AudioCircle
The Marketplace => Trading Post => For Sale: Amplification => Topic started by: ted_b on 2 Jul 2008, 03:44 pm
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This is the vaunted and very well-reviewed (IAR, 6Moons, Stereophile, etc.) McCormack DNA-500 stereo amplifier. It includes a stock 20A IEC power cord.
It has been updated with an audiophile-grade German HiFi Tuning fuse for its main ac. The list price for this setup is $7400. I am selling for $3700.
In Issue 80 of IAR J Peter Moncrief says of the DN-500 "So the McCormack DNA-500 comes up aces in that one world, the world of solid state technical excellence. When we consider the other important world, the world of natural musicality, it's no contest. Here the DNA-500 simply runs way ahead of any and every other solid state power amp." He then concluded ""For music lovers,... (the DNA-500) has now captured the top honor as the best solid-state amp on the planet".
6Moons say "The McCormack DNA-500 power amplifier is just such a product - a total high-end slam dunk, an utterly authoritative performer with a warm, supple sense of detail and sufficient reserves of power to drive any set of loudspeakers to full live music scale with an inviting sense of ease and intimacy"
This amp has legendary power! As Steve MCormack says in the same 6Moons review: "The 500-watt rating is rather conservative," asserts McCormack. "The DNA-500 actually delivers closer to 600 watts into 8 ohms, which will double into 4 ohms assuming you can provide enough electrical power from your wall outlets, something that is actually rather difficult to do at that point."
From the McCormack website, here are more specs on the DNA-500:
STEREO Amplifier with output power rating of 500 watts per channel RMS, both channels driven into 8 ohms at less than 1% THD, 900 watts per channel into 4 ohms..
Input Impedance: 10 kOhms
Input Sensitivity: 2.25 volt rms
Hum and Noise: better than 105 dB below rated power
Dimensions: 19"w x 6.4375"h x 20.5"d
Shipping Weight: 81lbs
I will ship CONUS and Canada. Buyer pays shipping, and if Paypal, pays Paypal fees of 3.5% on total. Money order (ships once received) accepted as well.
MSRP $7000. Selling for $3300 (new price as of Oct 18th)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12003/dna500front.JPG)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12003/dna500back1.JPG)
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Happy Fourth Everyone! (shameless bump :))
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my bad.
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my bad.
huh?
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A bit off point... but what difference do you hear with the HiFi-Tuning Fuse?
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A bit off point... but what difference do you hear with the HiFi-Tuning Fuse?
It makes the amp slightly more dynamic, and for few $$. There are 12 more fuses internally, and Steve McCormack says a full compliment of them will make quite the difference. They are part of his own upgrade program.
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Edit: Audience Powerchord removed from sale, and MSRP and offer reduced accordingly.
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Bump for one of the best amps I have ever owned or auditioned
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:D Ted,are those 13 fuses a diy upgrade ???? 35 bucks each,right ?? thks Pat :D
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:D Ted,are those 13 fuses a diy upgrade ???? 35 bucks each,right ?? thks Pat :D
The other 12 are internal and are as simple as replacing any other fuse (remove top, standard fuse holders, etc.). The only one I've already upgraded is the main ac one,and i used a HiFi Tuning fuse from The Cable Company. "Audiophile" fuses range from cryo'd $7 to some costing $35+. There are threads here about them.
Ted
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I own a DNA-125 with all the modifications Steve offers. I did not know Steve now offers upgraded fuses with his mods until this thread. I outfitted my 125 with hi-fi tuning fuses (there are 6 internal plus one exterenal at the power supply) and the effect was very impressive. It brought out more speed, air, and transparency. This is the only "upgrade" I've ever done that I thought was truly "worth it". I also tried the Isoclean fuses and the Boulder fuses. The Isocleans are on par with the hi-fi tuning fuses, but produce a different effect: they generate a ridiculously tight "snapped in to focus" and palpable image. They put forth a little bit of "organicness" in to the sound, somewhat like the all-the-rage gold cables (see threads on Jade Audio and Gabriel Gold on a'gon), but without causing outright colorations. I preferred the openness of the hi-fi tuning fuses.
If you call The Cable Company and tell them you need 13 of them you can get a discount.
Caveat: if you install any of these audiophile fuses, be very careful when moving your amp. I blew a couple of fuses just by setting my amp on the carpet to get it in position to slide it in to my rack. That was in Arizona where it's dry and static electricity reigns supreme, but it's worth mentioning.
As for the DNA-500, Steve doesn't advertise any modifications, because this amp was designed almost without regard to price. I believe there *may* be a couple of upgrades you could get him to do, but this amp is about as good as it gets. I can't remember which website it is, but there is a place on the internet that has the DNA-500 just behind the Clayton M-300 monoblocks as the best solid state amp made.
