McCormack DNA-1 vs. DNA-125


A few years ago I owned a DNA-1 dlx and always regretted selling it--just a wonderfully musical amp at a sane price. After owning a number of amps , I'm thinking of going back to the McCormack to drive my Totem Forests. However, I'm wondering if the newer DNA-125 for more or less the same price used would be a better option. Anyone had the chance to compare these two?
eslaudio
I owned a DNA 1 for years and was very happy with it, but when I upgraded to the DNA 225 the difference was not subtle.While the DNA 1 is still a great amp for the $, the 225 ( and I would assume the 125 ) is far superior, especially in the lower register.
I have read in another thread here that the DNA-125 should be comparable to the older Rev. C series. And since the Rev. C upgrades are no longer offered I always assumed that upgrade was similar to the deluxe edition. It's been a while since reading so my memory could be foggy, so take this with a grain of salt.
I had DNA-0.5 Deluxe, DNA-125 and DNA-225.

DNA-125 and 225 sound pretty different. I had both at the same time. I liked the sound of DNA-225 much better than the 0.5 Deluxe or DNA-125 for that matter. It was smoother, deeper and overall a very nice step above the 125 with midrange and highs smooth and resembling the mids of DNA-0.5 Deluxe which I really liked. DNA-225 has some premium parts in critical places. DNA-125 doesn't.
DNA-125 sounded a bit colder in the highs and its bass was not anything to write home about. It was an improvement over the DNA-0.5 Deluxe in terms of resolution, but with sacrifices made in the mids(sounded less natural) and highs(sounded a bit more brittle). Soundstage size, precision and naturalness of the sound, well, DNA-225 wins all the way. I would either get DNA-1 Deluxe or DNA-225 for Totems. I'd skip the DNA-125. Unless your goal is to have sound on a cooler side of neutral, with an average soundstage size with emphasis towards high frequencies. I'm not a fan of revised amps as I think they focus on clarity and resolution, with overall musicality and natural sound being moved down on a priority list.

So to sum up on what I observed in my system with 3 amps:
DNA-0.5 Deluxe - very musical, excellent, natural mids, smooth highs, may be a bit less resolve than the newer series and less pronounced bass, but overall in a long run easier on the ears than the DNA-125. But doesn't come close to DNA-225. Nowhere near.
DNA-125 - better resolution than DNA-0.5 Deluxe, with a slight improvement in bass drive and detail, but a bit harsher nids and less natural highs.
DNA-225 - overall a champ by far. Resolution, musicality, depth of soundstage, bass, any area you pick it is a step up over the older DNA-0.5Deluxe and a nice step up pver DNA-125.

JMO.
For what it's worth, I liked the DNA 0.5 Deluxe a LOT more than the DNA 125.

The DNA 0.5 was smooth yet detailed and "demanded" more and more listening; the DNA 125 was cold and sterile by comparison and got boring very quickly.

[Associated equipment: Esoteric P-70 CD transport, Universal Audio 2192 DAC/master clock, Sony ST-S555ES tuner with Component Plus USA (Joseph Chow) upgrades, Meitner PA-6i Plus preamp, Iconic 704-8A speakers in Stonehenge V clone cabinets.]

I've now acquired a DNA-1 Deluxe and currently deciding whether to go for a Silver + Plitron transformer upgrade or a straight Gold upgrade. They're about the same price.

Anyone out there been able to compare these two options?

Cheers,

Joel.