Adcom GFA-2 or GFA-545?

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HTguru1982
HTguru1982 Posts: 1,066
edited August 2011 in Electronics
Both of these amps are available locally. The GFA-2 is $100 while the GFA-545 is $125. I know the 545 is well renowned but can't find much on the GFA-2. I'm leaning more towards the 545 but would like some opinions. I'll be using the amp to power my Monitor 7's. Thanks!
Display: Sony 42" LCD
Sources: Harman Kardon DVD-27,
Panasonic DMP-BDT110 blu ray player
AVR: Sony STR-DA2400ES
Amps: Sonance Sonamp 260(fronts),
Kenwood KM-894(surrounds)
Fronts: NHT 2.5
Center: NHT VS-1.2A
Surrounds: NHT Super One
Subwoofer: SVS PB10-ISD
Post edited by HTguru1982 on
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  • nwohlford
    nwohlford Posts: 700
    edited August 2011
    I would go for the gfa-545. In general, I have always heard that the gfa-5x5 series was better designed than the gfa-1 and gfa-2. If nothing else, I think that gfa-545 is worth $25 more since it is newer.
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,176
    edited August 2011
    Don't know anything about the GFA-1 but if I could find a 545 locally at that price I would be all over it! Using the AVR as a pre I presume?
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    edited August 2011
    This is a no brainer, run, don't walk, hopefully someone hasn't snatched up the 545 yet!!!!
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  • HTguru1982
    HTguru1982 Posts: 1,066
    edited August 2011
    I had put up a wanted ad on Craigslist for a 2 channel amp. The seller hasn't actually put it up for sale yet so I'm good. I told him I'll be able to pick it up tomorrow and it looks like that is exactly what I'm going to do. Thanks guys!
    Display: Sony 42" LCD
    Sources: Harman Kardon DVD-27,
    Panasonic DMP-BDT110 blu ray player
    AVR: Sony STR-DA2400ES
    Amps: Sonance Sonamp 260(fronts),
    Kenwood KM-894(surrounds)
    Fronts: NHT 2.5
    Center: NHT VS-1.2A
    Surrounds: NHT Super One
    Subwoofer: SVS PB10-ISD
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,308
    edited August 2011
    545 is the best sounding overall in the 5x5 series.
    "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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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited August 2011
    i have a 555...i've heard that most prefer the 545 and 535...i haven't heard a lot about the older series...i'd snag the 545 at that price as long as it's healthy
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited August 2011
    I'd add to the votes for the 545. I have one of those and a 555. Not sure which I think is better because I have two different pre-s on them. I'd have to use a common pre to evaluate.

    Having said that. One of my favorite little systems, and Brock knows this since he ran one a while back well before me, is my GFA-545 and a Nakamichi CA-5 pre. Very nice, a great 'value' and you'd be hard pressed to do better at this price point.

    Good Luck!

    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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  • HTguru1982
    HTguru1982 Posts: 1,066
    edited August 2011
    After a bit of miscommunication with the seller, I was finally able to pick up the 545. He even took $10 off the price.

    I was extremely tired by the time I got it home(no sleep and a 2 hour drive). Still, that didn't deter me from hooking it up. I initially messed up and ran my RCA cables from my receiver's surround preouts to the amp. After I corrected my mistake(again, tired), I popped in a dvd and while I wasn't completely blown away, I did notice a much cleaner and noticeably less restrained midrange. With my daughter sleeping, I didn't run it anywhere close to reference levels. But I really liked what I heard. I'll run it through its paces later today.

    I only have a couple of questions regarding the amp. Is the original 545 prone to leaky capacitors like the the Series II? And I know some amps have popping issues on start up but is it normal to hear popping when switching chapters on dvd's? It isn't a loud pop and I don't think there's a risk of possible damage to the speakers but it's still there. I suspect it's normal but want to make sure.
    Display: Sony 42" LCD
    Sources: Harman Kardon DVD-27,
    Panasonic DMP-BDT110 blu ray player
    AVR: Sony STR-DA2400ES
    Amps: Sonance Sonamp 260(fronts),
    Kenwood KM-894(surrounds)
    Fronts: NHT 2.5
    Center: NHT VS-1.2A
    Surrounds: NHT Super One
    Subwoofer: SVS PB10-ISD
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,308
    edited August 2011
    HTguru1982 wrote: »

    I only have a couple of questions regarding the amp. Is the original 545 prone to leaky capacitors like the the Series II? And I know some amps have popping issues on start up but is it normal to hear popping when switching chapters on dvd's? It isn't a loud pop and I don't think there's a risk of possible damage to the speakers but it's still there. I suspect it's normal but want to make sure.

    Again, the ONLY Adcom amps that had a bad run of caps were SOME GFA 585's and GFA 565 mono blocks. Adcom received a bad run of caps from an outside vendor and those are the ONLY models affected by that problem, and not every model is affected.

    That said, caps can leak when they expire, so while it's not a known issue it is a property of electrolytic capacitors that does happen with age.

    Popping is usually an issue at the source.

    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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  • HTguru1982
    HTguru1982 Posts: 1,066
    edited August 2011
    Thanks, H.
    Display: Sony 42" LCD
    Sources: Harman Kardon DVD-27,
    Panasonic DMP-BDT110 blu ray player
    AVR: Sony STR-DA2400ES
    Amps: Sonance Sonamp 260(fronts),
    Kenwood KM-894(surrounds)
    Fronts: NHT 2.5
    Center: NHT VS-1.2A
    Surrounds: NHT Super One
    Subwoofer: SVS PB10-ISD
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited August 2011
    Clean the input selector of your preamp or whatever device you are using with deoxit. Sounds like your getting static pop from that.
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  • HTguru1982
    HTguru1982 Posts: 1,066
    edited August 2011
    Thanks. I'll pick up some up at H Depot when I go out today.

    Edit: Searching on Google, I found this on the AVS Forum:
    http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=777323

    Sounds like it may not be as simple as cleaning the connectors.
    Display: Sony 42" LCD
    Sources: Harman Kardon DVD-27,
    Panasonic DMP-BDT110 blu ray player
    AVR: Sony STR-DA2400ES
    Amps: Sonance Sonamp 260(fronts),
    Kenwood KM-894(surrounds)
    Fronts: NHT 2.5
    Center: NHT VS-1.2A
    Surrounds: NHT Super One
    Subwoofer: SVS PB10-ISD
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited August 2011
    Sometimes the simple things cause the biggest problems.
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited August 2011
    I have a gfa555 and thankfully no popping on powering up or down or whether the pre is on higher than it should be . I do remember a terrible thud that my friends' amp would make if he forgot to lower his pre.
    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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