McCormack Preamp???

Unless a remote is a must for you, McCormack TLC-1 is another excellent passive you can consider. It should match with your DNA with no problem. You can get a used one cheap in the market. Very satisfied with its performance, I've been using one for several years.

Hope this helps.

I have a TLC-1 deluxe and a RLD-1 used with a DNA-2 amp.The TLC-1 will give great tranparency and good dynamics if used with a good dac or cd player (I use the Camelot Tech. Uther dac & Morganna 24/96 player with great results).The RLD-1 would be great match if you want a remote, it has great dynamics and overall sound quality for the money.If interested in what other components are in my system and the different power cords,interconnects I've used with the McCormack units you can email me.I think you will be very pleased with the DNA-1 rev.A it is a excellent amp. Happy listening & good luck. Don

Forget about the Placette, the McCormack TLC-1 is the "PERFECT" match with your DNA-1. Don't waste money trying to mix and match with other brands. The money that you would save will get you a very good CD player.
I had used an ALD-1 but the TLC-1 is much more transparent.

I've got a DNA-0.5 Rev. A and tried the RLD-1 in my system. Although great dynamically and tonally, I found the RLD to be a little veiled in the upper treble range, which had the effect of reducing a little bit of detail and air from recordings. Overall I found it to be a good preamp, but its level of transparency was not up to that of the 0.5 Rev. A in my opinion. I notice others recommending Steve's passive preamps and I would probably explore that route too, but I would also try the Placette since I think it has a 30-day money back guarantee and may prove to be a very good match given its reputation for ultimate transparency. Best of luck.

I am not saying the Placette is not a good passive pre-amp but if you are going to match a passive pre-amp with the DNA-1, my experience ( together with others ) tells me that the TLC-1 is the " perfect " match. It probably has to do with Steve McCormack's vast experience in the desgn of passive units starting from 1984. A lot of passive pre-amps are great on paper but you need to carefully match them with the right components. If you are only using the Placette as a remote volume control to a passive pre-amp, then you should think hard of are you seeking for the transparency & the sweet highs that passive pre-amps be able to give you, or just for the convenience of the remote volume control? I don't care how transparent the Placette's review is raving, using a another volume control unit on top of a passive pre-amp will cost you the transparency that passive pre-amps are great for.
John, you can get an used TLC-1 for less than $350, so how much can be your downside if you don't like it?