I bought my 0.5 in 1995 when I was studying in UCLA. My 0.5's serial number is 170; it was made back in 1993. Though it was a bit old at the time I purchased it, it sounded really great! And amazingly, it keeps sounding great now in 1999!!
I pair it to the great sounding Audio Research LS-3. The speakers I currrently use are Totem Ones. Source by PS Audio Ultralink Two digital processor and PS Audio Lambda transport. The cables are mainly Kimber KTAG and Monster M-Sigma.

The 0.5 can create a 2.5 dimensional soundstage, lacking only a bit of the "life-like" quality found in tube amps. My audition with other solid state amps suggests that the 0.5 is still better in that area. The 0.5 is also very sensitive to the power and signal cables. I would suggest the users use power conditioner to feed the 0.5 clean electricity for better sound quality. Also my experience with different cables concludes that silver KTAG gives best bass control, and midrange clarity.

Through the years the 0.5 is the only one stays in my system. I surely listened to better amps like Pass Aleph's, but once I returned to the 0.5, its lively presentation simply let me forget the difference. I probably will upgrade the amp someday, but I would definitely keep this tiny amp.

I would give the 0.5 five stars!!

Since posting the last review, I have 1) discovered that some more re-break in time really changes the sound of the 0.5 Deluxe and 2) indirectly traded up to a DNA 0.5 Rev. A, which is in a class by itself. Re. point 1, apparently after a few days of being cold, the amp needed a few days of use to really sound like itself. The sound became more natural and less sweet, with clearer highs and much more forceful bass and sharper transients. The sound also became a bit harsher and more electronic sounding, so it traded one problem for another. Still as good as any amp in its price range, though. The Rev. A mod's, performed by SMc audio, make a world of difference. Everything is much more transparent, so much so that I don't have a whole lot to say about the sound of the amplifier. For a 100 watt amp, soundstage and depth are incredible. Lots of air in there, too. Other than that, I haven't heard any amp nearly as good, so I can't make many comments about its sonic signature. I am using it with a Creek passive pre-amp, which is good, cheap glue holding the system together. Other equipment, for now (and maybe for a long time): (that's not meant to be a frowny face)

--Birdland Audio DAC (with Cambridge Audio D500 as transport)
--NAD 533 turntable with cheapish but good Grado Red cartridge
--Anthem Pre 1P phono pre-amp, to fulfill my tube fantasies
--Parasound PPH-100 phono pre-amp, for when the tubes become too sweet to bear
--Meadowlark Kestrel Hotrod speakers--quite wonderful, especially for the price
--Much too long runs of Audioquest Type 4+ and Type II speaker wire (I use both, for bi-wiring)
--Silver Audio Silver Bullet 4.0 interconnects all over the place--why mess around?

I have owned a DNA 0.5 Deluxe for about three years now and have just upgraded it to Rev B for $450. I was always extremely happy with the sound of the amplifier, but I had read some very positive reviews about Steve McCormack's upgrades so I decided to upgrade my amp.
When I received my upgraded amp, initially everything sounded better but the improvement was very subtle. After about 6 hours of burn-in the improvement in sound quality was not subtle at all. The bass, highs and overall clarity of the systems was much improved. I am hearing things in familiar recordings that I never knew were there. Everything sounds more real. To say that I am pleased with the upgrade would be an understatement.

I am an electronic technician by trade for many years and I could not resist popping the cover on the amp to inspect the workmanship(not recommended). Steve and his employees do very high quality work.

I recommend anyone who owns a McCormack product to investigate an upgrade through SMcAudio and upgrade if possible. You'll be happy you did!

I like this power amplifier very much.(39,000 baht in Thailand )Dna 0.5 havetransperency,superb imaging,clear midrange,but I don't output connector,like
cheap.

If I don't like the sound of the DNA 0.5, I would give it a 4-star for it's sound and building qualities. But "1-star" is definitely not afair evaluation even comparing with Krell.

I use Monster M1000i to connect my Denon DCD1650AR directly to DNA 0.5, and a 10-foot pair of Audioquest Midnight from DNA 0.5 to a pair of
Thiel 1.5. They produce very wonderful sound. I would not say this is the best sound I ever heard. I can still improve the sound quality by
doing some extra works to the listening environment. But it's not equipment's problem.

I give the DNA 0.5 a 5-star.

Amazingly musical, with exceptional presence for solid state Transparent enough for most purposes.

