2. amps-preamps
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Considering new amp - Mccormack

I've got the itch to upgrade my amps.

Currently I'm horizontally biamping with two modified Adcom GFA 555 II.

Rest of system as follows

B&W 803 Matrix SII - Recently refurbished
Sonic Frontiers SF1 Preamp
Music Fidelity A3 24 Dac
PS Audio P1000 power conditioner

Favorite Bands are:

Radiohead
Bon Iver
Fleet Foxes
Massive Attack

What I don't like about system: Raspy... especially with radiohead vocals.. The B&W combo with adcom and vocals of peter york are Harsh.

I'm considering the Mccormack amps, anything from the DNA .5's modified to mono's or DNA 2 or DNA 500?? Currently there is a DNA 2 Limited edition on Audiogon for about the same amount as the DNA 500.

My max budget is around $3k, but less would be nice, maybe I could get away with a single DNA .5 or DNA 125?

Any advice would be much appreciated.
koryodell

Showing 2 responses by stevemcx

stevemcx
166 posts
 
Just a clarification of some earlier confusion relating to input impedance... All of the stock DNA amplifiers except the DNA-500 have a 100KOhm input impedance. The DNA-500 is set at 10KOhm, as are any of the amps upgraded via SMc Audio with balanced inputs or as monoblocks. If they don't have balanced inputs, they are still 100K.

Best regards,

Steve McCormack
SMc Audio
stevemcx
166 posts
 
The DNA-0.5 will do a fine job of driving your B&W 803s. If you were in a very large room and wanted to drive them to "live" levels, I might suggest a more powerful amp. Short of that, I think you would be very pleased with the match. And as you say, if you feel like bi-amping in the future, you can easily add another.

Best regards,

Steve McCormack
SMc Audio
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