Odd DAC Pricing

I'd be suspicious as well. 

Doesn't seem odd to me that something that new goes for $13,500 would sell for 8 or 9 thousand used. Around how many is that 'many' you've seen listed for sale? I might look into one! 

I think it’s more odd in the other direction. Tambaqui has been out for several years; how the hell does it seemingly retain so much resale value in such a fast-moving segment of the market as standalone DACs?

Asking 65% of full MSRP @ $13K, on a 6 - 7 year old DAC in used condition (no matter how recently purchased - it’s used), seems almost absurd in this market. Chord Dave is another one that’s retained very high value for a very, very long time.

I suppose both makers have done an excellent job at controlling the distribution chain (pricing controls) until now. The recent influx of "like new" units in the secondary markets might be indicative of a new model / revision soon to come, meaning this is distributor / dealer stock that’s finally being dumped ahead of that announcement (i.e. these could be actually new, B-stock, or dealer demo units that are now being distributed outside normal protocol). 

It’s true DAC technology continues to actively evolve so like a computer from the same time in the past expect significant depreciation in most cases especially with products that used to command a premium price. 

OP have you actually heard the Tambaqui? A friend has one and IMO it was nothing special, I've heard better. He also hasn't been thrilled with it and might be looking for something else. 

Pricing is odd and low so be careful. Used prices of a Tambaqui from reputable dealers and reputable independents are going for $8,900 to $9,500. I recommend you contact Bill Parish, owner, GTT Audio in New Jersey (gttaudio.com; 908.850.3092).  There is a preowned one listed on their webpage.  GTT is the US importer and distributor for Mola Mola.  Bill is extremely knowledgeable, patient, and does not believe in pressure sales.  I audition the Tambaqui in comparison to my previous DAC.  He spent over an hour not imparting any impartial comments to sway my opinion. He then waited over 8 months until I made a decision to purchase a preowned unit from him. I compared the Mola Mola to the Bricasti M1 and DCS Bartok. I found the Tambaqui had the most natural timbre, better micro and macro dynamics, better bass extension and detail, better detail in general without being etched or fatiguing, and most dense imaging.  Staging had better separation between instruments and blacker space between instruments.  However, I personally feel width not as wide as the other two.  Really knit picking, possibly secondary harmonic decay in the spaces between were a little less evident than the others.   I said I was knit picking because the envelope or bubble of sound that harmonic decay produces is very evident and combined with the dense sound stage produces lifelike images.  In the end I felt the Tambaqui just sounded more musical.  Realize, this is my analysis and if you go with a Tambaqui please audition and use your own ears.  As I stated, the list preowned Tambaquis I see listed by reputable dealers and independents are in the range I stated and therefore be careful of much lower advertised prices. Maybe it’s a real bargain, but maybe it is not. I recommend contacting GTT.  

I've been following the asking price on hifi Shark for about the last year. There was a bottom limit of about $9000. That changed right around the New Year and there have been more listings and there have been several listed in the $7000-$8500 range.

@snookhaus I just reviewed all listings on Agon and the Mart.  Lowest list preowned price is $8700.  Most above $9000.  I look often.  Never saw one below $8700.  

@jsalerno277 if you use the search function on hifi Shark and look in the sold/expired section there have been 4 in the last 3 months under $8000.

You’re also in an economy that higher priced items sit longer so maybe that has something to do with it as well.  I would agree on the age of the design and 40% discount wouldn’t be abnormal, you also don’t know what they actually paid for it.  30-40 points of markup is not out of the ordinary from distributer cost to retail price, special discounted prices on large buys from distributor, etc. could play a part in a cheaper than list new sell price.  I have multiple retail dealer friends that have shared with the way the business works as I had discussed going into retail audio for a hobby after I retire.

@snookhaus Mean $8552.  Range $7000 (deal of the day) to $9980.  Did this quick.  Maybe some errors.  Buy probably 95% accurate. A few did sell below $8000 as you indicated.  If the Shark list is chronological, the trend you stated was not noticed by me in the last 24 sales.  Sales below $8000 seem randomly dispersed.  If I was not retired, and had access to Minitab, I would have done the trend analysis.  Note, if  go back further than the last 24 sales, the trend appears to be down from over $9000 to around the mean I calculated.  

I purchased a new, open box Mola Mola Tambaqui from an authorized dealer, owned it for about a month, and listed it for $9,500 at the end of 2023.  It sold quickly. I thought it sounded very good, almost perfect in a technical sense, but not as musically engaging or fun to listen to as my other DAC. I value musically engaging and fun over perfect, and so I sold it.

This is not odd.  The product is discounted new with some dealers selling it for 20-25% off new.  Secondarily, like anything, it’s a matter of taste.  This is not “the best” unless it meets your taste.  There is a lot of buzz about it and lots of people buy it thinking it is the greatest DAC ever and is going to be better than pricier units.  It is competitive at its price point but does not stand out in a meaningful way vs other similarly priced units.  The on-board Roon endpoint is not great and it has an annoying UI. 
 

I have had it in multiple times on trade.  It is a VERY good sounding DAC and It is fairly priced and quite competitive with Linn, Chord, Playback, Bricasti, Weiss but unless it is precisely to your taste it is not meaningfully better than these others.  I thin a lot of people buy it thinking it will be a giant killer.  It can’t compete with the EMM, Playback Dream, Linn Klimax, MSB, dCS, Wadax’s of the world.