New Finds

[budgetaudio76]

give those tweets a kiss and suck them out. Make sure your wife doesnt see you though. She will have ugly thought s of the bass ports.!

[thekid]

Way to go kid!!!!
The 555/5500 series gets all the press, but IMO the 545/5400 series is the best sounding of all the Adcom power amps.

BTW:
I compared one of my GFA-545's against the Kenwood I got from you. There was/is no contest. The Adcom was better in every way. It has smoother, cleaner sound, less grain and a blacker background. It also subjectively has at least twice as much power even though they are both rated about the same WPC wise.

The Kenwood stuff is doing fine at my girlfriends place.

Agreed

[luvtolisten]

You've got me thinking about Adcom. Is $200 a poor, fair, high price for GFP 565?
I heard a that the prefix "GFP", and "GFA" stand for "Good F#*()#$ Preamp/Amp" True?

[JoeE SP9]

Yes GFA/GFP does mean want you think. Check Audiogon for the price of a GFP-555. The figure you quoted seems to be in the ballpark.

[luvtolisten]

Thanks, Joe.

[dakatabg]

luvtolisten, there are few going on ebay now and they look in great shape so check them out. I think $200 is a lit bit higher than the regular price! I mean it has to be a deal for me to buy it!

[luvtolisten]

Me too! I'll check it out, thanks!

[thekid]

You've got me thinking about Adcom. Is $200 a poor, fair, high price for GFP 565?
I heard a that the prefix "GFP", and "GFA" stand for "Good F#*()#$ Preamp/Amp" True?

LL

Be careful the 565 is I believe a mono amp as was I believe the 575. The Adcom stereo amps from that period would be the 535,545 and 555 then the 535 II, 545 II and 555 II. You can go on Stereophile.com and find some reviews.

[luvtolisten]

Kid, yes, the GFA 565 is a mono amp. But the GFP 565 is a preamp. I might have pulled the trigger if it was a great deal, not just an okay deal.But from what I'm hearing here and seen on ebay, It seems I would get a bigger bang for my buck with the 535-555 series(GFP and GFA). I am in no hurry, just that I have heard a lot of good things about Adcom, and it doesn't break the bank.

[JoeE SP9]

There are a couple of GFP-555's and 565's on Audiogon. The prices range from $199 to $250. I would think gear sold on Audiogon may have had better care than stuff sold on epray. Some of Audiogon's sellers also sell on epray.

[Mr Peabody]

JoeE, what speakers were you using with the Adcom? With my Dynaudio the gfa-5500 was better than the 5400 in every aspect. Unless you wanted a brighter amp. Actually, the two sounded quite a bit different. I know the 5500 had more output devices and used MOSFET but I can't remember if the 5400 was MOSFET, if not, could account for some sound difference. I would not jones for a 5400 but would take a 5500 if I had the chance just to have one. For you guys considering Adcom the 5400 is a good amp, it just isn't a 5500. As mentioned I believe the 5400 was conservatively rated on power. It rocked my 4 ohm Dyn's and didn't break a sweat. At extreme volumes it did show some distortion. With the 5500 I backed down before it did. From what I've experienced though Adcom are my favorite over Rotel and NAD.

[thekid]

Kid, yes, the GFA 565 is a mono amp. But the GFP 565 is a preamp. I might have pulled the trigger if it was a great deal, not just an okay deal.But from what I'm hearing here and seen on ebay, It seems I would get a bigger bang for my buck with the 535-555 series(GFP and GFA). I am in no hurry, just that I have heard a lot of good things about Adcom, and it doesn't break the bank.

Ooops! It helps to read.....
Good luck on your search. You should be able to put together a good Adcom system in the $500 -$600 range for both the amp/pre-amp. I was able to get mine for about half that and got a GFT-555 tuner as well.

[JoeE SP9]

JoeE, what speakers were you using with the Adcom? With my Dynaudio the gfa-5500 was better than the 5400 in every aspect. Unless you wanted a brighter amp. Actually, the two sounded quite a bit different. I know the 5500 had more output devices and used MOSFET but I can't remember if the 5400 was MOSFET, if not, could account for some sound difference. I would not jones for a 5400 but would take a 5500 if I had the chance just to have one. For you guys considering Adcom the 5400 is a good amp, it just isn't a 5500. As mentioned I believe the 5400 was conservatively rated on power. It rocked my 4 ohm Dyn's and didn't break a sweat. At extreme volumes it did show some distortion. With the 5500 I backed down before it did. From what I've experienced though Adcom are my favorite over Rotel and NAD.

I used it on my ESL's first. It ended up driving my subs. I have two that I'm not using. I drafted a Crown XLS402 to drive my subs.
There's no doubt the 555 is more powerful. IMO it doesn't sound as sweet. One of my buddies is using a 585 to drive a pair of Maggie 3.6R's it sounds very good.

[frenchmon]

JoeE, what speakers were you using with the Adcom? With my Dynaudio the gfa-5500 was better than the 5400 in every aspect. Unless you wanted a brighter amp. Actually, the two sounded quite a bit different. I know the 5500 had more output devices and used MOSFET but I can't remember if the 5400 was MOSFET, if not, could account for some sound difference. I would not jones for a 5400 but would take a 5500 if I had the chance just to have one. For you guys considering Adcom the 5400 is a good amp, it just isn't a 5500. As mentioned I believe the 5400 was conservatively rated on power. It rocked my 4 ohm Dyn's and didn't break a sweat. At extreme volumes it did show some distortion. With the 5500 I backed down before it did. From what I've experienced though Adcom are my favorite over Rotel and NAD.

The 5500 is 200 watts and the 5400 is 125 watts per both @ 8ohms. They both are MOSFET.

