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Considering new amp - Mccormack

I've got the itch to upgrade my amps.

Currently I'm horizontally biamping with two modified Adcom GFA 555 II.

Rest of system as follows

B&W 803 Matrix SII - Recently refurbished
Sonic Frontiers SF1 Preamp
Music Fidelity A3 24 Dac
PS Audio P1000 power conditioner

Favorite Bands are:

Radiohead
Bon Iver
Fleet Foxes
Massive Attack

What I don't like about system: Raspy... especially with radiohead vocals.. The B&W combo with adcom and vocals of peter york are Harsh.

I'm considering the Mccormack amps, anything from the DNA .5's modified to mono's or DNA 2 or DNA 500?? Currently there is a DNA 2 Limited edition on Audiogon for about the same amount as the DNA 500.

My max budget is around $3k, but less would be nice, maybe I could get away with a single DNA .5 or DNA 125?

Any advice would be much appreciated.
koryodell
ig316b
103 posts
 
I think the McCormack's would be just what you are looking for. If you happen to live within about two hours of Philadelphia I would be willing to offer up a pair of McCormack DNA-1 Monoblocks for a listening session. This will give you an idea if you like the McCormack sound. I have a pair sitting on the sidelines since I started vertically bi-amping my Vandy 3A Sig's with a pair of Gold DNA-1's. E-mail me if this offer sounds acceptable to you.
rleff
1,065 posts
 
Maybe you should also consider Odyssey audio and Belles amps.
Klaus at Odyssey is a great guy to deal with;he may even have some b stock that wiil save you $$$ as well;also they have a 20 year transferable warranty to the second owner.
Belles amps are also highly regarded.
stevemcx
166 posts
 
Just a clarification of some earlier confusion relating to input impedance... All of the stock DNA amplifiers except the DNA-500 have a 100KOhm input impedance. The DNA-500 is set at 10KOhm, as are any of the amps upgraded via SMc Audio with balanced inputs or as monoblocks. If they don't have balanced inputs, they are still 100K.

Best regards,

Steve McCormack
SMc Audio
koryodell OP
12 posts
 
If the DNA .5 would drive the 803's, then I maybe I should consider making an offer on the Rev A that's currently up for $1200??? Just concenred about going down to 100wpc, then again, if I wasn't happy with power, could always pick up another and biamp or get them converted to mono.
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