I own the DeLuxe version of the DNA-1 and have enjoyed its fine musical qualities for several years. Its unmistakably solid-state character certainly makes it unsuitable for tube lovers who are forced to consider silicon-based designs. What does recommend this amplifier is its neutrality, dynamic agility, sensitivity (important to those of us who use passive line controllers), and high power. Of course, owners of this amp are bound to be tempted by richer-sounding units like the Pass Labs single-ended models. We all want to be seduced by our systems.

I have been using a DNA-1 Deluxe for 2 plus years now. When shopping for a new amp to replace my PS Audio Delta 100 I compared the Aragon 8008 balanced and Classe CA200. Both amps were in the same price range at the time.
The Aragon 8008 was a very nice amp, although slightly dark and recessed sounding it provided excellent control and detail on large scale works and rock. On more intimate recordings the Aragon sounded good but was less refined or musical.

The Classe was beautifully built, however I found the Classe's character to be somewhat bland. I just didn't get involved in the music as much as I would like.

After auditioning these two amps and then hearing the DNA-1 I prefered the DNA-1's more lively, punchy character. On intimate recordings, female vocals, small chamber groups, etc., the DNA-1 sounds more natural. The Aragon sounded better on large scale works in being able to control loud and complex passages. The DNA-1 does ok here but I sometimes sense some congestion and tightening of the midrange. This generally isn't a problem. The DNA-1 is also more upfront. Over time however this amp mellows, so make sure you audition a unit that has been well broken in, or it can a bit hot and upfront.

My objectives were to purchase a reliable, powerful, and excellent sounding solid state amp within the 2k+ price range. You can get better sound for a lot more, or if your requirements call for less power, and tubes aren't a concern, you might get more magic from some of the tube amplification availble in this price range. However, at $2500 the DNA-1 Deluxe provides ~90% of the sonics you would get from an equivalent amp from Krell or Levinson for 3 - 4 times the price. So while I can find some faults with the DNA-1 I find overall that this is a very listenable amp and an amp I can live with for a long time.

Recommended.

I have the DNA-1 Deluxe. It has been a deluxe for about 4 years now. I've owned the amp for about 5 or six years (maybe 6 or 7 --- I'm too lazy to dig out the paperwork to find out for sure). It has never been the limiting factor in my system, responding well to any positive changes in source, speaker cable, interconnect, and speaker mods. When I didn't have sufficiently good cables, interconnects, and CD player, the upgrade to deluxe was a good change, but not as much as I had hoped for, reasoning that I would get 1/5 of the value of the initial $2,000 in additional performance. The deluxe has more refined character in the mids and highs and a bit more bass and more control of the bass. As cables, interconnects, CD Player, and CDs improve, the amp passes these along with little editorial effect of its own. If there is a flaw other than the slightest lack of detail when pressed hard with female vocals or complex orchestral arrangements, then it is in the bass, which I only became fully aware of recently. There is a slight lack of three-dimensional character there, and a bit of forwardness in the presentation of acoutsic bass, for example. I'm quite fond of my amp.

McCormack DNA-1 Revision Level A.
As a longtime owner of a McCormack DNA-1 Deluxe, I've been quite pleased with it, even taking the time to give it a review here in www.audioreview.com, deeming it worthy of 4 stars.

Now let me tell you about the Revision Level A modification that SMcAudio, a company founded by Steve McCormack, founder and former owner of McCormack Audio, offers for the McCormack DNA series of amplifiers. For the mere pittance of $1,000, Steve upgraded my DNA-1 to Revision Level A. On the exterior, aside from a change from the old green power indicator LED to a blue power indicator LED, the is no change, except, maybe, just maybe, the amp is slightly darker in hue than it was before.

Sonically, there is no comparison. This amp should be a 5 star amp on anyone's rating scale. It is that good. The highs are detailed, refined, alive, pure, transparent, relaxed, and fully capable of rendering three dimensional images. The mids are liquid, transparent, alive, detailed, relaxed, and capable of rendering three dimensional images. The bass is full, controlled, detailed, three dimensional, alive. Faithful rendering of source material is easily achieved. Despite my fears that most "poorly recorded" CDs such as Surrealistic Pillow would be even harder to listen to with the extra detail, the Rev. A's faithful rendition of what the CDs do right eases what was once sometimes a difficult task of listening to wonderful, historically significant music. The only "casualty" so far is Dire Strait's Brothers in Arms CD, which sounds wonderful and much better than it did before. However, the increase in transparency reveals that a slight problem in the sound is, in fact, in the CD rather than in my old DNA-1 Deluxe. The problem with the sound is akin to what was once deemed to be the difference between very good high end tube gear and very good high end transistor gear.

