McCormack DNA-1, common ground?

brekekex
brekekex Posts: 24
in Vintage Speakers
Looking at acquiring this amplifier, but before I make the trek, can anyone confirm it is a common ground amplifier, and able to drive a pair of SDA SRS's?

Thanks!
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  • brekekex
    brekekex Posts: 24
    Confirmed strapped negative terminals using my good 'ole fluke multi meter,
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  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
    Your SRS should love that DNA. I have been incredibly pleased with the SDA / McCormack match!
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
    VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
    Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000

    Polk SDA1c modded
    Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
    Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
    A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
    SACD Marantz DV8300
    Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
    Yamaha YP-D6
    Soundcraftsmen PCR800
    Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
    Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
    Pho-700 Phono Pre
    Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's






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  • brekekex
    brekekex Posts: 24
    Just finished hooking it up. Warming up as we speak.
    Since you owned one: does the "protection" LED light up for a short time after powering up the amp?
    Mine was on and I had a moment of panic thinking that the SDA is putting the amplifier under duress. The LED did turn off after a few seconds and the amplifier is, well... amplifying as it should.
    Just wanted to confirm.

    Thanks!
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  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
    edited December 2016
    Yes, protect light is related to soft starts / warming up. Comes on initially then should pop off shortly after warm up! No worries at all!
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
    VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
    Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000

    Polk SDA1c modded
    Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
    Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
    A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
    SACD Marantz DV8300
    Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
    Yamaha YP-D6
    Soundcraftsmen PCR800
    Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
    Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
    Pho-700 Phono Pre
    Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's






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  • vmaxer
    vmaxer Posts: 5,117
    Great amp, enjoy.
    Pio Elete Pro 520
    Panamax 5400-EX
    Sunfire TGP 5
    Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
    PS Audio GCPH phono pre
    Sunfire CG 200 X 5
    Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
    OPPO BDP-83 SE
    SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
    Ctr CS1000p
    Sur - FX1000 x 4
    SUB - SVS PB2-Plus

    Workkout room:
    Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
    Onkyo TX-DS898
    GFA 555
    Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
    Ft - SDA 1C

    Not being used:
    RTi 38's -4
    RT55i's - 2
    RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
    LSI 15's
    CSi40
    PSW 404
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  • brekekex
    brekekex Posts: 24
    It is indeed a glorious combination.
    Thank you for your input.
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  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 3,148
    Good investment. That amp will make anything sound better. I've used a DNA 125 for SDAs, Infinity RSIIIAs, and currently driving Maggie SMGs.
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,962
    Nice pickup bro, one of my personal favorite SS amp brands. I've pushed a few around here, at the very least people realize all SS amps do NOT sound the same.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 3,148
    Yes, Tony is the McCormack enabler ;) I first tried Adcom, B&K, Carver, PS Audio, but once I heard the McCormack, it was all over.
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
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  • BlueBirdMusic
    BlueBirdMusic Posts: 2,281
    edited January 2017
    What years were the McCormack DNA-1 amps manufactured? Thanks.
    "Sometimes you have to look to the past to understand where you are going in the future"

    Anger is just anger. It isn’t good. It isn’t bad. It just is. What you do with it is what matters.
    You can use it to build or to destroy. You just have to make the choice.     Jim Butcher




    Harry / Marietta GA
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  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 3,148
    Good question. The schematic for my DNA-125 is dated June 2005.
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
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  • brekekex
    brekekex Posts: 24
    Thank you! I have been looking for either a DNA-0.5 or DNA-1 to come up for sale locally for some time now. Got lucky with this one, I must say.
    Its been fantastic so far, however, it has also showcasing my SDA SRS signs of aging.
    Time to update a few drivers and x-overs I reckon.
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  • brekekex
    brekekex Posts: 24
    To add to my last post: I wonder if the SDA SRS's are worth pursuing.
    One of the tweeter arrays distorts ever so slightly.
    I reckon both tweeter arrays should be replaced with RDO194, and the x-overs should receive all new capacitors. No small $$ feat when eight tweeters are required.
    For the first time since my climb up the Polk SDA ladder, starting with SDA2B's, which i loved, then a wonderful pair of pin/blade SRS2's which I I was enamored by, to the SDA SRS which are leaving me wanting and wondering if I should look elsewhere for sonic nirvana.
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  • brekekex
    brekekex Posts: 24
    Before I have $2500 in these speakers, that is. As now I can probably move them at no or minimal loss.
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