Don’t buy used McCormack DNA 1990s amps

I didn't see anything posted anywhere in this thread about ARC, but thought I'd comment on it:

@fsonicsmith wrote:

Audio Research Corp will not repair their solid state amps. They say it is not possible. 

Pyramid Audio repaired my D400mkii, which ARC says is a very heavy and expensive paperweight if the power caps go bad. (un-serviceable). It works great now, but it's a PITA to deal with from a repair tech perspective (power caps are directly soldered to the boards). But that situation addresses a point brought up in this thread...barring a major malfunction, most equipment can be repaired if someone has the knowledge and/or skill.

Also, I happened to stop by @kchamber's place this weekend to pick up some Aragon gear he worked on and he had the aforementioned DNA-1 in his work area. The input boards are repairable as he and I talked about what needed to be done (time intensive). Since Kevin is local enough to me, I for one would feel fine picking up up a DNA-1 amp and having him work his magic (as he has for a few other pieces of my equipment).

If one doesn't have access to a good tech, caveat emptor (as they say)

So, outside of something catastrophic, if you can find a competent tech one should have no fear of an amp being inoperable.

The input boards are repairable as he and I talked about what needed to be done (time intensive).

@atlvalet Yeah, that’s why SMcAudio is no longer doing only the repair. Time intensive = expensive and/or not worth the shop’s time/effort to repair.

Board degradation is a fact.  And its a terrible thing with Mccormack.  Those old Mccormacks were some of the best sounding amps at any price. I have heard B&W paired with many different amps and sources.  To this day nothing touches the quality they produced when paired with the Mccormack amps.  If I could have anything in audio,  a new Mccormack would be at the top of that list.  If it existed.

@paimei 

If I could have anything in audio,  a new Mccormack would be at the top of that list.  If it existed.

Yes it mostly does exist, as mentioned previously in this thread.  If a new McCormack amplifier is truly at the top of your list, then buy one (or two if you want monoblocks) of whatever model McCormack amplifier you want (DNA 0.5, 1.0, 125, or 225, but not the DNA 2) from the used market, send it to Patrick at SMc Audio, and he can create what is essentially a new McCormack amplifier for you, only better sounding than the original - no kidding. 

to who it may concern did you realize that Conrad Johnson is the sister company and the cad repair that amp you can talk to them directly.