One amp I regretted selling many years ago was a McCormack DNA 1 that Steve had modified to Gold + status. I had purchased it from the original owner and had Steve modify a TLC-1 for me that I used with the DNA-1. Terrific combination, although, no remote. Didn't bother me at the time.
I got bit by the low output tube amp, high efficiency speaker bug, and decided to sell the McCormack amp and preamp. Before I did, I compared the 5 watt Decware single ended amp I had purchased with the DNA-1. You can imagine my surprise when the McCormack amp sounded nearly as sweet and spacious as the Decware. I mean really close. Well, I sold the DNA-1 and have been through many, many tube and SS amps since.
Fast forward to now. Having always regretted that sale, I contacted Steve and Patrick last December and commissioned a DNA-0.5 to be built for me. The new amp is a GT-21 and the only "old" parts are the top, bottom, back panel and heat sinks. All the boards, parts, wire, front panel, and paint are new. It is maxed out, so to speak including Steve's "Gravity Base". Steve has the transformer custom specked and built for him and it has more output than an original DNA-1 transformer. The amp does 120 per channel at 8 ohms, doubles into 4 ohms, almost doubles into 2 ohms, and will play into 1 ohm.
How does it sound? Marvelous! Bass is tight and clean but not dry. String bass has a wonderful, woody fullness with no bloat. Bass drums punch with incredible impact and each one, depending on the recording, sounds different. Vocals sound like someone is singing in my room. Highs are sweet and extended. There is no trace of glare or grain. I am hearing more detail than ever before and the sound stage is as spacious as it is with my tube mono blocks, possibly better.
I am thrilled with my new amp. So thrilled, I just sent a McCormack RLD-1 to be upgraded to match my amp. Steve and Patrick are the real deal.
