I have a McCormack DNA-1 that's just hit 30 years old. It was rebuilt once in 1999. Still functions perfectly and still retains its sort of punchy warm sound. Subjective opinion obviously, but it always had a really nice musical personality to my ears. However, it's getting quite long in the tooth and I'm concerned about continued reliability.
I spoke with the still-existing business, SMC Audio, that does high-end rebuilds on these the other day and would like to throw it out for opinions. First, I think Steve McCormack has a solid reputation as a quality builder and I even notice non-functioning amps of this model on sale for $800+ with the intention that they will be rebuilt. Rebuilds start at about $2k, with options up to $5k or more.
The basics are a replacement of the main PCB, rewiring, output modules, transformer, pretty much a complete rebuild to a brand new amp. They push the "Gravity Base" option hard, which is what appears to be a heavy brass base or plinth added to the existing chassis. The specifics are obscure but the benefits are touted as "better everything" that you have to hear to believe..
This appears to be within the popular concept of a heavy physical base helping to alleviate vibration and micro-vibration within electronics of all types. Steve McCormack developed the Tip-Toes products many years ago, which consisted of heavy inverted cones to also minimize vibrations in all manner of components. SMC also markets a "Panzerholtz UFO Base" which is made from an apparently very dense wood with outstanding damping qualities. These are said to benefit all audiophile components including speakers and have a set of adjustable pins to accommodate various applications. The base also rotates for best "tuning" .
So, two questions:
1. Considering a basic rebuild of this amp, Gravity Base or not, would I be better off trying a Purifi (which I'm quite intrigued by anyway), or considering the quality and longevity of the original product, would it be worth at least twice the price to rebuild this classic AB amp? (the rebuild is gorgeous as the picture shows)
2. We audiophiles see anti-vibration type products and concepts across the board. It makes sense in things like turntables, or having speakers solidly anchored to the floor, but are micro-vibrations really a concern in solid-state electronics, and have these concepts proven to either measure better or sound better in valid blind comparisons? I have a tube pre-amp and microphonics are always a concern, but even with that, would a sound absorbtive base really alleviate microphonics in a tube stuck into a ceramic socket that would vibrate internally on it's own anyway?
FYI, my system now consists of Revel 228be's, two JL 112 subs, a JL CR-1 outboard crossover, the DNA-1, a Primaluna Dialogue Premium Preamp, a Topping d70s mqa, an Oppo 105, and Bluesound Node 2i. Sensible Blue Jeans Cables throughout, and a solid rack with sand filled legs. I may eventually move to DSP but just learning to measure with REW, my room response already seems remarkably flat.
Thanks!
I spoke with the still-existing business, SMC Audio, that does high-end rebuilds on these the other day and would like to throw it out for opinions. First, I think Steve McCormack has a solid reputation as a quality builder and I even notice non-functioning amps of this model on sale for $800+ with the intention that they will be rebuilt. Rebuilds start at about $2k, with options up to $5k or more.
The basics are a replacement of the main PCB, rewiring, output modules, transformer, pretty much a complete rebuild to a brand new amp. They push the "Gravity Base" option hard, which is what appears to be a heavy brass base or plinth added to the existing chassis. The specifics are obscure but the benefits are touted as "better everything" that you have to hear to believe..
This appears to be within the popular concept of a heavy physical base helping to alleviate vibration and micro-vibration within electronics of all types. Steve McCormack developed the Tip-Toes products many years ago, which consisted of heavy inverted cones to also minimize vibrations in all manner of components. SMC also markets a "Panzerholtz UFO Base" which is made from an apparently very dense wood with outstanding damping qualities. These are said to benefit all audiophile components including speakers and have a set of adjustable pins to accommodate various applications. The base also rotates for best "tuning" .
So, two questions:
1. Considering a basic rebuild of this amp, Gravity Base or not, would I be better off trying a Purifi (which I'm quite intrigued by anyway), or considering the quality and longevity of the original product, would it be worth at least twice the price to rebuild this classic AB amp? (the rebuild is gorgeous as the picture shows)
2. We audiophiles see anti-vibration type products and concepts across the board. It makes sense in things like turntables, or having speakers solidly anchored to the floor, but are micro-vibrations really a concern in solid-state electronics, and have these concepts proven to either measure better or sound better in valid blind comparisons? I have a tube pre-amp and microphonics are always a concern, but even with that, would a sound absorbtive base really alleviate microphonics in a tube stuck into a ceramic socket that would vibrate internally on it's own anyway?
FYI, my system now consists of Revel 228be's, two JL 112 subs, a JL CR-1 outboard crossover, the DNA-1, a Primaluna Dialogue Premium Preamp, a Topping d70s mqa, an Oppo 105, and Bluesound Node 2i. Sensible Blue Jeans Cables throughout, and a solid rack with sand filled legs. I may eventually move to DSP but just learning to measure with REW, my room response already seems remarkably flat.
Thanks!