Yup, something funky has been going on with the stepped relay attenuator. Most owners seem ok, but others have had multiple units go bad on them. I would suggest only buying it new so you are covered with the warranty. But it's a really good amp. Extremely dynamic with lots of details. Excellent extension. A little tube soundstage. It's fun to tube roll with because you can always switch back to ss for a quick reference instead of having to wait for the tube to cool down. And the remote is a nice touch with a mute switch for when the SO is asking a quick question.