McCormacks -- For lovers and investors

Have you heard one? It is a superb amp. And if you want that sound, well they just aren't making them any more. 

But more generally, what I keep saying but everyone is nana nana I can't hear you, we are in the early stages of monetary inflation. People have cash, can't earn any interest, and are beginning to see the wisdom in converting worthless paper into useful hard assets. It's happening all over. But people are blind, tunnel vision, and no self-awareness. So right now you see a DNA amp. Last week it was a record. Poor guy cannot figure it out no matter how many times it is explained. Hard assets. Worthless fiat currency. Figure it out.

Buy a non working unit and send it to SMcAudio.
Pat and Steve will use the case and replace all the innards.
So, basically you are getting a new amp at a fraction of the cost of buying new.
B

As Bob says, they are indeed actively making them now and more importantly they are making them better than ever.

The current all-in upgrades use little more than the case and heat sinks from the old amps.  Send them a non-working amp....it doesn’t matter.  The end result will be stunning.  They have completely new boards, use larger low-noise toroidal transformers, and virtually all new parts that they have found make the most sonic improvements.  Ask about the benefits of their Gravity Base option.  The case can be powder coated, copper clad if desired, and finished per your choice.  They will have a new faceplate made to match your aesthetic preferences if you wish.

I saw that eBay DNA-0.5 amp and it would have been a good amp for somebody who wanted something better than stock but didn’t want to sink a lot of money in it or go through the upgrade process.  However, their upgrades have come a long way in the 22 years since 1999 so for me the price was too steep considering the age.  Nonetheless, I suspect it can give the new owner years of musical enjoyment.

Someone should’ve done their homework.  While I agree that’s a steep price for that amp, what makes it infinitely worse is that DNA amps from that era have input boards that are now failing, and when that happens — and it will happen likely sooner than later — the new owner will have little more than a $1612 boat anchor as it’s not repairable.  I know this because I have a dead DNA-0.5 Rev. A circa late ‘90s sitting in my basement right now that in all likelihood has (as per SMcAudio, which is why I know it’s not repairable) suffered that exact fate.  I’m afraid overpaying for the amp is the least of the buyer’s worries at this point.