McCormack DNA-125 Amplifiers
McCormack DNA-125 Amplifiers
[Jan 04, 2002]
Ralph
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
See previous review Please note that the price paid was for used system. |
[Oct 30, 2001]
Jesse
Audiophile
Strength:
Detailed, but above-all, balanced and smooth sound that makes you forget that you might have had plans to be somewhere other than in front of the stereo.
Weakness:
It's an excellent amp for the money, but it's still $1600. That's not really a weakness, though... quality costs money. I love this amp. I've wanted a McCormack for about 5 years now, dating back to the original DNA 0.5. I always found the sound to be detailed, and yet inviting. I used to have B&W's (603s1's and then 601s2's... good for the money, but harsh and unrefined), but I recently got myself some Dunlavy SM-1's (which I love). To me, McCormacks have always been about presenting the most detailed, balanced, while at the same time smooth, music you can get for anywhere near the amount of money we're talking about. It's an amp that doesn't color the sound, but presents it honestly, and in the right space; the smoothness puts it right in front of you, but not annoyingly in your face, and not too distant. Similar Products Used: I listened to a lot of amps, but I can't say that they were all that similar... |
[Jan 09, 2002]
Ely
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Everything
Weakness:
None Very sweet and warm sounding like tube amps but with very good dynamics and mid bass. Looks beautiful. This is simply the best amp for the money. Highly recommend. Similar Products Used: Arcam, B&K, Onkyo, Classe |
[May 02, 2001]
Rod
Audiophile
Strength:
Very well built in an understated way, classy and quiet. Very well balanced and truthfull to the musical event.
Weakness:
None. How can they produce such a amplifier at this price I ask myself. It is QUIET and revealing of my cd collection. I am an all digital guy, so I cannot comment on how vinyl sounds. The midrange is truely remarkable, and compares to anything I heard before, beating my expensive previous all-naim system by a wide margin. Great build quality. May not be as brick-like as the expensive Rowlands out there,but it's better than most, it's sound won me over. Sweet highs, deep lows, what else can I wish for. A superb amplifier in every way, even beating it's more powerfull brother, the DNA-125 for soundstaging, in my humble opinion ( I tried both) Another success for Steve McCormack. Still, what's HIS secret for putting out killer amps like this? Top marks. Similar Products Used: too many to list them all, but my search is over, but includes Musical Fidelity amps and Krell integrated. |
[Jan 01, 2001]
Vince
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Wonderfully musical amp to listen to, quiet operation, relaxing to listen to at night.
Weakness:
none Well, everything that's been said here is true. This amp rocks! I was looking for an amp I could listen to for hours without fatigue. I've listened to this amp everyday since I've bought it. Wonderful and relaxing to listen to at night. Balanced sound and quiet operation. It seems to disappear in your room. This amp is a keeper. Love the appearance too. Allow a few days for break-in. Only draw back is you won't want to do anything else but stay in your house to listen to music. Similar Products Used: Adcom 5802 |
[Dec 27, 2000]
Audiophile
Audiophile
Strength:
Excellent bass, very clear and great amount of details.
Weakness:
none This amplifiers does everything if not perfect very close to. The sound is definately on the warm side and compare to the much more expensive amps as stated by other reviews. By no means at high levels this amps gets bright, harsh or edgy and works great with all kinds of music. Voices sound vivid and airy, bass very well define and details that you do not want to miss. I am very impress with the price/performance of this amp. After ten years listening to high end equipment I may not be an expert but I definately know what is good sound, and this one sounds excelent. Similar Products Used: EAD, Krell KAV-250, Levinson, Sonographe by Conrad Johnson, B&K, NAD, Parasound, Adcom and others. |
[Oct 12, 2000]
Ian
Audiophile
Strength:
Soundstage quality that rivals much more expensive gear. Truth in timbre, voices
Weakness:
Musically, no weaknesses.Takes a few days of congested sound breaking-in before getting top performance. There isn't much I can add to what has already been said in the previous reviews. I do totally agree that this is the steal of the new century in high-end audio. My friends are in jaw-dropping mode when I tell them how little I paid for it. This is not a budget amp by performance standards. It ranks with the very best at any price, provided you feed it top notch material. Wonderfully musical in every way, and very powerfull as an added bonus. How much better can it get? A very relaxing amp to listen to late at night. Low level resolution is awsome. I am done selling my gear. This amp I will keep at last. What else but 5 stars, it's a great value and a great performer. Similar Products Used: Rogue Audio, Bryston 4b |
[Oct 21, 2000]
Ted
Audiophile
Strength:
engaging, lively sound, emotion flow freely
Weakness:
nothing that a cheap tweak wont fix (racing cones) What a fantastic product this DNA-125 is. It does EVERYTHING well in spades. Lush midrange, sweet highs, powerfull, authoritative lows. I had doubts, but this amp does it all at fraction of what anyone should really be paying for this kind of stellar performance. I hesitated between a Con Jon CAV-50 (integrated) and the McCormack with a Sim Audio preamp. Both are fine products, but the DNA-125 ended up in my living room. Conrad Johnson may have a very slight edge if any, in soundstaging, but everything else is no contest in favor of the DNA-125. Try the McCormack with racing cones, it's truely magical. What a deal. Top marks. Similar Products Used: too many to list them all |
[Aug 09, 2000]
Jay
Audiophile
Strength:
Dynamics, soundstage, neutrality
Weakness:
Generates heat and ideally needs to be left on all the time I've only had the McCormack a month and I have to say I'm impressed. After the Musical Fidelity, which I auditioned for three weeks and then returned, the McCormack is quiet and powerful. Slightly on the warm side of neutral, with no harshness in the high mids like the Musical Fidelity, the McCormack seems to disappear into the system, allowing you to hear the other components and ultimately the music (I've been switching components a lot lately so I've been able to hear this effect clearly). Soundstage -- not something I normally care much about -- is superb, with plenty of depth as well as breadth. There is air and transparancy here, but it never feels like anything is added. Similar Products Used: Musical Fidelity A3 CR |
[Aug 29, 2000]
Mike
Audiophile
Strength:
High quality build and rock solid looks. Palpable midrange, power seems enormous, very neutral and well-balanced.
Weakness:
Even at twice the price, one would be hard pressed to admit to any major fault. This is one beautifull piece of high-end gear. As one famous reviewer said of a previous McCormack amplifier "a totally no-bs product" I completely agree with this point of view. Before purchasing, I called the manufacturer where I was told that the DNA 125 is a newer generation design that beats the previous DN-1 WITH THE REVISIONS in all respects except power. As for the DNA 125's power beleive me, this thing MOVES, but gracefully at all times. It does most of the things audiophile gear is supposed to do so I will spare you the details. It just doesn't do EVERYTHING well like a megabuck ( read: $10,000 ) amplifier. Similar Products Used: Classé, Bryston, Krell 300i (ouch!), Sim Audio W3. |