Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This amp was purchased used from the original owner late in 2008. It was in pristine condition and still is.
The amp replaced an Odyssey Stratos with cap upgrade. It has outperformed it in every way. It has proved to be quiet, reliable, and very musical. It does not sound warm, as some have mentioned, but rather neutral.

BTW, I had very high expectations for the Odyssey equipment and went through a two year period by which I encountered many problems with three pieces. It was disheartening because I had wanted the Stratos for some time. The Odyssey equipment really let me down. I did not have high expectations for the Mccormack amp but had heard very good things about the company. For SS gear it was a pleasant surprise. My preamp was a tube type, and now I just have a source going to DAC and then to the amp, bypassing a preamp altogether.

This "simple" SS system sounds MUCH better than with my tube preamp. But, like I wrote just before, I had hum and noise issues with the Odyssey. But even when the noise was not present, the Mccormack was cleaner and more musical than the Stratos and Candela (preamp)

I would highly recommend this piece to anyone. It was much less expensive than the amp/preamp combo I was using before and it's performance was a few notches above it.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This amp was purchased used from the original owner late in 2008. It was in pristine condition and still is.
The amp replaced an Odyssey Stratos with cap upgrade. It has outperformed it in every way. It has proved to be quiet, reliable, and very musical. It does not sound warm, as some have mentioned, but rather neutral.

BTW, I had very high expectations for the Odyssey equipment and went through a two year period by which I encountered many problems with three pieces. The Odyssey equipment really let me down. I did not have high expectations for the Mccormack amp but had heard very good things about the company. For SS gear it was a pleasant surprise. My preamp was a tube type, and now I just have a source going to DAC and then to the amp, bypassing a preamp altogether.

This "simple" SS system sounds MUCH better than with my tube preamp. But, like I wrote just before, I had hum and noise issues with the Odyssey. But even when the noise was not present, the Mccormack was cleaner and more musical than the Stratos and Candela (preamp)

I would highly recommend this piece to anyone. It was much less expensive than the amp/preamp combo I was using before and it's performance was a few notches above it.

docaudio

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.75 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from HigherFidelityAudio

Summary:
I've listened to many amps in the under $2000 price range and the McCormack DNA-125 is the most transparent of any of these amps that I heard. It is a neutral amp that produces a wonderful 3-D soundstage and is much more dynamic that other 125 watt amps.

Strengths:
Transparency, dynamics, soundstage, price (amps with this level of performance usually cost over $2000)

Weaknesses:
I think this is a neutral sounding amp, but I wouldn't mind a touch of extra warmth such as that a tube amp might give.

Similar Products Used:
Similar priced amps from Bryston, Marsh, Parasound, etc.

Price Paid:  $1300.00 from AVHIFI

Summary:
Of all the power amps I have owned from the Dynaco 400 in 1975 to the this amp, the DNA-125 has the most musical sound of them all. I'm not going to go into all the details that one can use to describe an amp, but I have listened to bright sounding amps (Pioneer M22), mellow sounding amps (McIntosh 1900) and in between (Parasound HCA1000, Rotel RB890. The DNA-125 just sounds the best overall, something you could live with for many years and it sounds great with all kinds of music. This is the first amp I bought that was over a 1000 dollars and worth it. It's a steal on the used market for under $1000.

Strengths:
Very well balanced, easy to listen to for long periods without fatigue.

Weaknesses:
Right channel failed within a year, but was promptly repaired under warrenty.

Similar Products Used:
Dynaco 400, Pioneer M22, Parasound HCA1000, McIntosh 1900, Rotel RB890

Price Paid:  $1200.00

Summary:
I have always been a fan of McCormack, but since I have been fortunate to have access to many hand-downs such as the Aragon 8008ST, CJ MV 55, and the Jeff Rowland Model 2, I never needed to look for a new amp until recently. Armed with the advice from all the usual rags, the internet and the great folks here at audioreview and over at audioasylum, given my budget I narrowed my choices down to the DNA 125, the MF A3cr and the Ayre V3. Was also looking at a used YBA 1 alpha. In short, I felt that the DNA had the best balance of sonic and build characteristics. I wouldn't call it neutral, but the slight tinge of warmth in the mids and upper bass makes it very inviting after a difficult day, and the highs are as extended as I have heard at this price. The bass is controlled, though not exactly in the league of the big burly bassmeisters like the Krells and ML monoblocks. It is also very quiet, with a good PRAT quotient, and even has a little of that holographic quality I have heard with the Spectrals/MITs. It is not perfect, and a good score would be 4.5 stars, but I am happy to give it a five. Assoc Equipment: CAL Delta/Alpha Bow Wizard Adcom GFP 750 (this rocks!) Aerius i Totem Model 1 Wireworld, Audioquest and Analysis Plus cabling Comfy chair Cheers and happy listening

Strengths:
Well balanced, lovely mids, controlled bass, smooth highs, has 'body'

Weaknesses:
Could be a little more transparent, with better detail

Similar Products Used:
See above