Upgraded McCormack DNA-1 or Dennis Had Inspire SEP?


It’s make or break time. I need to make a decision about which direction I need to take regarding my next amplifier. I’m coming from a Jolida Fusion 3502P that I’ve spent the last year searching for the best tube combinations.

Do I keep the McCormack DNA-1 I just bought and save up to have it upgraded, or do I sell it and buy a new Insipre amp from Mr. Had? 

I have a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls, Better Cables silver serpent interconnects, high quality copper speaker cables, and I’m feeding them with a Marantz preamp, through which I feed almost all my music via Amazon/Heos.

Discuss. 

Thanks in advance.

jsbw

I have a Dennis Had Universal SET amp with a bunch of different tubes that I'm not using.  If you decide you want one you might PM me.  I've been too lazy to list in on US Audio Mart.

I own the KT88 Fierebottle amp by Dennis Had. I have had a blast with it but I am a bit of an odd fish to say the least. My system sounds amazing with it but for me being able to try different tubes is a big draw. I love the tubes themselves and I enjoy hearing how they sound. Output tubes I’ve used so far include KT88, 7189A, KT66, El38, 6ar6, 807, and 6v6. I’ve used 6bx7, 6sn7, and 6sl7 in the input plus loctal versions of this and the 6v6. Lots of fun. But I do understand how that could be frustrating for some people.

@isaacc7 I’ve loved tube rolling on the Jolida. Purchasing and selling all the tubes, not so much (see WAF). But it was only to get the best possible sound out of it, not to get different sounds.

If you are going to keep the Cornwalls, then  the DH low wattage tube amp is the route. Highly efficient speakers like yours @ 102 db sensitivity like low power. Its not about which amp is best. They both have their place. The DH tubes belong in your system as long as you have the cornwalls.

 I’ve heard upgrades II, V on the Jolida and I’m a former DH SEP Hot Rod amp owner, fwiw. Upgrades I through V on the Jolida is worth the price of admission. Add PSVANE KT88 output tubes and good matched NOS small signal tubes, and it sounds nice!

@decooney I'd maybe do upgrades I and V. The rest of it is snake oil, as far as I'm concerned. And shipping to Maryland from San Diego and back makes it somewhat cost prohibitive (but not as expensive as the money I just dropped on this McCormack, pre-upgrades). So...maybe.

If you are going to keep the Cornwalls, then the DH low wattage tube amp is the route. Highly efficient speakers like yours @ 102 db sensitivity like low power. Its not about which amp is best. They both have their place. The DH tubes belong in your system as long as you have the cornwalls.

@artemus_5 Yep. It’s Dennis Had or Steve Deckert. Or maybe the Jolida upgrade. I’ll give Jerred a call.

I will always have Klipsch Heritage speakers, full stop. And that, gentlemen, means I will always have tubes.

At least I’ve eliminated one option.

Taking the McCormack to UPS after this post.