GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT AMP!! the best solid state in its class very palpable soundstage. honestly 6 stars, truly 5 stars

see below

No DIY up grade kit

one of the most wonderful amp i've ever heard! sweet punchy transparence but warm. the soundstage and imaging are number ONE. world class product with bargain price!! work very OK with Nautilus 805! Big big thanks to steve McCormack for the great amp and your patient to answering my question via email. world class service too!! still waiting for the upgrade version queuing next month

Similar Products Used:

A3CR, Aragon 8008

This is one of the greatest bargain in high end audio i've ever heard. working a great job with my BC 3 Despina or TLC-1 Deluxe preamp.... doing a very big macho sound..... very highly recommended. but used DNA-1 right now... and start experiencing great music

Assoc. Equipment:
MF 3D CD Player
Blue circle BC3 Despina
Blue Circle BC 11
McCormack TLC-1 Dlx
McCormack DNA-1 Dlx
JMlab Micro Utopia
B&W N805
Nordost Red Dawn Interconnect
Harmonic Tech Truth Link Silver
Nordost Red Dawn Speaker Cable

Similar Products Used:

Cary CAD 300B signature

Smooth ,detailed ,good bass,good depth and soundstage.Non fatiguing.

Non existing in upgraded versions.

I have had this used amp almost a month now and chose it over my 3BST that I compared it to.While the Bryston had a little more bass slam and a tad more detail,the DNA-1 Deluxe was smoother overall and I sold the 3BST.I plan to get the revision A upgrade when my budget allows and this will bring the already good performance up a couple of levels in all areas,and it then will easily surpass many amps in its price range.

Similar Products Used:

Bryston 3BST B&K 442EX

A cautionary note on the McCormack DNA 1. Despite its power and sterling review in Stereophile, this amplifier tends to sound hollow in certain very good systems. I took my DNA one to a friend's house who was frustrated with the one hour warm-up time required by his Sonic Frontiers amp and thought the DNa 1 might be the answer to his needs. Voices in particular has a hollow sounding quality on his Infinity RS-1Bs. It was obvious to both of us. Agin, I took the McCormick to the house of someone who had Martin-Logan electrostatic speakers and the same quality was apparent. I have B&W 802s on which the hollowness was less apparent and on which the McCormick can be utilzed to take advantage of the 802's stunning dynamic rangebut in the end I sold it for $1,000 and purchased an old Audio Research D115 for #1,100 which is significntly better in every respect except brute power. In fact, the D115 is one of th great bargaing on the used market today. It tests beautifuly and is built like a rock. Compare the two if you can and you will hear the differnce plainly. The McCormickis not a bad amplifier but it does not live up to its extraordinary press in my opinion.

I have owned a DNA-1 Dlx for over three years. Overall the DNA-1 has been a satisfying amp, but not without it's quirks. It has alot of drive and a midrange that is rich and realistic sounding. This is combined with a bass that is powerful but a touch soft, and a little thick sounding. Speaker placement is critical to get the right amount of control and pitch to the bass. The treble can be a bit hot and brash, yet the treble is also rolled off sounding at the same time. Use of the right cables help to control this. I have found that Transparent and MIT cables work well with this amp. I have read in a number of reviews that indicate the DNA-1's soundstage is poor. I haven't experienced this, when everything else is set up properly the DNA-1 provides a very engaging listening experience.
If you audition the DNA-1 make sure the Dealer's unit is well broken in. The DNA-1 more then most other amps requires alot of burn in before it begins to sound less brash and smooth in the treble. Also, the DNA-1 must be placed on a solid surface using the grounding spike supplied. This makes a tremendous difference in the clarity of the midrange and tightens the bass response.

Overall I give the DNA-1 4 stars for it's excellent midrange, but cannot give it 5 stars due to other colorations in the bass and it's rather abrupt treble rolloff.

Great sound, well built, upgradable, incredible value

None for the price

The McCormack DNA-1 is a great amp. It is an AMAZING amp when upgraded by SMc audio. I used the deluxe version for about five years before upgrading the amp to the Revision A Gold. I was always happy with the amp, thinking it was the best amp I could afford for the money. But after upgrading the amp, I feel that it is the best amp I can purchase regardless of price. I did not make any changes to my system while the amp was being upgraded so I could evaluate the improvements (did not move speakers, change interconnects, etc.). As soon as I plugged in the new amp I noticed a huge improvement. After letting it break in for a few weeks the improvement became even more dramatic.

The upgraded DNA-1 has very sweet, smooth, yet natural and transparent midrange. Female vocals (Diana Krall, Holly Cole, Suzanne Vega, Lisa Ekdahl) are so natural that you feel as if they are in the room with you. I had always noticed a little grain in the midrange in the unmodified amp that is totally gone now. The soundstage became much wider and focused after the revision. The bass has more authority or slam and as I result I've turned down the subwoofer. The highs are endless - cymbals sound very realistic.

Stereophile rated the amp a "Class B." After the Revision A Gold upgrade it is easily a "Class A" in my opinion.

If you want to stop listening to the system and start listening to the music - I'd look for a used DNA-1 and have SMc upgrade the amp. Great customer service from both Steve McCormack and Kris Jeter!

[link:members.home.net/smcaudio/welcome.htm|SMc Audio Link]

System:
Sony XA777ES SACD player
Conrad-Johnson Premier 17LS Preamp
McCormack DNA-1 Revision A Gold
Martin Logan SL 3 Speakers
Velodyne 1800 Sub
MIT-2 Biwire Speaker Cables
Transparent and Tributaries ICs

Similar Products Used:

Mark Levinson, Classe, Proceed, Sunfire, Rotel, Harman Kardon

simply the best with my system. Of course all mambo jumbo parts such as cable, line stage, speaker, D/A converter counts.

System:preamp Audible Illusions Mod 3A
Amp McCormack DNA 1.0 Deluxe
Speakers Totem 1
Turntable Linn LP 12
Cartridge Sumiko Blue Point Special
Transport Theta Data II
DAC Adcom GDA 600
Interconnects Nirvana SL-1
Speaker Cable Nirvana SL-1


The McCormack has good punch and a lively sound. The top end is slighly rolled off, while the midrange is definitely forward sounding. Bottom end extension is good, but slightly under damped.

Sound stage width is very good, but depth is severly truncated. Layering of orchestras and even jazz quartets is its greatesst weakness. Lower treble has a slight fog or mistiness to it masking microdynamic detail.

Overall, it can be a good amp for rock and roll, or if you like a sound that has the musicians sitting in your lap. I was generrally disappointed with the McCormack n my system, finding it to be unrefined sounding over the long haul.

Upgraded to a cj Premier 11A and havenot regretted it yet.

Bought this a few months ago.Previously owning an Audiolab System. I found a major improvement in all areas. I Don't understand why some Mag. using an Audiolab Amplification System as their Reference...