Questions about McCormack DNA-750 Monoblocks ....

[joeinid]

Does conrad johnson still own McCormack? I know they bought them probably 4+ years ago. Any chance CJ could mod a DNA-750 to be more like a Premier 350? Anyone listen to the DNA-750?

[turntable]

Joe

I have been interested in them for a while now, however it seems that not many people own them ?

Just go out an buy the monoblocks. You can then tell us all how they sound. After all you have a pretty good reference SS amp to compare it with :yes::D Do it for the greater good of AA :thumbsup:

$4995pr from Spearit sound and free shipping within the USA.

[joeinid]

Shane,

They seem downright cheap, err inexpensive. Hmmmm. How bad could they be? I am sure they are pretty decent and probably a steal for the money.


Joe

Almost $5K seems like a rounding error to me ;)

[turntable]

Shane,

They seem downright cheap, err inexpensive. Hmmmm. How bad could they be? I am sure they are pretty decent and probably a steal for the money.


Joe

Almost $5K seems like a rounding error to me ;)

They retail for 10k Joe. Now that Searit is the North American distributor - that probably means no more retail presence for McCormack and you buy direct from Spearit. I would say Spearit may have got all the remaining cj stock and are selling it.

I could be wrong, but I assume after the inventory has been sold, no more McCormack ? If I am wrong, please correct me.

Even your Burmester amps probably only cost several thousand to make. After all the distributor buys for around 50% off retail.

Anyway, the time is right to test the waters so hopefully we can all get onto this action before it is too late. Have I sold you yet Joe ? :scratch2:

[klipschfan]

Did own the DNA 0.5 Deluxe for a year or so. Nice sounding amp. Not sure that the DNA 750 (even discounted) would be a great investment for turn-a-round.

For a SS amp that sounds as good as any Tube amp, demo the ModWright KWA 100SE. The only amp that I've owned that I regret selling.

[joeinid]

Shane,

I think you are correct about the amps and pricing. A dealer I talked to liked them and recommended the 750's. They keep popping up when I start searching around. I'd like to hear them but not enough to buy them. Sigh, too bad :(

Brian,

Thank you. I should have snapped up the KWA from you just for fun. I am still intrigued by the ModWright gear. All the reviews have been really good, that may be something to consider. You always come up with great ideas and info. I like that and appreciate it very much!

Joe

[Doug Lax]

When you buy the Amps you can get them serviced from McCormak himself he also mods previous models to bring them up a notch.


http://www.smcaudio.com/

[Puma Cat]

McCormack makes excellent amps. They were bought by C-J some years ago (more than four, IIRC) and all the manufacturing is done by C-J in Virigina. Design is still done by Steve.

I've heard one of their preamps and one of their stereo amps and both were excellent. A lot like SS C-J gear in sound quality.

The DNA-750 are supposed to be a killer pair of monoblocks from what I've heard. Dan Babineau of Running Springs used to use a pair as his reference.

[Puma Cat]

They retail for 10k Joe. Now that Searit is the North American distributor - that probably means no more retail presence for McCormack and you buy direct from Spearit. I would say Spearit may have got all the remaining cj stock and are selling it.


Shane, not sure about that as my local dealer carries McCormack; they also carry C-J.

[Removed]

Joe.......year befor last I did the California Audio show with steve in the Lotus group room featuring his VRE-1 preamp and discussed the direction he was going in and he mentioned Conrad Johnson had interest in the circuit design so he sold it to them.....he also mentioned he would still continue doing mods to his amps and refining the VRE-1 which now is the VRE-1B.....

[joeinid]

Thanks Stephen, Jeff. And thanks Doug for the link. I'll check that out for sure. I'm sure I'll have more questions. I still wonder how the ET5/GAT will sound with Bryston 28Bsst2's. :) Oh boy, here we go again.

Joe

[Rayooo]

Thanks Stephen, Jeff. And thanks Doug for the link. I'll check that out for sure. I'm sure I'll have more questions. I still wonder how the ET5/GAT will sound with Bryston 28Bsst2's. :) Oh boy, here we go again.

Joe

for any electronics techies around (which I proudly call myself) I just love the fact that Bryston puts schematics on their web site. :thumbsup: and one tech feature of the big Bryston amps are a built in DC block on the AC input. (keeps those big Toroid pwr xfmers from singing)..'course all you guys with the Purepower units would not have that problem anyway!

I just had a peek at the 28B...big iron for sure! :yes: :yes:

[joeinid]

Thanks Rayooo,

Unfortunately my purepower and my ps audio PPP do not block or eliminate DC. I personally need to use a Humbuster III to help get rid if DC.

I did not know about the dc block on the bryston amps. Thanks.

One of these days I'll just make an impulse purchase and see what shows up first. Maybe the GAT will be first. Then we will see.

Joe

[Rayooo]

Thanks Rayooo,

Unfortunately my purepower and my ps audio PPP do not block or eliminate DC. I personally need to use a Humbuster III to help get rid if DC.

I did not know about the dc block on the bryston amps. Thanks.

One of these days I'll just make an impulse purchase and see what shows up first. Maybe the GAT will be first. Then we will see.

Joe

I'm trying to imagine how crazy exciting it would be to have a GAT and 2ea 28BSST2s show up on the same day! :yahoo::icon_jump::yahoo:

[joeinid]

I'm trying to imagine how crazy exciting it would be to have a GAT and 2ea 28BSST2s show up on the same day! :yahoo::icon_jump::yahoo:

Me too, but that is NOT going to happen. Sadly :(

[Puma Cat]

Thanks Stephen, Jeff. And thanks Doug for the link. I'll check that out for sure. I'm sure I'll have more questions. I still wonder how the ET5/GAT will sound with Bryston 28Bsst2's. :) Oh boy, here we go again.

Joe

One of the key things to consider is a proper impedance match between preamp and amp.

Of course one of the benefits of all C-J components is that this is already accounted for.

It's possible that the less than perfect match between your ET-5 and Burmester 911 MkIII is due to an impedance mismatch, or it's one of those "intangibles" that create a poor matchup.

[joeinid]

The 911mk3 has no RCA inputs and I don't like using adapters.

[Arctikdeth]

McCormack makes excellent amps. They were bought by C-J some years ago (more than four, IIRC) and all the manufacturing is done by C-J in Virigina. Design is still done by Steve.

I've heard one of their preamps and one of their stereo amps and both were excellent. A lot like SS C-J gear in sound quality.

The DNA-750 are supposed to be a killer pair of monoblocks from what I've heard. Dan Babineau of Running Springs used to use a pair as his reference.










With luck, I ended up with Dan Babineau's DNA-750's. I have spoken on the phone with him, and exchanged numerous emails, regarding the upgrades he did on them, as a surprise, our last email exchange night before last he mentioned I need not worry about their reliability for many many years he said, those capacitors will outlast both of us he said , I'm pleasantly happy with this news among the many other snippets he told me.

They sound downright stunning, midrange is so crystal, highs so flawless, and the bass is top notch. I don't think I can do any better, regardless of price.

They are my Grail amps. They will be with me until I pass them on to my son.
They are that good!!!

[Arctikdeth]

Please tell me about these, if you fine gents have any info which is helpful.

This is my FIRST top shelf pair of mono-blocks, and your help is appreciated.

Highly regarded amps? There is not much info on the Google search for these amps, and calling C-J not that helpful either, they don't seem to know much about them as far as some specs/parts, etc etc which is hard to believe, since they are made by CJ from a Steve McCormack design.