McCormack DNA 125

The DNA-125 is excellent — it’s got the detail and bass you’d expect from a solid state amp, but it has tonal heft as well so never sounds thin or sterile.  Also excellent 3D imaging/soundstage.  And you can always send it back to SMc Audio for upgrades and turn it into something pretty special.  I’ve got my DNA-0.5 RevA there now getting full upgrades.  I have no idea how it would compare sonically to your ST2140.

That is so weird that you posted your previous amp , as I went from a 2140 which is a great amp to the DNA 125 which is much better in my opinion.    The 2140 was a back up amp.   I decided to sell my tube amp at the time and the 2140 was doing fill in duty.  The 125 is technically a Steve McCormack design , sort of but it was built when CJ acquired McCormack.  It was built in the CJ factory.  I actually regret selling that amp, it was damn good.  I would leave it alone, the money spent to buy that and mod it is $$$   others may disagree but for me I would leave it stock.  Good amp 

I actually regret selling that amp, it was damn good.  I would leave it alone, the money spent to buy that and mod it is $$$   others may disagree but for me I would leave it stock. 

@oddiofyl I agree, upgrades are pricey but I liked the sound so much in stock form I decided to take the hit and make it my forever amp.  Steve told me a while back the 125 is similar to a 0.5 RevB, I think. 

i have an smc modded dna 125 (parts and isolation improvements but without their gravity base) and it is just a superb amp - only thing is one of the improvements they insist on is bypassing the power switch so there is a teeny little thump when plugging in the iec - to some that can be disconcerting

the end result is a much improved amp than the original (which had a leaner tonality, a fine treble grain, and could be a touch sizzly)

the modded amp to my ear is tonally very very pure, fast but not at all strident, has tremendous spatial capabilities, and a dose of richness/fleshiness to voices and acoustic instruments, super clean transients - other than not having xlr inputs and a little sensitive to hum (easily manageable) it is the at least the equal to megabuck amps in sonics (but not the bling 😂)

I’ve owned B&K amps and I’ve owned McCormack amps. I’ll tell you right now, the performance is not even in the same zip code. You will probably want to pursue upgrades because of the age of the amp alone. But I did have an SMC modded DNA-1 deluxe (Gold revision) and it was a fantastic sounding amp. Years before I had a stock DNA-1 which I also liked very much. 

Did not realize how many of these amps got modded....but there ya go....  it is a great amp,    Enjoy 

I think the mods are so popular because they're from the original designer, are available at various quality levels...and they sound great...

I really enjoyed my stock one.  I demo’d a 225 at the time an the 125 was more than good for that system. One of the few pieces I should have kept .  

Thank you for all the response. I will be inquiring the DNA 125 next week. Will see how it goes. 

I've owned my DNA 225 = SMc Audio amp for 10 years. It's been a great sounding amp! Had it upgraded around 8 years ago. Time to check in on further mods. That's what I think is very beneficial to owning a McCormack product. Adds value to ownership.

@slaw ask them about a gravity base among other things.  FWIW. 

I've read a little about that @soix . It's on my radar although the shipping will increase I'm sure.

I used to own McCormack. Pat and I have a pretty long history.

I want to say that SMcAudio has made a pretty good business providing upgrades to their amps. If the DNA125 works and you like it, then keep it as is.

But, if you want to take it as far as it can go, get the upgrades.

Bob

I was just curious as if SMcAudio still in business because I have checked their number and seen to be permanently closed. 

 

@highend64 stock DNA-125 is an excellent amplifier. If you want to mod it I would the just wait for a modified version to come up on used market. Don’t buy this amp to get it modified…that’s going to be money never recouped. 

In general, I agree totally with @audphile1 but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a modded DNA-125 or 225 come up for sale.  I’m on the other side where I don’t care how much the mods cost cause I’m keeping the amp forever.  I’d say either buy a fully modded used amp if you can find one.  If you’re more of a taste tester try and find a used stock amp and if you really love the sound and wanna take it to near SOTA levels on the relative cheap go for the mods.  That was my route.  

Hey @gdnrbob who are you?  Were you part of the CJ/McCormack partnership?   Either way  I’d love to pick your brain as I’ve currently got an old 0.5 RevA in for full upgrades.  I almost think this deserves its own ongoing discussion thread as there are so many of us DNA owners out there.  Thoughts?

Common' @audphile1 , 

How often do you see current modded 125s up for sale,?

@slaw Never. I’ve never seen a modded 125 or 225 ever for sale.  Frankly, I rarely see any 125 or 225 for sale so if you see one, grab it.  That’s just my opinion.  

For what it's worth, I'm a big fan of McCormack amp topology, although, I've never owned one or heard one. I have however "borrowed" Steve M.'s concept of using PS caps really close to the output fets with great success in modifying amps....It would be important to know if the 125 was used regularly. Electrolytics don't do well without sitting without juice.