Not affiliated with seller, McCormack Audio, Steve McCormack's SMc Audio, or Hi-Fi Tuning fuses in any way - except a *very* happy owner of the products of the latter three!
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Aggielaw, thanks for the nice plug. I know that J Peter Moncrief's IAR site loves both the Clayton and the McCormack, and I included some of his comments in the ad.
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:D good info here,i think i will buy the 13 bridges.i talked to Steve a while back and he did say he had a 2200 dollar upgrade for the 500. too rich for me,but the fuses,diy installed sounds worth-it.i do like my DNA-500,no thoughts of a switch until i win the lottery :lol: somebody buy this amp,smokin' deal.... :D
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As for the DNA-500, Steve doesn't advertise any modifications, because this amp was designed almost without regard to price. I believe there *may* be a couple of upgrades you could get him to do, but this amp is about as good as it gets. I can't remember which website it is, but there is a place on the internet that has the DNA-500 just behind the Clayton M-300 monoblocks as the best solid state amp made.
Aggielaw
I think the comparison you alluded to can be found here
http://www.iar-80.com/page8.html (http://www.iar-80.com/page8.html)
I have been a great fan of Steve for many years, and have had the benefit of his excellent upgrades for my McCormack DNA-0.5 Rev A (now with my sister and she won't part with it!) and Heaphone amp (also Rev A). The DNA-500 has always been one of my favourite amps to own! How I wish ....
Best Regards
Dennis
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bump 8)
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Price reduced to $3800. This amp is killer and has been in a smoke-free environ. PM with any questions.
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Folks, this is an outstanding amp (especially if your speakers need some power to sound their best) and Ted's price is more than fair.
Jump on this and get a great deal and a great amp.
George
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Wish i could :(
Folks, this is an outstanding amp (especially if your speakers need some power to sound their best) and Ted's price is more than fair.
Jump on this and get a great deal and a great amp.
George
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Ted,
Is this great amp still available?
George
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Yes, it is now $3750, and as Bob and the folks at the SP Tech forum are discussing, LOTS OF POWER IS A GOOD THING!!
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Weekend bump for a great amp. Beautiful sound and POWERFUL enough to handle those 85dB-ish speakers with grace and authority.
David
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I'll always remember para 5 of Chip Stern's review of this amplifier for 6 moons:
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/mccormack/dna500.html
(can't repeat it here!)
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That IS a great one sentence description. :thumb:
Thanks for the bump, guys.
I am moving this to $3700 for AC (edited main post). That's what i need out of it. Thanks
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Bump for a great amp and seller. I can't believe this is still available at this price. Someone's definitely missing the boat here. Good luck Ted!
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:duh: :duh: :duh:
33 tanks of gas or a lifetime of killer amp pleasure.
15 hockey games for 2 (good seats)
A set of 4 hideous wheels and tires on my neighbors car.
2 months of interest (poof) on my mortgage.
1/10th of an average divorce.
:o hmmm :o
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The term DNA stands for Distributed Node Amplifier, a technique I pioneered with the DNA-1 back in 1989.
Not quite:
Belles 450. Anyone remember the year the 450 was introduced? I think it may have been a year later..but it was and is definitely built that way.
Nevertheless and a whatever tossed in for good measure--- the DNA is a great amp.
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Update: I have relisted this amp/PowerChord combo on Audiogon this morning, and updated the listing above. I am offering the Audience Powerchord (20A IEC, 15A male end) as part of the $3700 sale. Thanks,
Ted
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Still a great amp at a very good price!
Best of luck Ted.
George
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One of the best amps around and at an amazing price!
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Update: I have sold the 20A Audience PowerChord so I went ahead and lowered the DNA-500 (with stock 20A cord) to a very low $3500. :thumb:
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Incredible amp at an amazing price!!
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Stern actually had a good write up of the Mccormack,compared to recent drivel over the last stuff.
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I can't believe this wasn't picked up by now. The economy is bad, but that never stopped an audiophile before.
Bob
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Some people would rather spend 3,4,5 k on a digital amp that sounds half as bad.
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How would you rate it's condition cosmetically? 9/10...8/10?? I assume functionally it's a 10?
thx.
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Some people would rather spend 3,4,5 k on a digital amp that sounds half as bad.
huh... My Nuforce 9 SE sound incredible!! (yeah! 6 points thats 6 cents off for me buddy!)
But seriously... I like the Mcormack... but I have yet to hear a ss that does anything better.
Mike
The Mcormack rocks! I think Bob M is going to buy it.
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Due to the economy I have relisted my wonderful DNA-500 (I'd rate it at a 9 cosmetically) at $3340 over on A-gon. They'll want $34 to sell it, so it's here for $3300 (plus shipping and paypal fees). It's a wayyyyy good amp, people. :D
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Sale pending. :thumb: