That $1614.94 price are "used - like new" from Amazon Warehouse. "No item damage observed during inspection. Minor packaging damage observed," which would be a great deal if true. The last such I tried was a Beosound 1 2.gen: Alas, it came in a box without a power cord, with some minor scratches on one side,... and it was a 1.gen! So someone else scammed amazon with their return. Thankfully, amazon took my return without questioning my complaints, nor suggesting that *I* was the scammer at that point -- who knew since the previous return clearly had *not* been inspected.
Fortunately there is no previous generation of Balance, nevertheless one cannot buy used B&O from amazon without meticulously checking once it arrives. Don't drop-ship as a gift to your cousin who doesn't know what to look for, don't spend on overseas shipping, etc. "доверяй, но проверяй," as Ronald Reagan said. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust,_but_verify)
Meantime, they jacked up the sale-price of the black one, new, from $2116 yesterday to $2516 today. Natural was, and is, $2599. But the Aluminum are still available, 8 units left today at $2274. [Edit: Price gone as of 8/24 -- they sold 1 (8 left -> 7 left in stock) and raised the price to $2890.]
Fortunately there is no previous generation of Balance, nevertheless one cannot buy used B&O from amazon without meticulously checking once it arrives. Don't drop-ship as a gift to your cousin who doesn't know what to look for, don't spend on overseas shipping, etc. "доверяй, но проверяй," as Ronald Reagan said. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust,_but_verify)
Meantime, they jacked up the sale-price of the black one, new, from $2116 yesterday to $2516 today. Natural was, and is, $2599. But the Aluminum are still available, 8 units left today at $2274. [Edit: Price gone as of 8/24 -- they sold 1 (8 left -> 7 left in stock) and raised the price to $2890.]