@slaw honestly not on a lookout for one so can’t say. To share my experience…

At the time I owned B&W N803 driven by a DNA0.5. Upgraded to DNA-125, loved it so much and needed slightly more juice for the N803s, I sold the 125 and picked up a mint DNA-225. That amp was everything I was looking for, sound and power wise. Just totally gelled with then rest of my gear (ARC LS-15, ARC CD-3MkII). But the upgrade bug bit. I sent the 225 in for the Gold Revision. When I got it back it sounded pretty much like a different amp. Long story slim, the synergy was no longer there even after the extensive break in (300+ hrs). It just didn’t work out for me. The sound was fatiguing with heavy presence region. I actually preferred the sonics of the stock 125 over the modded 225. I ended up selling the 225 and in the process took a decent hit. The market at the time (2006) was flooded with modified McCormack amps. I saw my amp on the market few more times shortly after, changing hands.
I ended up picking up a mint Pass X250.5 locally and was back in the listening chair with a smile on my face.

So what I’m trying to say here is if one is looking for 125 to mod, go straight to 225 and just enjoy the music because that amp is truly special. Don’t bother with mods. CJ did a super fine job with DNA series amps. The 225 just makes music…bottom line. The stock 225 is one of the components in my audio journey I regret getting rid of. It was that good.

Now, YMMV and I won’t argue. Just sharing my experience.

So what I’m trying to say here is if one is looking for 125 to mod, go straight to 225 and just enjoy the music because that amp is truly special. Don’t bother with mods. CJ did a super fine job with DNA series amps. The 225 just makes music…bottom line. The stock 225 is one of the components in my audio journey I regret getting rid of. It was that good.

That’s good info and very interesting.  I’ll just add that it’s all about system synergy. IME DNA amps get much better with upgrades, not worse.  My opinion, the modded 225 was just showing more of the character of your 803s, and the fact that you like Pass amps with your speakers then would make a lot of sense.  Again, this is the first ever account I’ve heard of someone saying SMcAudio upgrades were downgrades.  Again, system synergy is everything. 

+1 @soix 

@soix -

Hey @gdnrbob who are you? Were you part of the CJ/McCormack partnership?

 

Nope, Just a rather regular customer until I switched to zero feedback amps.

 

Though I will say that upgrading any of the original amps will result in better performance as the newer parts are better than the original.-Especially so considering those amps are over 20 years old now.

Steve and Pat learned a lot with the upgrade path and continually introduce new parts that they find to give improved sound.

@OP, I don't know why you couldn't phone them, but sometimes the lines get messed up. I suggest emailing them if you can't phone. 

Bob

 

 

@soix Synergy was the first aspect I talked about it just didn’t make to the snippet you used here. But regardless…
Think about this…the stock 0.5, 125 and 225 sounded amazing, the X250.5 fit right in. However the modded 225 didn’t gel with the rest of my gear, my room and my ears. You can definitely stick to your guns and call the smc mods an improvement.
I call the modded amp colored, no longer neutral, and with a hump in the presence region that was very fatiguing. It didn’t show anymore of the character of my speakers or any other component. There’s no reason to screw around with a perfectly seasoned dish. But that’s what those mods did. 
There may be systems and listeners that can benefit from this type of sonic change, without a doubt.

I still consider DNA-225 in its stock form to be one the best amps I ever owned though. Totally loved it. 
 

 

I in New Jersey if you want to upgrade the amp or discuss.

@bigkidz  Following this thread because I have a DNA-1 amp and thinking of doing the SMC update.  Is this something you’ve done or are familiar with?  I’m also in Jersey.  Thanks.

My DNA-1 is my go to amp and still sounds great.  That said, it’s older than my adult sons so probably time to swap out caps and new board. Toying with the idea of going with something new but good to hear others have had good experience with SMC.

@nymarty - Very familiar with.  Swap out power supply capacitors, upgrade resistors to higher values is also a good idea.  You can also try V-Caps and I can let you hear amps that have them.   

@bigkidz Thanks.  Is this something that you do for people -- recapping and upgrading amps?   If yes, are you associated with SMC in any way?  Sorry if I'm reading this wrong and you just have experience getting amps serviced/upgraded at SMC.  It looked like in your first post that you were offering help to highend62, the original poster. 

@nymarty - I am not affiliated with smc in any way. My partner and I have been repairing upgrading rebuilding audio equipment for over 30 years. We have our own products. Google vujadeaudio  peter

Sorry, can't comment on the DNA-125 but I owned both the DNA-1 and DNA 0.5 about ten years ago and for some dumb reason sold them.  I few years ago I got lucky and picked up a DNA-1 on eBay. I'll not sell this one.

I have used the DNA-1 on Raidhos and it is very good, but possibly a better match for a slightly cooler speaker. The sound was good but I use a W4S STI-1000 instead as the W4S provides better clarity and detail and has a great hold on the bass.    I really like the DNA-1.0 on my Martin Logan SL3 electrostats.

I cannot imagine you'd be disappointed with the amp. Good luck.

There's a few McCormack pieces on usaudiomart right now, FWIW. no affiliation.