Adcom Equipment - Any opinions

tbliven098
tbliven098 Posts: 12
edited May 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
I'm looking for a 2-channel amp and pre-amp to drive a pair of SDA-2s. There is an Adcom dealer in my town. Who knew. Any opinions?
Thor
Marantz 2270
Polk Audio SDA-2
JBL PB10
Post edited by tbliven098 on
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited April 2010
    Why another thread with the same question??? don't like what others suggested??

    Again go used you can't go wrong..

    GFP-715 or GFP-750 preamp

    GFA 5802
    GFA 585
    GFA 555
    GFA 545

    Take you pic all will work just fine...
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited April 2010
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100702
    GFA 565 mono's
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited April 2010
    ben62670 wrote: »
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100702
    GFA 565 mono's

    Modded with Musical Concepts upgrades and mods.

    http://www.musicaldesign.com/MC_AdcomAmp_mods.html
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  • tbliven098
    tbliven098 Posts: 12
    edited April 2010
    Sorry for the double post. I posted the first one from work and got an error. I just assumed it didn't go. Thanks everyone for you input.
    Thor
    Marantz 2270
    Polk Audio SDA-2
    JBL PB10
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited April 2010
    i went with a gfa555 and used my marantz 2270 as a preamp for abt a year and a half..was a great combo!
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited April 2010
    I'm running my SDA 2A's with an Adcom GFA-545, and it's a wonderful sounding combination. The 545 is a very musical sounding amp, that's slightly on the warm side. Excellent low end response, nice smooth highs. Great synergy between vintage Polk's and Adcoms.

    FWIW, the older Adcom's are generally held in higher regard than the newer ones.

    The models that Larry(toolforlifefan) mentioned above would be the ones to keep your eye out for.

    The GFP-750/GFA-5802 combo is a match made in heaven.


    Are you opposed to buying used gear?
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited May 2010
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    I'm running my SDA 2A's with an Adcom GFA-545, and it's a wonderful sounding combination. The 545 is a very musical sounding amp, that's slightly on the warm side. Excellent low end response, nice smooth highs. Great synergy between vintage Polk's and Adcoms.

    FWIW, the older Adcom's are generally held in higher regard than the newer ones.

    The models that Larry(toolforlifefan) mentioned above would be the ones to keep your eye out for.

    The GFP-750/GFA-5802 combo is a match made in heaven.


    Are you opposed to buying used gear?

    Agreed Curt, however, when I had the 565 that had the Musical Concepts mods and upgrades that amp just mixed well with most non-Adcom preamps, both tubed & sand I mated it with, with the exception of just one. Those modded 565s just sung and had plenty of high current, dynamic headroom and just plain balls to power my 1.2TLs effortlessly.

    I've moved up to a higher end hybrid integrated amp but if I had to sell it for some reason, I would seek out modded 565s to replace it.

    I haven't heard the GFP 750 but based on what has been written about it here by several members, I would think it mated with the modded 565s would be a match hard to beat.
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  • tbliven098
    tbliven098 Posts: 12
    edited May 2010
    Is there anything to watch out for when buying used amps? I've bought a number of used receivers just fine. Using a seperate amp is new to me.
    Thor
    Marantz 2270
    Polk Audio SDA-2
    JBL PB10
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited May 2010
    tbliven098 wrote: »
    Is there anything to watch out for when buying used amps? I've bought a number of used receivers just fine. Using a seperate amp is new to me.

    Try and talk to the seller by phone if you can, For one it will help you feel better about who your buying from, second you can find out how long the seller has had it?, if he was the first owner?, how it will be packed? (double boxed if it can be),paper work? any issues?, if work has been done, who?, what?,and where? If you buy local see if you can come by and audition it..

    Pay attention to their feedback, Audiogon, Ebay,even here.

    Good Luck;)
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited May 2010
    With some of the older Adcoms there were capacitor issues. Heiney9 can give you those details if you care to PM him.
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  • wayne3burk
    wayne3burk Posts: 939
    edited May 2010
    Used Adcoms in Wash. DC

    no affiliation

    http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ele/1719646922.html

    http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ele/1719840039.html

    How much power does it take to push a pair SDA 2s for their optimum performance???
    Yamaha RX-V2700, EMI 711As (front), RCA K-16 (rear), Magnavox Console (Center & TV Stand), Sony SMP-N200 media streamer, Dual 1249 TT =--- Sharp Aquas 60" LCD tellie
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited May 2010
    That 5400 would do a good job.
    The 555 would be a better choice IMO.This one would give you optimum performance.
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
    DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2010
    Personaly,, I'd go with the 555 and eventually have the cap mod/upgrade
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    With some of the older Adcoms there were capacitor issues. Heiney9 can give you those details if you care to PM him.

    Only the 565's and the 585 had the issue with the bad run of caps.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2010
    yeah,,, but,, can't you replace some of the caps in the 555 to tame it?
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2010
    I haven't looked into it.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited May 2010
    Some of the caps on the input boards can be upgraded as well as some resistors.I found some of that info on diy audio.
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
    DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
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  • tbliven098
    tbliven098 Posts: 12
    edited May 2010
    Great info guys. There is actually a 5400 on CL near my home right now for $200. (Fair price, yes?) I'm going after that to start with. I can always upgrade again.

