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MacCormack Upgrades from SMc Audio?

Hi all, My Phono Pre-Amp is a MacCormack Micro Phono Drive bought back around '96.

Just doing some surfing today, I stumbled upon Steve MacCormack's site, and see that he lists two upgrade revisions for the Micro Phono Drive, and also produces a better outboard Power Supply versus the original Wall Wart that came with the unit.

From the sound of his description, his better revision B upgrade essentially replaces just about every component in the unit, going to better Burr-Brown Op Amps, trimmed RIAA Stage, Vishay components, etc, etc. The cost of this upgrade is said to be $500, and this was actually what I paid for this unit new when I bought it.

Also, the Outboard power Supply costs $275, WBT RCA's another $60 Whattya think?
markd51
markd51 OP
741 posts
 
I have just found my little bag of 3 pairs of resistors that were included with my McCormack Micro Phono Drive. Thier values are 1K ohm, 200 Ohm, and 100 Ohm.

It states in the manual, that these resistors are to be used in parallel with the 47k ohm resistor already installed from the factory, and to insert 1 for each channel in the sockets marked R/C1 and R/C2.

It says NOTE, if you wish to calculate the total load resistance with these resistors installed, use this formula:

R(total)= 47,000 x R(user) / 47,000 + R(user)

What should I use? If I don't appear to have what I need, what resistors will I need?

Sorry for being dumb about this, math was never my forte, and thank you all in advance. Mark
swampwalker's avatar
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swampwalker
5,132 posts
 
I had a Glider Lo output and found it sounded best loaded at 100 ohms. If you do a search, you will find a formula in a recent thread for calculating total resistance of 2 or more resistors in parallel. That is probably what you would end up with if you are inserting additional resistors, but leaving the 47k load in place. And your description of how to insert them sounds correct. I found it to sound more alive. Not brighter but less flat.
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,502 posts
 
Sorry for the thread hi-jack again but does anyone have any feedback on any recent SMc Audio upgrades to vintage McCormack DACs? How do they sound? I have a vintage stock McCormack DAC-1 that I like but I fear it may be part of the glare issue I'm experiencing right now from my system. Other members have pointed me to a Monarchy NM24 DAC as a potential replacement which I realize is a totally different animal vs what I have currently. I'd like to stay with McCormack though.

I read the 6moons review about the SMc Audio Ultra DAC but was wondering if anyone had any newer modded McCormack DACs and what their thoughts on them were.

Thanks in advance.
ig316b
101 posts
 
Jedinite24
Start this as a thread in the Digital Forum and I sure you will get a lot more information.

P.S I will also post my thoughts on my DAC-1 Ultra that I just received back from SMc Audio in August.
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