Vandersteen, DNA & SMcAudio (AKA "Mod Squad")

A follow up:
The addition of a Holo Audio Spring 2 Kitsune between the Oppo and the new ARC LS 26, Isopods under all electronics, further refinement of speaker, chair, furniture placement. Better cabling ( Morrow SP5, MA 5, Audio Art, Cullen ).Image, slam, and detail for days. 
Thinking about a tube amp, ARC REF, but no hurry.

@kmckenn You are absolutely spot on about what SMc Audio can do with a DNA series amp. And yes, it beckons you to relax and listen to the music for the music’s sake.🎼

What to do next? Get yourself an Omega E-Mat to put inside the door of your electrical service. It "conditions" for lack of a better word, the electricity in your home dropping the noise floor of your audio and video systems. It is remarkable! Search for the thread here about the Omega E-Mat and you can read about the experience of many users.

After six years with a Parasound 2250 driving Vandy 2 CE to excellent results in my small room, The wife and I have remodeled. On the way is a SMc DNA1 Ultra Gold 18 with an enormous Plitron shipped directly from eBay to Steve. Cloth Quatros, shipping from John Rutan in Verona NJ next week, Anticables 2.1 cables arriving Monday. My preamp is a Sciit Mjolnir 2 tube hybid with Pyst and Vampire interconnects. With a month or more of burn in, calibration, and room treatment ( Mr Rutan has recommended an angled across the room approach to minimize 1st reflections ) I will post results and progress. 
But I am thrilled by where I am headed.

... the DNA + Quatro's replaced a vintage pair of Vandersteen 2C's, and a pair of vertically bi-amp'd B&K ST-202's (which I now need to sell, along with an old PS Audio 100C that used to drive the 2C's)

@gdbrbob... I can't really claim completely blind, in regards to, I have owned a "Mod Squad" Prism (Modified Magnavox CDB-650) since 1989 (which I still have and would loooooove to get playing again), and had a "Mod Squad" Line Drive Deluxe that I very regrettably gave up to move to a multi-channel system. So, Mr. McCormack has had my attention for a very very long time. After getting the speakers, I got a lot of recommendations for tube amps. The front end of the system is used for daily entertainment center type use, and I just could not get myself to justify burning up great tubes for "Wheel of Fortune" or "Blue Bloods". So, I sought what I felt would be the best SS solution I could find without killing my modest budget. When those sorts of claims ("world class sound without the world class cost") were made by none other than my long held hero(s), I decided to stick my neck out and go with the guy who I had the most confidence in that by my experience knows what good sound is (besides Mr. Richard Vandersteen).

As far as the pre-amp, unfortunately I cannot claim quite nearly as sexy equipment as the sole front end equipment. The current pre-amp is a Marantz 7702MKII 11.2 Surround.

The rest of the front end is Audioquest Water balanced interconnect, and two solo pair of MIT aVT2 speaker cables. I have a Adcom GFA-2535 driving a pair of Vandersteen 1B's, and a pair of I won't mentions of high back speakers.

Thanks everyone for the positive feedback (don't flog me too badly for my "pre-amp" ;-) )

I have an extensively modified cj PV12L line stage. All modifications were done by Bob Backert.  

+1 Hifiman,
I, too, have the Treo's and 2wq subs using the crossover.
The nice thing about SMc is that they will upgrade your component to match the speakers and related equipment.
You did well for a 'blind' upgrade.
What is your preamp?
B

@kmckenn   What a timely post for me to you.  I just had my DNA-1 upgraded by Steve and Co. at SMc Audio after 21 years of ownership and two previous visits to SMc Audio.  Steve and Co. completely revamped my vintage amp.  And yes, I am using it with Vandersteen speakers.  Specifically the Treo CTs with two 2wq subwoofers.  Vandersteen Audio and McCormack have a long history together.  They showed together for many years at various audio shows along with Audioquest.  I never discussed the high pass filter with SMc.  I use the Vandy H5-MP crossover to great effect with my Treo CTs and 2wq subs.  I am ecstatic with my new amp. and revel in its clean, spacious reproduction of music. 

I hope you enjoy your's!!  (Give it about 2-3 weeks of heavy usage to fully realize the clarity of the gem)