FedEx and SMc brought me some fun today.

tonyb

DNA 500 vs. the M508.....I'll bet the farm on the McCormack....with one hand tied behind it's back.

Post up some impressions when you have that puppy warmed up. BTW, what speakers are you using this with ?

leftwinger57

If your still around I have to ask you about the autograph and the Audio Gold writing. Did you ask for that or does S.Mc sign all his upgraded gear ? I also saw in your sig that you run a NAD 1020 pre/amp. I had a 1020a and clearly up to this point between the 2 Onkyos, a nutty Sony ES-2000 surround processor, and the Dynaco Pat-4 I have now the NAD beat them all. The topography of your amp compared to my Adcom is night and day w/ a lot more going on. Good luck w/ the amp... Lew

11tsteve

He signs all of the upgrades AFAIK. And in multiple places. Though I didn't ask, I assume it is partially for resale value to identify the upgrades, to help authenticate a sale and value. Plus I am sure Steve is proud of the work he does. I know he honestly cares about providing the best audio product he can, and puts in countless hours of listening and research to further the listener's experience.
And yes, I love my 1020, especially after its upgrades. Night and day. Plus it provides a headphone amp I use a lot, and thoroughly enjoy. It beat out an Acurus RL-11 and a NAD 116.

tonyb

PolkMaster1 wrote: »

Fed Ex will be delivering some fun for me on Tuesday.

It's Tuesday.....what....no review yet ? LOL

PolkMaster1

tonyb wrote: »

DNA 500 vs. the M508.....I'll bet the farm on the McCormack....with one hand tied behind it's back.

Post up some impressions when you have that puppy warmed up. BTW, what speakers are you using this with ?

Hmmm... we will see. I have been highly impressed on what the M508 has been delivering these past few years - especially with the upgrades, so I do have some skepticism if the DNA500 will beat it. Notice I said if it will beat it - not match it sonic wise. But from everything I have read about McCormack Power Amps, they have all been positive reviews.

I do admit that the McCormack uses lots of caps which influences me to believe it is a high performer - one cap per transistor impresses me a lot.

I will be driving the Polk Audio SDA-SRS 1.2TL Speakers with this.

PolkMaster1

tonyb wrote: »

PolkMaster1 wrote: »

Fed Ex will be delivering some fun for me on Tuesday.

It's Tuesday.....what....no review yet ? LOL

Haa haa. I am monitoring the delivery status since I am not at home. The unit will be delivered to my neighbor. I should have it when I get home tonight.

PolkMaster1

11tsteve wrote: »

He signs all of the upgrades AFAIK. And in multiple places. Though I didn't ask, I assume it is partially for resale value to identify the upgrades, to help authenticate a sale and value. Plus I am sure Steve is proud of the work he does. I know he honestly cares about providing the best audio product he can, and puts in countless hours of listening and research to further the listener's experience.
And yes, I love my 1020, especially after its upgrades. Night and day. Plus it provides a headphone amp I use a lot, and thoroughly enjoy. It beat out an Acurus RL-11 and a NAD 116.

Yes - from the pictures I seen from my unit, Steve McCormack signs it in the back of the unit, and on the power supply inside the unit.

tonyb

It's going to be a different sound that what your accustomed to. The bass will have more layers to it instead of that one note thump. Steve uses more smaller caps instead of the coke cans because he feels they deliver better layering, imaging, transient response and dynamics. Most who have had their amps would agreed to that too.

It's a monster, hope you have room for it and a 20 amp circuit. Running it on a 15 amp circuit isn't going to give it the juice it needs imho.

Let it warm up for half an hour before playing, take some time to get used to that new sound and post up some honest impressions.

JPete

Since most everyone participating on this thread is a current or previous McCormack owner, I have a quick question. Do you hear the PS caps discharge immediately upon shutting the amp down, or is there some delay?

11tsteve

Mine has no audible sound when powered down. But it stays on 24/7 unless bad weather or I leave town for more than a day.

tonyb

JPete wrote: »

Since most everyone participating on this thread is a current or previous McCormack owner, I have a quick question. Do you hear the PS caps discharge immediately upon shutting the amp down, or is there some delay?

Shouldn't be audible, if it is might be time for a refresh or check your cabling for a bad cable or bad ground somewhere.

JPete

Interesting. I still power mine down... I know.
I hear what I assume are the caps discharging, very similar to my 555, but immediately after I hit the switch. 3 quiet but audible pops. 555 does it, but only 1 "pop" about 45 seconds after shut down.

