WTB: DNA-225

gmcman
gmcman Posts: 1,807
in Wanted (WTB) Classifieds
I have the itch to give one of these amps a try. Not 100% set on a 225, but I think it's where I would like to start. Also with the higher input impedeance it should mate well with the VTL 2.5.

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited August 2017
    This content has been removed.
  • sgmsmg
    sgmsmg Posts: 547
    Not sure if you saw this one:

    https://www.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-mccormack-dna-225-2017-08-07-amplifiers

    I have no affiliation or have any idea if it is a good price.
    2 Channel
    Pre:Bryston BP173
    Amp:Bryston 14B3
    Speakers: Golden Ear Triton Reference
    Source: Oppo UDP-205, Bryston BDA-3, Bryston BDP-3, Bryston BCD-3, Apple TV, Amazon Fire
    Cables: Wireworld Gold Eclipse 7 Speaker, Wireworld Gold Eclipse 7 XLR, AQ Diamond USB/HDMI
    Power: PS Audio P10 Regenerator, AC12, AC10 and AC5 Cables
    Display: Sony XBR65Z9F

    Home Theater
    Pre: Anthem AVM90
    Amps: Parasound A31, A51x2
    Speakers: Polk LSiM 707 (FL/FR), Polk LSiM706 (Center), LSiM 703 (SL/SR/SBL/SBR), Polk 900-LS (Atmos)
    Subwoofers: SVS SB16 x 4
    Source: Oppo UDP-205, Apple TV, Amazon Fire
    Cables: AQ Meteor/Rocket 88, AQ Niagara/Sky
    Power: Torus AVR20, Shunyata Denali, Shunyata Delta, Cullen, PangeaAC9SE Cables
    Display: Sony XBR85Z9G
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  • daddyjt
    daddyjt Posts: 2,567
    I recently acquired one, and it is my new favorite amp - hands down.

    A worthy quest indeed. Good luck with the hunt!
    “Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free.”
    ― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
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  • gmcman
    gmcman Posts: 1,807
    edited August 2017
    Yep2 wrote: »
    Need to list associated equipment you will be running with it.

    SA8004, BK ref50, BK 200.2. The VTL is a slight impedance mismatch, I think The DNA would mate well.

    sgmsmg wrote: »
    Not sure if you saw this one:

    https://www.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-mccormack-dna-225-2017-08-07-amplifiers

    I have no affiliation or have any idea if it is a good price.

    I did, thanks for the link though...not sure of a good street price either.
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  • gmcman
    gmcman Posts: 1,807
    I have a bead on a DNA-1 and with this amp I would get the current gold revision performed with the upgraded transformer. Have been going back and forth over a DNA-225 and the DNA-1 for awhile, many topics debating these so not sure how a fresh Gold revision on a DNA-1 would compare to a stock 225.

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  • gmcman
    gmcman Posts: 1,807
    edited August 2017
    la2vegas wrote: »
    Something like this?https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ele/d/mccormack-dna-1-rev-gold/6244784429.htmlbxlm8xlqrmwa.jpg

    Very nice.

    Actually just a bit south in San Diego.

    Listed as non working, we negotiated a lower amount.

    Rear speaker terminal was broken. He actually drove it to SMC Audio for me.....very cool guy.

    This is actually a bridged mono version but Steve said can easily be converted to stereo.

    kbgyw8qr6u4e.jpg

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  • gmcman
    gmcman Posts: 1,807
    la2vegas wrote: »
    Nice score, let us know what you think about it once you get it serviced.

    I will for sure.

    I wasn't really looking for the DNA-1, but it all came together this afternoon rather abruptly.

    After speaking with SMC it seems this amp when upgraded should work quite well. ....now the wait.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,983
    gmcman wrote: »
    la2vegas wrote: »
    Nice score, let us know what you think about it once you get it serviced.

    I will for sure.

    I wasn't really looking for the DNA-1, but it all came together this afternoon rather abruptly.

    After speaking with SMC it seems this amp when upgraded should work quite well. ....now the wait.

    LOL....work quite well ? You'll keep that sucker for another 10-15 years. Might need a little break in after the upgrades but should be rock solid if SMC is doing the work. Nice score.
    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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  • gmcman
    gmcman Posts: 1,807
    Thanks Tony.
    There have been a few suggestions here about trying the McCormack amps, you were prob one of them. Going to work out the details next week with SMC and go from there.

    I won't have anything to compare it to DNA-wise, but the total end-cost will be much less than anticipated. The hurdle was finding one cheap enough to modify, so this one at $250 was a no-brainer for me.

    May go a little above their gold revision depending on cost, shipping costs back and forth play into this so may as well get as much done as I can the first time.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,606
    Sky's the limit do it ;)
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  • gmcman
    gmcman Posts: 1,807
    Everything is set in motion, hopefully in about a month or so, It will be on its way back. The donor amp was a little rough on the inside, some mild surface rust but the case will be blasted and powder coated first.

    I'll follow up when I take delivery of it....gonna be a long month.... :)
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