upgrade can only be performed on serial numbers that employ 8-pin DIP sockets. I'm sorry but I don't have a solution for 16-pin DIP sockets. This service only applies to the USA.  No international orders.

Note: I have one rebuilt 1BX left in stock. Please message if you're interested in buying it.

Here are comments from people who enjoy using my updated 1BX expander:

"Highly recommended service and upgrade to the 1BX unit. David is meticulous about his bench work using replacement parts of even higher grade than the original. The result is a more than subtle improvement in the playback of any source material. Music is more dynamic and engaging even at low volume settings. Vinyl users take note! Follow up after the service is outstanding too."

"Fair price, fast shipping, double boxed and very well packaged, item is in excellent condition and functions flawlessly, superb communication. Very reliable merchant and highly recommended - Thank YOU!"

"I really can't put into words how much I appreciate the work that is put into restoring and rebuilding this dbx 1BX. It is like getting a brand new unit! The Seller double boxes it and includes a manual which I am totally thankful for! Truly a 10-star experience because the seller made sure to provide assistance if needed and notified me when shipment was on the way!"

"Dave, the 1BX you sent me was extremely well packed and arrived quickly. Now, it's all hooked up and everything is working as it should.  Your updates are a vast improvement over the original set up.  You can definitely hear and feel the difference -- the bass is tight and the highs are very crisp and natural!  Thanks again and happy holidays."

"Great communication, the BEST packing I’ve encountered in 21+ years on eBay! Looks almost better than new condition, makes a noticeable difference on my tapes, works wonderfully! Highly recommended, thanks Dave!"

"The unit arrived fantastically packed and in pristine condition. Amazing job with the refurbishment on the 1BX. Thanks"

"I liked this rebuilt 1BX so much, I bought a second one for my office system (Nakamichi 480 and Pioneer RG 950 with Edifier Airpulse speakers). I could not be happier with the unit and seller."

"Okay all connected. Playing a cassette through my Nakamichi C-4A and a DBX 14/10 equalizer. Bass is tight and highs are exceptionally clear. As with all cassettes there is always some residual noise but the 1BX seems to have reduced tape noise between tracks considerably. Well done."

“Great communication, fast shipping and excellent packaging. Item arrived in excellent condition and works as expected.  Good job on the restoration.  This unit is really quiet (noise free), and it looks great. Thanks!"

"Great seller. Conscience of his work and product. Followed up after I got the unit. While I will age myself (34), I grew up with tapes but never owned anything of quality to enjoy the format. Recently I got a serviced tape deck and am almost shocked by the listening quality both with my older cassette tapes as well as my recorded mixtapes (type ii) w/ the expander. With an engineering background, the fact that this was serviced at a high quality is what attracted me to the seller and unit."

My thoughts about the 1BX:

As an audiophile, I’m always experimenting with high-fidelity sound playback.  After exploring countless op amps, I’ve uncovered a real gem.  Whether you love listening to lps or tapes, this upgrade is truly special.  FYI, I also have a 3BX-DS (digital) but I exclusively use the 1BX now.  The updated 1BX sounds so good that I’ve retired my 3BX-DS.

Changing out the caps and updating the op amps with 21st-century technology greatly improves the 1BX's overall performance.  The bass is especially better and the highs are very crisp and natural.  What surprised me the most about the updated 1BX is how much more signal I’m seeing at the 30-60 Hz level on my spectrum analyzer.  Now, the bass is so punchy I had to remove the screens in my windows above the subs.  LOL!  It's not easy to generate a solid bassline without also creating wow and flutter when playing lps, but this 1BX does just that...

Here are the steps I take to rebuild a 1BX:

* All electrolytic capacitors were upgraded with audio-grade, Nichicon UES Bipolar, Cornell Dubilier or other top manufacturers (see photos).  The VCA's op amps were updated to the latest technology, dramatically improving this 1BX's performance.

* Any bad solder joints were identified and repaired.

* To eliminate the possibility of noise or static caused from decades of oxidation, all the controls and switches were cleaned with DeoxIT as well as the oxidation on the RCA jacks was painstaking removed through by a proprietary process (see photo for results).

* To ensure the sliding pots move smoothly after they were cleaned and a thin layer of Nye synthetic grease was applied.

* The finishing touches included sanding and staining the wooden sides with polyurethane.  Finally, the LEDs were removed so the front panel could be articulately polished.

A color-printed 30-page owner's manual is included upon request.  If you want a printed manual, please message me before your rebuilt 1BX ships back to you.

Please read what past eBay customers have said about doing business with me.  If you’re not happy with this item for any reason, you may return it for a refund.  No questions asked.