Don’t buy used McCormack DNA 1990s amps

Hello Mccormack DNA folks,

I have 3 DNA-1 since last June 2024 till now.

I recapped the first one by my self with best sound stage and PSU capacitors Nichicon brand and sound is amazing. Then I upgraded it to Deluxe version by myself.

The second DnA1 deluxe I bought as not working or $300. Then repaired and recapped it to have two deluxe and they play similar with original sound. 
 

The third one I bought was in last Dec 2024 as Deluxe Rev.A for just $800. Then I recapped and beeak in. Sound is more bass and more treble than original Rev.A (Nichicon KG 6800uF /100V.

I had best Nichicon KG and others for each stage of the main board, output and psu.
 

Before recapped, I contacted CJ and Steve SMC for price but too much and out of my budget. I have 30 years repair skill but in hi-end sound is totally different. Luckily I have a friend from Greece whom has 35 years experience in sound stage with capacitors sound affects. Thanks John.

I have preamp with Krell KRc-3 and Phantom III (arriving soon). Before that I had Adcom and Aragon 24K and Krell Kav-250p. 

now I have 3 “brand new” DNA-1 that can play for another 20-30 years

Don’t listen to bs Soix. All Mccormack is be able to repair, recap and upgrade if you have good skill. DnA-1 deluxe and Rev-A have best sound without break your bank.
 

Steve still the best place to upgrade and recap if you still want to stick with the best sound from DNA. Don’t listen to bs Soix.

I have good enough skill to repair and upgrade Krell, Adcom, DnA-1 and others

the input board, output and PSU are repairable for me. You need to have proper schmatic and understand how it work.

Steve still the best place to upgrade and recap if you still want to stick with the best sound from DNA. Don’t listen to bs Soix.  I have good enough skill to repair and upgrade Krell, Adcom, DnA-1 and others

@seattlerepairhobby  Well good for you.  For the rest of us mere mortals when the input board goes as mine did — and it will go at some point due to the design and age — you’re looking at a $2500+ bill at SMcAudio to overhaul the amp because they don’t just repair the input board.  That’s a bitter pill to swallow when it happens and what I wanted prospective buyers to know before spending their hard-earned $$$ on an older McCormack amp.  The newer generation amps don’t suffer from this problem BTW.

I hope that he repairs better than he writes.

A very helpful thread!!

As a 30 year owner of a DNA 0.5 with deluxe upgrade, it's good to hear from Steve Mc, that the board problem exists only in the 1.0.

I am contemplating re-capping. The parts are really not expensive so all that is required is a solder sucker and an iron and a bit of skill. Doesn't look that difficult as it's all mechanical replacement.  A day or two at most and the savings is substantial.

I have put this off because the amp still operates flawlessly and still sounds great. However, I do wonder if I am missing over the years. Maybe nothing!

Nothing lasts forever.

Here's a re-cap parts list for the 0.5 for anyone interested...

As a 30 year owner of a DNA 0.5 with deluxe upgrade, it’s good to hear from Steve Mc, that the board problem exists only in the 1.0.

@gdaddy1 Unfortunately that’s not true — the input board on my DNA 0.5 Rev A failed after about 35 years and it is definitely an issue with this amp as well as the DNA 1 and I’m pretty sure also with the DNA 2 although I think they did say the DNA 1 was the worst offender. I think Steve later corrected himself on this.  I will say that Steve and Pat are big proponents of leaving the amp on and that it significantly prolongs the life of the amp, so if I was you I’d leave the amp on 24/7 (or at least avoid turning it on/off very often) unless you’re going away for several days.  They believe this to the extent that when they upgraded my amp a few years ago they disabled the power switch that became just a dummy light so that whenever the amp was plugged in it is on.  Pat told me they have since found a magnetic switch that they’re comfortable with so they use that now, but you get the point.  FWIW  

Pretty simple to work on IMHO. No rocket science required.

@soix   I saw this quote from Steve...

 the only DNA amp we've had trouble with is the DNA-1, and ONLY the DNA-1. This is because of age-related problems with the main circuit board, and ONLY that board.

@gdaddy1  Like I said I kind of remember Steve reversing that statement, but I’m not gonna go search for it.  It’s a serious issue so you should just call them.  

I’ve got 5k in my DNA 0.5 and I can say it was money well spent. I’m not sure what SS amp you could find in that price range that could beat it. Mine has the magnetic circuit breaker type switch @soix mentioned, but most of the time it’s left on.

@ozzy62 Same. It came down to doing full upgrades (with Gravity Base) for around $2500 for what’s basically a new and much better amp than I had or find something else for around $3k and risk I wouldn’t like it as much. I’m happy and likely have my forever amp.  Nice system BTW.  Love the combo of the Sachs with the 0.5 — that must be one sweet pairing.  I lust after putting a Spatial Raven in front of my 0.5 some day.  Never ends.