Soft on transients. Not a whole lot of punch in bass. Highs are a bit weak, maybe too smooth.

I bought this used (it's the deluxe version) more or less on a whim. At the same time I bought a Birdland Audio DAC, which turns out to be a phenomenal product. It's really not good to buy two new components at once, but I was having one of those weeks. I had been using the Bryston B60 integrated, which I really like, but I wanted something with a less forward presentation and a fuller soundstage (I'm set up in a pretty big room). I am using the B60 as a preamp (essentially the same as using a Bryston BP20). The soundstage on the McCormack is certainly further back than that from any Bryston amp. My initial reactions when I set up the amp and put on Ray Charles powerful rendition of Ol' Man River was that there was much more musical presence than with the Bryston. Vocals sounded smoother, maybe even too smooth to be completely realistic. Soundstage, depth and imaging were, of course, impeccable. I also noticed that the highs are, in fact, pretty weak and perhaps too sweet, which is something I never thought I'd complain about. Between the DAC and NAD turntable, Bryston pre-amp, the McCormack and my Meadowlark Kestrels, I have a lot of very euphonic components, and the collective result is that thigns can sound a bit "too good." That said, as I put in more listening time, I began to really like the DNA 0.5. The biggest thing it has going for it is that it really makes music--groove factor is very high. I find things to be very danceable as well as emotionally satisfying with this amp. I went back to the B60 just to make sure there was a difference, and there was. The music coming from the Bryston amp sounded more like a collection of parts rather than an organic whole. Power may be a factor (60 vs. 100 WPC). The sound from the McCormack is very organic. So whatever its shortcomings--I've found that every amp in this price range has the same number of strengths and weaknesses, just in different places--this is a worthy piece of equipment. As a side note, the Anthem Amp 2 may be just as musical and with more detail (but not more bass), but I've yet to see a used one for sale. It's certainly worth hearing if you're buying new. The Bryston amps are also as good as advertised, especially in terms of bass control, but they are pretty forward and aggressive. Anyway, high praise for the McCormack. I look forward to being able to afford the Mod A upgrades, or whatever they're called.

Similar Products Used:

Bryston 3BST and 4BST, Anthem Amp 2

Tight well defined bass. Smooth midrange and top end.

None that I could find.

I just love this Amp! The only thing I kept thinking of when I heard it was SMOOTH. I do not think I could find a better amp for the money that I payed. Brought out the best in my Snell speakers. Bass is quick,tight,fast. Midrange is very sweet, and the high end, not too bright not too soft! The one bad thing about this amp I have heard is that it is a bit tamed or soft on the high end. Well thats what I liked about it. Many new speafers sound tilted up on the high end, because of the desire to be used in home theater. Due to this I like an amp thats a bit soft,lets the bass stand out more. Then again maybe its just me. Overall a great amp.

Similar Products Used:

Bryston 3B-ST, Classe CA-101

THIS AMP IS VERY SMOOTH HAS GREAT BASS VERY GOOD SOUNDSTAGE GOOD IMAGE FOCUS AND DATAIL

NONE

I HAVE HAD THIS AMP FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND AM STILL VERY IMPRESSED WITH IT I HAVE LISTENED TO A LOT OF OTHER HIGH END AMPS BRYSTON, KRELL, ADCOM, HAFLER, AND MANY OTHERS FOR THE MONEY I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE I WOULD TRADE MINE FOR. THE REST OF MY SYSTEM CONSIST OF MC CORMACK TLC1 WITH OUTBOARD POWER SUPPLY,AUDIO ALCHEMY DDSIII AND DTI PLUS MSB LINK DAC WITH UPGRADE P1000 POWER SUPPLY ,ACARIAN SYSTEMS ALON' II'S ,PLUGGED INTO MONSTER CABLE POWER STRIP 200 I THINK IS THE MODEL #. CARDAS CABLES THROUGH OUT EXCEPT FOR SPEAKER WIRE WHICH IS DICOVERY 123. THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS VERY REVEALING OF WHAT IS COMING COMES OUT IF DISC IS GOOD RECORDING SOUND IS INCREDIBLE.

Similar Products Used:

B&K ST140 MONOBLOCKS NOT AS GOOD IN BASS DEFENITION ALSO OR SMOOTH HIGHS STILL GOOD SOUNDING IF NOT IN A VERY REVEALING STEM