Adcom GFA-555 (original?)

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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,650
    edited January 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    .. soft starts and the like are more detrimental than good.
    Since a soft starts purpose is merely to ramp up the AC voltage slowly it will in no way be detrimental to the sonics of the amp.(it is not in the signal path)But in all likelihood you would only find a soft start in a a well engineered high end amp.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,406
    edited January 2011
    nguyendot wrote: »
    H9 already answered that.

    I partially answered it and Fred finished it by stating it's not the best choice for pure sound. Probably one of the reason's I prefer the series (I) amps a little bit more.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited January 2011
    Just need to find another series I to mate with this and I can do some biamp goodness.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited January 2011
    I own an original gfa555 industrial model w/ the handles and have had absolutely no prpblems w/ it ever. I play it all day and barely gets warm and the shape I got it in was
    pristine. I bought it sight and sound unseen from Audio Classics and paid an even $300
    w/ shipping. Now only if I can find a decent Mac c-28 pre to make my day .
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,406
    edited January 2011
    FTGV wrote: »
    Since a soft starts purpose is merely to ramp up the AC voltage slowly it will in no way be detrimental to the sonics of the amp.(it is not in the signal path)But in all likelihood you would only find a soft start in a a well engineered high end amp.

    Guess I was mixing up my terms. I was thinking, muting relays, current limiters and output protection scheme's, not soft starts.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • debussyj
    debussyj Posts: 198
    edited January 2011
    Hmm, Such memories. I have two original 555's that I bought brand spankin' new back in the 80's. Since the Adcom warehouse was in NJ back in those days the techs often took them in for upgrades, etc. They still power my 2 channel rig to this day and barely get warm doing so. Love them. Now I feel really old!
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2011
    debussyj wrote: »
    Hmm, Such memories. I have two original 555's that I bought brand spankin' new back in the 80's. Since the Adcom warehouse was in NJ back in those days the techs often took them in for upgrades, etc. They still power my 2 channel rig to this day and barely get warm doing so. Love them. Now I feel really old!

    I think I'm the 3rd or 4th owner of mine. I've always been amazed by how little this amp is taxed by most loads? I doubt if mine even rises a several degrees above room temps? And they pretty much REFUSE to DIE. Something to be said for good sound in a durable design!

    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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  • DON73
    DON73 Posts: 516
    edited January 2011
    I have an ADCOM 555II playing ADS 880 speakers and the sound is wonderful. I'm using the preamp output of my Integra 7.6 receiver and with the Adcom I can turn the volume knob to -0db. and there is no distortion at all in either the Amp or the speakers. I don't listen at that volume but I was playing Jennifer Warren's "Way Down" and most amps and speakers start to sound distorted long before I get to the volume of the Adcom. It's as good as any other amp I've tried and better than most. Only my Adcom 5800 equals the sound from the 555II. The ADS 880 speakers produce a wider and taller sound stage than my Monitor 7s with no hole in the center......great speakers!
    TO ERR IS HUMAN. TO FORGIVE IS CANINE.
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited February 2011
    I got mine from AUDIO Classics for $3oo w/ shipping and couldn't be happier. Firstly you can run it all day long and it doen' even get warm.Truth be told I would prefer to have a Mac c-28 pre but my Onkyo p-301 is silent and does all I need. IF I was to get a McIntosh2105 or the Adcom it would be the Mac hands down but for price and a very clean 200wpc you can't go wrong. Btw there all over E-BAY and with shipping and not knowing it's lineage your gambling. Also I have what I call the indutrial 555 w/ the handles.It's a fine amp......lw
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited February 2011
    I used my 555 with a C26 preamp and wansn't terribly impressed.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited February 2011
    leftwinger57 wrote: »
    I got mine from AUDIO Classics for $3oo w/ shipping and couldn't be happier. Firstly you can run it all day long and it doen' even get warm.Truth be told I would prefer to have a Mac c-28 pre but my Onkyo p-301 is silent and does all I need. IF I was to get a McIntosh2105 or the Adcom it would be the Mac hands down but for price and a very clean 200wpc you can't go wrong. Btw there all over E-BAY and with shipping and not knowing it's lineage your gambling. Also I have what I call the indutrial 555 w/ the handles.It's a fine amp......lw

    I have both a 2105 and the adcom 555. Honestly it depends on what speakers I am running. The 555 sounds good on my def techs but sounds like crap on my JMLABS 815. The McIntosh sounds better on my JM Labs 815 but sounds muddy on the def techs. On my sda, the McIntosh give a bit more on the low end but the adcom is a bit clearer in the mids.


    Its all about synergy my friend.
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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