To say that the Revision Level A modification solves all of the minor quibbles with the performance of the DNA-1 Deluxe is a disservice to the wonderful quality of the upgraded unit. The breadth of the range in quality of the CDs in my collection is now astonishing. When listening to the Byrds, there is nothing in the reproduction to warn you of the dynamic power that will be revealed when playing Jean Guillou's rendition of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. The sultry seduction of Diana Krall's Boulevard of Broken Dreams from her All for You CD is a stark contrast to the raw power of the rock guitar of Van Halen. Jennifer Warnes's Bird on a Wire surprises you with the depth and power of the collection of bass drums after the carefully controlled pop/rock energy of First We Take Manhattan. And then there are the bass drum whacks that Profokiev so effectively ustilizes, making it hard to believe that his work fits in the same general category as Leonard Slatkins's rendition, with The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, of Vaughan Williams's Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.

Great amp, but MAKE sure you compare it to the aragon and classe!

This amplifier may be the best solution to a sedate or dull system. The style mates perfectly with owners of tube preamps. As a Vandersteen owner, I love using the same amp as Vandersteen does when demonstrating at audio shows. Beware of comparisons to Classe or Aragon! The DNA 1 is far more musical than the Aragon but does not put one to sleep like the Classe'. The sound is always quick, dynamic, and full of energy. The amp will not be good for people with bright speakers or silver wire throughout their system. This is a great product in many circumstances.

I'm going to try to make this simple and quick, with out going in to great detail about the sound. I had owned a McCormack DNA.5 Deluxe for a few years and then traded it for a DNA 1 Deluxe about a year ago because I wanted more of a "good" thing. In there stock form McCormack amps are just that "really good amps", not the best money can buy, but defenatly not less than "good" or "better than average", I believe they offer a real value for the dollar. A couple of weeks ago I decided to give the upgrade from SMc Audio a try. I got my amp back the other day with rev A performed and all I could think was "Oh my god I have found the holy grail!" It is a totally different sounding amp bettered in every way you can imagine! The main character of the amp is its emotional involvement. The music just flows out of the speakers like liquid engulfing you in sound. It reminded me of a demo I once attended for a $$$$$ speaker driven by $$$$$ electronics. The big pitch was emotional content. I heard emotional content at the demo, but failed to ever reach that platue since then with anyones system, until now with rev a on my amp Im hearing emotional content at home. And thats with Linn 5140's!!! Not some $$$$$ speaker or amp!!!!

Great sounding amp. Very musical, clean fast and detailed. I compared this amp to other at the time. I took an Aragon 8008BB for a great deal ( 1500$ ). The Aragon sounded just as good if not better with more power and control especialy in the bass area.

I've owned a Mccormack DNA 1 for about five years and have been thoroughly satisfied with its performance. It is a musical, powerful and suprisingly involving amplifier that performs several orders of magnitude above its cost. This amplifier is currently driving a pair of B&W 801 matrixs (matrices) that are extremely revealing and authoritative in the low end. This amp never fails to deliver exceptional music. There is the requisite power and transparency but none of the heaviness from the low register. The DNA 1 seems to disappear and merely allow the music to hang in the air. Soundstaging is excellent as is the imaging from this unit. I recently had the amp upgraded by Steve McCormack to the revison A standard. What a difference two weeks make. The upgrade is substantial enough that the DNA 1 should be renamed. First all the attack of the notes is much quicker than before, everthing is more dynamic. The bass control is tighter and there is a greater sense of pace to music that I listen to and know. There is also a sense of ease and grace to the point that the music seems to flow from the source much like the soothing rhythm of an easy running stream. I have listened to most of the competition in this class and find that there is no better value to be had. You may find amps that do different things more to your liking but you will be hard pressed to find a unit that does everything in the exceptional manner that the DNA 1 does. It is truly a steal in the high priced world of audiophilia. I recommend this unit without reservation to anyone who wants true high end at a fraction of the cost. Finally a product that delivers.

I traded in the Aragon for the McCORMACK. This was an easy decision even though I'm a very big Mondial fan. The bass that seamed a little boomy on my NHT 3.3's with the Aragon, but seemed to tightened up right away with the DNA1. Also noted that there was much quicker transients, It just seemed a little snappier. Anyone that can fault the mid to upper levels would almost definitely have more of a speaker problem. I found the McCORMACK to have a lush sound that cannot be found in its price range period. Anyone that would give this amp a negative review is simply trying to justify their mistake not purchasing it.5 stars.

Equipment

Theta Data basic (coupled with Mod sqaud wonderlink)
Aragon D2A mk2
Aragon Aurum (just replaced main caps with phi beta)
McCORMACK DNA1
NHT 3.3's
NHT VS-2
NHT 1.1's
Yamaha RXV1050 surround for video only.