Considering McCormack DNA 225 - opinions?

daddyjt

There is a McCormack DNA 225 on KSL Classifieds (salt lake city's version of Craigslist). I've seen the amp, and it's in near mint condition. I have the seller down to $1,025, and I suppose just needing a nudge from anyone experienced with the amp/brand. I will mainly be driving Legacy Focus 20/20, Infinity Kappa 9, and Polk 1.2 speakers via MIT Shotgun S1 speaker wires.

I appreciate any thoughts or insights.

dkfreebird

I haven't heard the 225 but I have the 0.5 deluxe and am a McCormack fanboy.I use mine on a pair of 1.2tl's and it doesn't break a sweat.

xsmi

Very nice amp. Very warm but I'd say they mate well with those speakers. The price is a bargain from what I've seen.

tonyb

I'd snatch it, love that brand of amps myself...pushed some on a few around here.

kharp1

I have a DNA-125 that was modded by Bob Backert with upgraded Black Gate caps in the signal and power supply. When I got it (off this forum) I was taken aback by what I considered a forward sound, That was in comparison to the Marsh that I had been using which is laid back in the mids and rolled off somewhat in the highs. After giving it time it became my main amp. It was just "right" all the way around. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another after having this one.

vmaxer

Nudge....

daddyjt

As it turns out, I didn't take much of a nudge - I snagged it on the way home from work after reading the responses here. I was not prepared for the weight of it - not just the pounds, but the sheer mass and "presence" of it. I cannot wait to work it into the system this weekend.

Thank you all for the advice! Pics and impressions to follow...

voltz

Awesome, after you had some time with it please give us your thoughts!

vmaxer

Me thinks you are about to be berry happy.

halo

That's a bad a$$ amp my friend. It's definitely not for the timid! Bone stock they're wonderful but you can also send them into SMc Audio for upgrades!

MrBuhl

I have two, a Gold 0.5 Deluxe and a 1.0, you will not be sorry. Best amp I have ever heard honestly, both of them LOL!

tonyb

daddyjt wrote: »

As it turns out, I didn't take much of a nudge - I snagged it on the way home from work after reading the responses here. I was not prepared for the weight of it - not just the pounds, but the sheer mass and "presence" of it. I cannot wait to work it into the system this weekend.

Thank you all for the advice! Pics and impressions to follow...

Nice man, hook it up to the Focus 20/20's.....and step back....for your own safety. lol

[Deleted User]

Way cool. Congrats!

indyhawg

Congrats on the new amp. I wish one would show up locally for me at that price.

daddyjt

I'd like to say the first thing I did was move it into the system, but me being me, it has to hit the bench first....

I cannot get over the sheer beauty and elegance of this amp, and it accomplishes that through it's utter simplicity.

The first order of business is to check for any DC offset at the output, which I'm happy to report was utterly nil. Then I let it idle for about 10mins, then fed it a signal at 10 watts into the load bank for another 10 mins. Now to see what it can do. As the amp is rated at 225 watts into 8ohms, I was stunned at the actual output at clipping - an unbelievable 385 watts! I am sad to say that my resistor load bank is insufficient for a 4 ohm clipping test. Distortion was below the limit of my distortion analyzer at full rated power.

Next step will be to pop the cover and take some nudies...;-)

indyhawg

Beautiful amp.

11tsteve

I miss my McCormack.

Congrats on a great purchase.

vmaxer

Can't wait till you try it out.

steveinaz

Very, very nice!

MrBuhl

11tsteve wrote: »

I miss my McCormack.

Congrats on a great purchase.

I miss your McCormack too! I only get to listen when I'm home in VA or on vacation - but I do love it so Steve!

pitdogg2

Great score.

vmaxer

So,,,,,have you listened to it yet????

daddyjt

I am putting into the system now...

I took some internal photos this morning - this thing is a piece of work! I have been doing some research on the topology of the amp design, and it is quite innovative. Had I known a few days ago what I know now, I would not have needed a nudge...!

MrBuhl

sex-ay!

Jhayman

Very nice Congrats, McCormack is very fine gear..
I've owned a few different pieces, loved them all..
Another shout out to tonyb, he gave me my Nudge and I have not looked back..

sucks2beme

Good stuff.
Believe it or not mine has been sitting in the closet for the last year.
I don't even have any speakers here in the new house (stored at my son's house).
I'll be making the trip back to Dallas for the Proacs soon. It's been too long with nothing but headphones.

daddyjt

I hooked everything up and sat down to give it a about a 30 minute listen, as there were some other chores I needed to get done today. That was just over 3 hours ago.

I'll be completely honest, my first impression was not favorable. It sounded very laid back and "rigid", vs what I am used to. However, I resisted the temptation to mess with the tone controls on the preamp (I always leave them bypassed, but was tempted to use them to adjust). I found that, within about 15 minutes, I was liking the sound more and more. And more. And more.

I apologize in advance, as I have never been good at describing sound - you might as well ask me to describe "green". I find this amp utterly incapable of fatigue, at any volume level - and I listened LOUD. The power reserves seem limitless, and the character and quality of the sound are a linear constant, regardless of how hard it's being pushed. In fact, I would be hard pressed to believe I was ever really pushing the amp at all. It got warm, but never hot during my 3+ hours with it today.

I particularly enjoyed the entire Aja SACD - especially "Peg". That track is a veritable buffet of percussive instruments. This is the first time I have been able to easily discern not only all the different Marimbas, Vibraphone, xylophone, wood blocks and such, but their location in the room. True magic.

I also listened to a lot of female vocals. Alison Krause and Eva Cassidy are a couple of my favorites, and they were presented in such beauty and realism that I didn't want to stop listening. So I didn't. The opening of Alison Krauss's "When You Say Nothing At All", as well as "Paper Airplanes" are so detailed and nuanced - the recordings capture every detail of her vocals, and this amp took it to a whole new level.

I feel like my old amp set was like a '70s muscle car, and the McCormack is like the Cadillac CTS-V - all the power, but with a healthy dose of refinement and comfort thrown in for good measure. I fear there may be no going back...

I've only run through the Legacys so far, And yes, I know my listening Ron sucks, but it is the best I've got right now

vmaxer

I thought you would like it, most everyone does.

Enjoy!!

MrBuhl

Outstanding! They do like some warm up - I think Steve McCormack even suggests leaving them on all the time, but I can't bring myself to do that. Your review and description sound like my thoughts though - happy to hear you're enjoying!

11tsteve

MrBuhl wrote: »

Outstanding! They do like some warm up - I think Steve McCormack even suggests leaving them on all the time, but I can't bring myself to do that. Your review and description sound like my thoughts though - happy to hear you're enjoying!

When I had that amp, it was never off except for weather, or if we were away from the house for a period.

tonyb

Congrats man, glad you like it. Those Legacy's need some distance between them, spread them out some if you can. Ideally about 8-9 feet.