Don’t buy used McCormack DNA 1990s amps

@fishagedone

The problem here is that you basically dropped a turd in the room and then insinuated the stink is somehow related to a company that many of us have had nothing but excellent interactions with over many years. It only gets worse when you attribute your dissatisfaction to an unnamed "authorized agent", "somebody who apparently works with them", "authorized sales distribution channel" (whatever the heck that is), or a "a sales guy working with SMC audio" (which is total BS).

The fact is you are not a customer as you have not purchased anything from SMc Audio or even interacted with the two principals. Your impressions are based on interactions with an unnamed proxy and the substance of your dissatisfaction seems to be the price of an amplifier that you believe to be too high because it has been refurbished and doesn’t have balanced inputs. You clearly do not understand SMc Audio’s business model or products. To imply their pricing is not "fair" and that their products don't "stack up against market competition" (i.e., a couple of visible name brands you are familiar with), is absurd. Did you even listen to the amplifier?  I own a pair of their 650 wpc monoblocks because I like the way they sound in direct comparison to amplifiers I owned at and well above their price point. BTW, some of those "decades old chassis" are copper-plated steel, which you will not get from many (any?) other manufacturers. Sometimes, when you find yourself in a hole it is best to quit digging.

Here’s the problem — SMcAudio is only Steve and Patrick so whatever salesperson you spoke to does not work for SMcAudio as you imply.  

Maybe the sales agent I worked with is not a w2 employee, but apparently SMC was comfortable enough to provide pricing and sell through this person. 

Mitch, are you for real? Do you also go on Yelp and cry about everyone who didn’t love the food or service of every restaurant? Again, a decades old amplifier at $10.5k with no balanced inputs isn’t a screaming bargain to me, okay? If it’s so great, go buy it Mitch and post pictures of the amazing chassis and value. It’s available, so no excuses! Just don’t come crying again when you realize you could have got the same model for over half off.

All this talk about sales agents. Where the hell did you contact this person? Is that a big secret? You aren't doing your credibility any favors.

And I still don't understand why you are harping on the lack of balanced inputs. That's not the criteria by which high end amplifiers are judged.

Finally, the price you reference doesn't seem to be commensurate with prices on upgraded McCormack amps. I think someone tried to scam you and it sounds like you perceived it to be genuine. 

Full disclosure, I own an Smc GT-24 with all the bells and whistles, including a new chasis and  custom faceplate. It is a fantastic sounding amp and no, it doesn't have balanced inputs.

Ozzy,

Let me put it this way, when I asked Pat about how much it would cost to upgrade to balanced inputs and an external power supply, he stated that he could not discuss pricing with me and I had to go through this agent. That alone made me feel there was a lack of transparency in the transaction, and frankly, it makes me wonder why SMC would agree to that. 

I will agree with you that $10.5k was far beyond anything I’ve ever seen charged for this refurbished amp. I would hope SMC knows what their agents are charging and reign in any excessive pricing. That’s the purpose of this post, to make sure buyers are made aware this type of experience could happen to them. This is compounded by the lack of information on the products and the brand, as well as the lack of a credible dealer network to obtain firsthand information.

As far as balanced inputs, I have invested in good balanced cables and have terrible EMI problems, so it’s a must for me. I would expect this feature on any amp in the $10k range.