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.