I have the Rotel 1080 and the Adcom 5400. I believe the Rotel is better than the Adcom. I dont feel the 5400 is bright at all. At 4ohms the 5400 is 200@channel. The 5500 is 350 watts per channel @ 4 ohms.

[Mr Peabody]

Well, the 5400 certainly isn't warm by no means. It may also be system set up, I was useing Transparent cables. I didn't mean to imply the 5400 was overly bright just brighter than the 5500. The 5500 has a warmer more balanced sound.

JoeE, I think you are talking about the 555 and I'm talking about the 5500. The 5500 is a very good sounding amp, much more than the 5400. I have not heard the older 545/555. When you hear the 5500 it has a very dark character sort of like older Krell gear has, I hate to say it was warm but it does have a nice balance and comfortable feel to it. The highs weren't rolled off but much smoother than the 5400.

[JoeE SP9]

That's true. I have little experience with the XX00 series. We're both being a little "high endish". The real issue is that Adcom gear is a step above most receiver based gear. I'm sure we agree on that.

[frenchmon]

Well, the 5400 certainly isn't warm by no means. It may also be system set up, I was useing Transparent cables. I didn't mean to imply the 5400 was overly bright just brighter than the 5500. The 5500 has a warmer more balanced sound.

JoeE, I think you are talking about the 555 and I'm talking about the 5500. The 5500 is a very good sounding amp, much more than the 5400. I have not heard the older 545/555. When you hear the 5500 it has a very dark character sort of like older Krell gear has, I hate to say it was warm but it does have a nice balance and comfortable feel to it. The highs weren't rolled off but much smoother than the 5400.

P...I get the impression you really like dark sounding gear? Nothing wrong with that. We all like different things.

[poppachubby]

Ya don't sweat it Peabody. Historically, the dark side has had alot of very influential supporters...

[frenchmon]

I really cant see why the 2 amps...the 5400 and the 5500 would be so different in sound seeing they are almost identical in the stats. IF you are talking about that Adcom I listened to at your house they pretty much sounded a like to me. OR was that a different amp we had connected to my Rotel preamp that day? On the other hand, I've hooked both the Adcom and Rotel amps up to my system here and there is a difference. Neither amp is dark nor very bright but the Adcom seems to be a bit more heavy with the bass put out with a more robust sound where as the Rotels bass out put is not as punchy but full. I do have A+ cables which are a warmer cable so they could be holding down some of the brightness if they are bright, but I doubt it.

http://www.adcom.com/data/compare/Ho...Power-Amps.pdf

[frenchmon]

Ya don't sweat it Peabody. Historically, the dark side has had alot of very influential supporters...

lol!!!! Man you crack me up!

[Feanor]

Well, the 5400 certainly isn't warm by no means. It may also be system set up, I was useing Transparent cables. I didn't mean to imply the 5400 was overly bright just brighter than the 5500. The 5500 has a warmer more balanced sound.

JoeE, I think you are talking about the 555 and I'm talking about the 5500. The 5500 is a very good sounding amp, much more than the 5400. I have not heard the older 545/555. When you hear the 5500 it has a very dark character sort of like older Krell gear has, I hate to say it was warm but it does have a nice balance and comfortable feel to it. The highs weren't rolled off but much smoother than the 5400.

Mr P, you quoted me as saying that the 5500 was "earthy"; actually it was the 555II I was referring to. But not matter: a bit "dark" would also apply to the latter. So what's "dark"? Well I think we probably agree ... not "warm" but certainly not "forward", (much less "bright"). Perhaps a little reticent in the lower midrange but subtly so.

The 555II was a relaxing sound next to the Bel Canto eVo2i I'd been using which was slightly forward and dry in the midrange. An instrument analogy would be an oboe vs. a flute or clarinet. My current Monarchy SM-70 Pro's are the most perfectly balance amps I've heard -- granted, I haven't heard 'em all.

[poppachubby]

lol!!!! Man you crack me up!

Glad I could help you out with that. Look at the thing on his chest. Seems reasonable that it could be a Bose Wave Radio w/ custom GPS and Sirius radio. Anyhow, I think that joke has lost it's steam.

Frenchie, keep an eye on the analog forum. I will be posting something very funny there.

[Mr Peabody]

Frenchmon, you are correct, I do like a dark background. I was able to pull the 5400 out of my system and directly replace it with the 5500 and there is definitely a sound difference. I really can't remember which amp we used with the Rotel preamp. I would agree with your assessment of the difference between the Rotel and Adcom amps.

JoeE, my good man, we can certainly agree the Adcom is a large step up from receivers. I can't understand why they don't hold value on the used market but it makes a hella deal for the wise.

[02audionoob]

You've got me thinking about Adcom. Is $200 a poor, fair, high price for GFP 565?
I heard a that the prefix "GFP", and "GFA" stand for "Good F#*()#$ Preamp/Amp" True?

Although I don't look at Adcom gear continuously, I used to look very often in that I bought and/or sold an Adcom GFA-535, GFA-545II, GFA-555II, GFP-555, GFP-565, SLC-505 and a GCD-575. In my experience, $200 is a very low price for a GFP-565. I got something like $275 when I sold mine.

Of the three amps, I kept the GFA-545II.

[JoeE SP9]

Mr.P, the low price of used Adcom gear always surprises me. I recommend it to anyone that's putting together their first system and those getting away from a receiver. The sound speaks for itself.

For those who believe all amps sound the same, compare the sound of almost any receiver with an Adcom preamp and power amp. If you don't hear differences, stick with your receiver. If you do well........

Currently ~$300 will get an Adcom pre and power amp.