JPete

I pulled the lid when I first got it just to take a look. All the caps looked good. But what the hell do I know? I emailed Pat at SMC about the power down noise, but haven't gotten a response yet.

Jhayman

I'm the same on 24/7 or bad weather or gone out for an overnight..
I actually e-mailed Steve and was told by him to leave on 24/7 or in the situations I described..

11tsteve wrote: »

Mine has no audible sound when powered down. But it stays on 24/7 unless bad weather or I leave town for more than a day.

PolkMaster1

tonyb wrote: »

It's going to be a different sound that what your accustomed to. The bass will have more layers to it instead of that one note thump. Steve uses more smaller caps instead of the coke cans because he feels they deliver better layering, imaging, transient response and dynamics. Most who have had their amps would agreed to that too.

It's a monster, hope you have room for it and a 20 amp circuit. Running it on a 15 amp circuit isn't going to give it the juice it needs imho.

Let it warm up for half an hour before playing, take some time to get used to that new sound and post up some honest impressions.

Here is an update that everyone has been waiting for.... the power amp was delivered about a couple of hours ago. YEAY!!!! So I will have a toy waiting when I get home tonight.


Yup, I heard all about the McCormacks giving lots of layering in the bass department and dynamics (my Onkyo is good at that too!!!). So I am excited to try it out when I have everything hooked up.

I hear layering in the bass department in one set of speakers that is equipped with woofers and passive radiators using the Onkyo Power Amp. Another set of speakers that uses powered subs built in - I don't hear layering in the bass with the Onkyo, but the bass does sound impressive just as much.

So I guess I will find out much more comparisons tonight when I set up my new McCormack DNA-500 Platinum or Deluxe Power Amp.

tonyb

What speakers are you going to be using with that beast ?

PolkMaster1

Jhayman wrote: »

I'm the same on 24/7 or bad weather or gone out for an overnight..
I actually e-mailed Steve and was told by him to leave on 24/7 or in the situations I described..

11tsteve wrote: »

Mine has no audible sound when powered down. But it stays on 24/7 unless bad weather or I leave town for more than a day.

Any reason why to leave the Power Amp on 24/7? I am not accustomed to leaving anything on 24/7 with the exception of my wifi and refrigerator. And I believe that the Power Amp sucks up a lot of juice in idle mode - someone confirm please.

tonyb

Matter of preference is all. Some leave them on all the time so it's warmed up and ready to go. Some also feel if your a constant flipper of the on/off switch, it would be less wear and tear having the caps constantly charging and discharging.

If your preference is to leave it off when not listening, then do so, you won't hurt anything.

vmaxer

PolkMaster1 wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

It's going to be a different sound that what your accustomed to. The bass will have more layers to it instead of that one note thump. Steve uses more smaller caps instead of the coke cans because he feels they deliver better layering, imaging, transient response and dynamics. Most who have had their amps would agreed to that too.

It's a monster, hope you have room for it and a 20 amp circuit. Running it on a 15 amp circuit isn't going to give it the juice it needs imho.

Let it warm up for half an hour before playing, take some time to get used to that new sound and post up some honest impressions.

Here is an update that everyone has been waiting for.... the power amp was delivered about a couple of hours ago. YEAY!!!! So I will have a toy waiting when I get home tonight.


Yup, I heard all about the McCormacks giving lots of layering in the bass department and dynamics (my Onkyo is good at that too!!!). So I am excited to try it out when I have everything hooked up.

I hear layering in the bass department in one set of speakers that is equipped with woofers and passive radiators using the Onkyo Power Amp. Another set of speakers that uses powered subs built in - I don't hear layering in the bass with the Onkyo, but the bass does sound impressive just as much.

So I guess I will find out much more comparisons tonight when I set up my new McCormack DNA-500 Platinum or Deluxe Power Amp.

Can't wait to hear your impressions of it.

PolkMaster1

Hmmmmm... I received a package today. I wonder what could be in it. Can anyone guess?

PolkMaster1

PolkMaster1

What could it be?

PolkMaster1

PolkMaster1

Anyone?

Come on guys and and give an audiophile a helping hand here.

lightman1

Fancy toaster oven????

11tsteve

if you send it to me, I'll help figure it out.

lightman1

Nice pajamas, BTW.....

PolkMaster1

MrBuhl

Jelly - party of one! I think you're gonna be happy!

PolkMaster1

Hey guys... I need your help on something.

On the back of the unit, it says do not connect to common ground switching systems, which you can see in the picture. I have no idea what this means.

I believe my preamp unit negative teminals are of common ground. Will i hurt the unit if my preamp is considered common ground?

Thanks!!!