McCormack DNA .5 vs 1, after revisions...

Good luck, Jim. Not sure how seriously the 'phile bug has bit you but IMO, great, reachable customer service and implementation is at least as important as good design. I had a Llano Trinity amp once, a Randy White creation. Sounded great until it crapped out. Randy had left the audio game by that time, no one had any schematics and some of the parts were potted. So I had an 85 lb. $2K boat anchor. If you are getting good advice and proper service from SMc, then I would say they deserve your business. As to the non-'phile stuff, me and Noble100 had a bit of a fun thing going on the forums (fora?) for a while; I really liked his irreverant sense of humor, but I have not heard from him in a while. I camped in NM as a boy in the Sange de Cristo range and also in the high California deserts. Way differen than New England but I love the stark beauty and the miles and miles of nothin but miles and miles. Not a big fan of 120 in the shade for months on end, but w climate change, maybe we'll get that PLUS the humidity here on the right coast. Good luck w the amps. There are a couple of Rev A and Rev B amps listed now.

Thanks a lot Swampwalker. The desert is an acquired taste and I don't deal with humidity well at all; always look like I just stepped out of the shower. Went to junior and high school in Albuquerque and the California high desert. I love riding my bicycle and dirt bikes and my street bikes on Jan 1 :-). We are at 4000 feet so don't get much above 100 too often. Yes I saw the McCormacks and made an offer on the .5 Deluxe, we'll see. I did just pick up the B&K ST-140 that was on Ebay, will be something to get a taste of SS at least and easy to resell. I got my system in the early 90s and have been into hifi since except went through long periods where I could not set things up. Nice to be back into it. Despite my complaints about clarity and high end, I'm listening to Peter Bernstein (seriously the best jazz guitarist there is--get Heart's Content if you're into this sort of thing) right now and the way his guitar is hanging in space right there with the super warm jazz tone and all the harmonics and tonal nuances nailed in spades...wow. Yeah, not a bad pastime.

I'll have to check out Bernstein. Thx for the tip.