Amp upgrade recommendations

Consider the Classe line, the CA-201, CA-301, or their CAM monoblocks. These amps receive some of their big brother's Class 'A' technology. There is no need to have them modified, they are some of the finest sounding amps right out of the box (except for their break in period).

At the risk of nit picking I'd like to add a minor addition to Stehno and Asi_tek's dialog: Based on discussions with Steve McCormack and a variety of others the SMc Rev. B modded amps are "similar" to the newer production models. That's because several of the Rev. B upgrades were incorporated in the new products. Calling them "equal" is a bit of a misnomer as they do not sound the exactly the same. Which is better, of course, will depend on the listener's preferences and the associated gear.

For more information do a search on Audiogon; there's been a lot of commentary on the entire DNA series as well as the SMcAudio mods.

Stehno, If I sent a DNA-2 LAE to SMc Audio for any revision, whether it's a C, B, or A, I would expect a significantly improved amp in return. I do not think they would offer the revision if they were sending back an amp that was equal to what the owners had in the first place. If you put an additional $2500 into an already excellent amp, you should expect to be amazed with the result.
The cost of the Rev A,B,or C are the same for either a Deluxe or LAE because the stock factory upgraded parts that set the LAE apart from the Deluxe are scrapped. The DNA-2 Standard (of which there were few made)costs more for the upgrade because it takes more parts and labor to bring it up to the level of the other two. The most common DNA-2 is the Deluxe.
Whatever model they start with, all Rev A amps are essentially the same. That is, not taking the Gold options into consideration.

Peter Moncrieff, in that IAR review, compared the LAE to a DNA-2 Standard, as well as many other amps from other manufacturers. He did not have a DNA-2 Deluxe on hand for that review. What I have been told is there is a greater improvement in a Rev A than the difference between the LAE and Deluxe. Still, it would be a difficult decision to send an LAE back for an upgrade since it's already an excellent amp and having a larger investment in it already. I would pick up a cheaper DNA-2 Dlx or Std and send it back for the upgrade instead.

Eagle, I'm well aware(I was a year ago anyway) of what goes on with the Rev A, B, & C's to the DNA-2 standard, Deluxe, and LAE.

It's just hard for me to believe that Steve could improve upon one of his products that has already reached perfection. :)

And yes, if I were to obtain a Rev A upgrade, I would most definitely purchase a standard DNA-2 and send that in for the upgrade and keep the LAE version as is.

-IMO

No amplifier is perfect or has reached perfection.

The moment you think your amp is perfect, try it with a different set of speakers or different preamp. It will not work with everything equally well. That would be perfection if it did.

I have heard a lot of amps in the past 16 years, and I would not call any of them perfect or having reached perfection.

The inherent problem with amps is that as an amp's power is increased, some low level detail/musical transparency is almost always given up. One may not realize this if they have been brought up on huge 100wpc+ solid state amps. Try listening to a nice 1 wpc SET tube amp connected to some 100db+ sensitive speakers. You might be very amazed at the sound you get from a rig like this. I have friends that have been into audio since before I was born that swear by this setup.

The inherent problem with lower powered amps is just that. They do not have the power to drive many speakers out there. There just are not too many speakers made today that are 100db+ sensitive.

Anyway, before I go, I will give you a specific example... the Pass X-1000 amps or probably even the Pass X-600 amps will make the Magnapan 3.6's sing better than any McCormick amp made EVER (Rev A or LAE or otherwise). No ifs ands or buts. How do I know this? Well I have heard the Maggies driven with many many different amps. The best I have ever heard them is with Pass X-1000 amps. No 500 or 600 wpc amp can compare to the 2000wpc that the PASS monsters put out into the 3.6's. It just does not compare. Maggies love power and amps, and the more you feed them the better they sound. I use the Maggie 3.6's because Eagles has them, and I lived with a pair for 3 years (and I have many fond memories of them). McCormick amps are good at driving Maggies (and some versions are better than others), but there are deffinitly better amps out there for this application (certainly there are A LOT worse amps one could use than the McCormick). I am not gonna knock McCormick too much because those Pass X-1000 amps are insanely expensive when compared to any McCormick amp made. On the flip side, I would not be driving 100db+ sensitive speakers with a PASS X-1000 amps. So not even the X-1000 amps are 'perfect'.

Anytime, I hear anyone (especially quoted in a publication or proclaiming in a publication) say something is perfect or has reched perfection, a very big red flag goes up in my head, and I get really skeptical of what is being told to me.

KF