    I'm listening to "News Travels" from "Finding Nemo" right now with the SDA's and the Marantz right now. It sounds beautiful right now. I can't wait to upgrade another notch. Wow.
    Thor
    Marantz 2270
    Polk Audio SDA-2
    JBL PB10
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  • kp1706
    kp1706 Posts: 37
    edited May 2010
    george daniel wrote: »
    Personaly,, I'd go with the 555 and eventually have the cap mod/upgrade

    Any votes for who does decent mods on a 555?
    KP

    Receiver: HK 354
    Amp: Adcom GFA 555
    Front: Polk Monitor 70
    Center: CS2
    Sub: PSW 125
    Surrounds: Old Yammi's
    CDP/DVDP: Sony DVP-NC600
    Blue Ray: Samsung BD-D5700
    TV: Sony 50" SXRD
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,081
    edited May 2010
    tbliven098 wrote: »
    Great info guys. There is actually a 5400 on CL near my home right now for $200. (Fair price, yes?).

    I had the lower model Adcom 5300 and just a note that you need to "tie the gounds together" to use that amp with SDA's. If you are not sure what that means, it just means run a speaker wire from the left negative (black) speaker post to the right negative speaker post on the back of your amp to make it "common ground". If you already new that please disregard this post.
    Enjoy!
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited May 2010
    kp1706 wrote: »
    Any votes for who does decent mods on a 555?

    Here ya go buddy, I posted this earlier in this thread. Musical Concepts does excellent mods and upgrades on many models of Adcoms including the 555. Plus they offer several option levels of modification.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1331194&postcount=4
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  • kp1706
    kp1706 Posts: 37
    edited May 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Here ya go buddy, I posted this earlier in this thread. Musical Concepts does excellent mods and upgrades on many models of Adcoms including the 555. Plus they offer several option levels of modification.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1331194&postcount=4

    Thanks! Looks like they offer a few options as well.:)
    KP

    Receiver: HK 354
    Amp: Adcom GFA 555
    Front: Polk Monitor 70
    Center: CS2
    Sub: PSW 125
    Surrounds: Old Yammi's
    CDP/DVDP: Sony DVP-NC600
    Blue Ray: Samsung BD-D5700
    TV: Sony 50" SXRD
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  • kp1706
    kp1706 Posts: 37
    edited May 2010
    Conradicles wrote: »
    I had the lower model Adcom 5300 and just a note that you need to "tie the gounds together" to use that amp with SDA's. If you are not sure what that means, it just means run a speaker wire from the left negative (black) speaker post to the right negative speaker post on the back of your amp to make it "common ground". If you already new that please disregard this post.
    Enjoy!

    Do you need to "tie the grounds together" on the GFA555 or is that just for the SDA's?
    KP

    Receiver: HK 354
    Amp: Adcom GFA 555
    Front: Polk Monitor 70
    Center: CS2
    Sub: PSW 125
    Surrounds: Old Yammi's
    CDP/DVDP: Sony DVP-NC600
    Blue Ray: Samsung BD-D5700
    TV: Sony 50" SXRD
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited May 2010
    kp1706 wrote: »
    Do you need to "tie the grounds together" on the GFA555 or is that just for the SDA's?

    As far as I know that is a common ground amplifier and no strapping is needed for SDAs.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited May 2010
    kp1706 wrote: »
    Thanks! Looks like they offer a few options as well.:)

    Yes they do. I purchased amps with their mods and upgrades already done on them and have purchased their kit for modding Hafler amps in the past and by doing the mods myself I saved mucho $$$. :)

    BTW if you do decide to go with their DIY kits, the instructions are written down to an 8th grade level so there is no way that you could screw it up, unless of course you can't solder and desolder worth a damn.:eek::D;)
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,081
    edited May 2010
    kp1706 wrote: »
    Do you need to "tie the grounds together" on the GFA555 or is that just for the SDA's?

    Not sure about the 555 with SDA's.

    Ben would know.:)
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2010
    The Adcom GFA-555 is a common ground amp....Hearingimpared is right above.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited May 2010
    kp1706 wrote: »
    Do you need to "tie the grounds together" on the GFA555 or is that just for the SDA's?


    The GFA-545 and 555 are both common ground, so the grounds don't need to be strapped together.

    This issue only matters with SDA's. With other speakers, it doesn't matter if the grounds are common. You mentioned that you're using SDA2's though, so it's something to keep in mind.


    Like I said, I'm running my SDA 2A's with an Adcom GFA-545, and it's a wonderful sounding combination. Which version of the SDA2S do you have?
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited May 2010
    cnh wrote: »
    The Adcom GFA-555 is a common ground amp....Hearingimpared is right above.

    cnh

    555 is common ground
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2010
    sda2mike wrote: »
    555 is common ground

    and another vote--do not mess with the "bridged" switch in the rear.:eek:
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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