Adcom GFP-750 - Really disappointed...

audiocr381ve
audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
edited February 2012 in 2 Channel Audio
...that all the hype is true about it and that I didn't buy one years ago.

It's early. I just brought the thing home and hooked it up less than an hour ago, but from beat one this pre tightened up my SDA 2BTL's to a point where I was a really confused at what I was hearing. Almost disoriented. I don't want to use one cheesy metaphor, but I'll say this... It sounds better, cleaner, sweeter, than ever before and I haven't even gotten the new amp on it yet (B&K REF 200.2 S2 arrives tomorrow). I have the GFP-750 running to the 'main in' on my vintage Marantz 1150. I'll post another review tomorrow night once I get some listening in with the new amp.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2012
    That's a nice Adcom preamplifier and a fine start to a cool system.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2012
    Thanks guys!

    Forgot this!

    adcom.jpg
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2012
    By the way, how are you owners running this thing? Active or passive?
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited February 2012
    Passive for me not a big fan of the gain..
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited February 2012
    Ran mine both passive and active when doing vinyl. Needed the extra gain.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited February 2012
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    By the way, how are you owners running this thing? Active or passive?

    Because I run the Dared through the processor loop I have the pleasure of going tubes, active or passive. It's the best of all 3 worlds for me. I run tubes 80% of the time and split the rest between active and passive.

    Congrats..........................and I TOLD YOU SO! :loneranger:
    "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 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2012
    Well it's no shocker that it outperforms the pre in a vintage reciever.It should sound real nice in combo with your B&k..
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    By the way, how are you owners running this thing? Active or passive?
    if your only running it passive you could have just purchased one of these.:biggrin:http://www.alps.com/WebObjects/catalog.woa/E/PDF/Potentiometer/MetalShaft/RMP_RK16/RMP_RK16.PDF
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited February 2012
    Congrats, I ran mine passive as well. Great Preamp.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2012
    FTGV wrote: »
    Well it's no shocker that it outperforms the pre in a vintage reciever.It should sound real nice in combo with your B&k..
    if your only running it passive you could have just purchased one of these.:biggrin:http://www.alps.com/WebObjects/catalog.woa/E/PDF/Potentiometer/MetalShaft/RMP_RK16/RMP_RK16.PDF

    Hehe, thanks guys!

    FTGV, seriously though, that's all it's doing in passive mode huh?
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2012
    Going passive really opens up sonic transparency. If all your sources have the output to "support" passive operation, and your amps input sensitivity will work--I highly recommend everyone at least try it.

    I got my first "taste" about 6yrs ago when I was without a preamp (between purchases) and decided to connect my CEC CDP directly to my amp--which has volume controls in the back. I was taken back by the neutrality, openess, and just sheer clean sound. Been hooked ever since.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited February 2012
    In passive mode the signal goes through the switching control and the volume control. IIRC, the balance control is not part of it, but I could be wrong as the balance control is essentially a gain control for the Mosfet's.

    About as simple a path the signal can travel.

    Whether I use passive or active is almost entirely source driven. If you have The Beatles remasters try listening both ways. I much prefer the presentation in passive mode for them.

    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 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2012
    Got it. I'll most definitely be getting in some listening today so I'll try it both ways.

    Just waiting on the FedEx guy/gal now to deliver the new amp!
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  • dbaldus
    dbaldus Posts: 730
    edited February 2012
    Out of curiosity, have you tried any other pre-amps or only a receiver?

    I had the same thoughts when I first moved from a receiver to a pre + amp - HUGE improvement!

    2-channel
    Squeezebox Touch| MSB Analog DAC | Audio Research Ref 40 Anniversary Edition| Pass Labs X350.8 | Wilson Audio Sasha 2

    Home Theater
    Arcam AVR 550 | GoldenEar Triton One | GoldenEar SuperCenter XXL | GoldenEar Aon 3 | JL Audio Fathom F113v2
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2012
    dbaldus wrote: »
    Out of curiosity, have you tried any other pre-amps or only a receiver?

    I had the same thoughts when I first moved from a receiver to a pre + amp - HUGE improvement!

    Yes I have. I had a great set of NAD separates about a year or so ago. I had the Nad C162 pre and C272 amp, which both have a great reputation on their own, but an even better one paired together. At the time I was running some Monitor Audio RS6's and those speakers were still bright on some music which is why I let them go.

    I've also had a number of amps, but not many preamps.

    Guys, the amp is in and is warming up on the system. My initial impressions are really good. Stay tuned for pics and a better review.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2012
    Rock it out! Yeah BABY.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited February 2012
    How does the Adcom GFP-750 in passive compare to an Adcom SLC-505?
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2012
    MUCH MUCH better and a more discrete design as well.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2012
    Wow. So far so good.

    I want to get some balanced cables between the pre and amp under $100. Can anybody make a suggestion?
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited February 2012
    ^^^ Try signal cable.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited February 2012
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    Wow. So far so good.

    I want to get some balanced cables between the pre and amp under $100. Can anybody make a suggestion?

    Signal Cable Analog 2 balance @ 59 a pair (not counting the Club Polk discount): http://signalcable.com/analogtwoxlr.html

    Signal Cable Silver Resolution Reference Balanced Interconnects @ 119 a pair (not including Club Polk discount): Silver Resolution Reference Balanced Interconnects
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2012
    Signals' balanced XLR cables are real nice.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2012
    audiocr381ve wrote: »

    FTGV, seriously though, that's all it's doing in passive mode huh?
    Yes, basically in passive mode it becomes a fancy source selector followed by a nice Alps 2k pot.
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2012
    Big Dawg wrote: »
    How does the Adcom GFP-750 in passive compare to an Adcom SLC-505?
    Well considering the 505 is purely passive also using IIRC a similar(
    though likely different value) Alps pot probably not vastly different sonically.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2012
    FTGV wrote: »
    Yes, basically in passive mode it becomes a fancy source selector followed by a nice Alps 2k pot.

    Are you suggesting I use it in active mode?
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  • PreCd
    PreCd Posts: 786
    edited February 2012
    I have the GFP-565 and like it pretty well. Really been thinking about pushing for the 750 lately and this thread may just shove me enough that I jump. Glad you are liking it so far. Please keep us update.
    SDA2BTL
    Marantz CD5004
    Adcom GFA-545
    Bottlehead Quickie Tube Preamp
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2012
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    Are you suggesting I use it in active mode?
    Not at all ,just being facetious.Use the mode that works best for your sources and personal preference.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2012
    FTGV wrote: »
    Not at all ,just being facetious.Use the mode that works best for your sources and personal preference.

    Heh, cool will do.

    PreCd, get one. It's well worth the money I paid for it.
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  • acmf74
    acmf74 Posts: 936
    edited February 2012
    I recently got the gfp-750. I notice on my system using the passive mode the music sounds very "veiled" but on the active it sounds open a fuller. Is this normal or could this be just in my set-up?
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  • scottyboy76
    scottyboy76 Posts: 2,905
    edited February 2012
    Great to hear such glowing words for the 750.

    I seem to remember a thread where heiney was talking about having to use jumpers on the inputs if running either balanced or unbalanced, cant remember which, did not know then that i would be getting one.

    Will be reading owners manual, but we know sometimes they can be a little lacking.

    Any advice?
    humpty dumpty was pushed
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2012
    scottyboy76 wrote: »
    Great to hear such glowing words for the 750.

    I seem to remember a thread where heiney was talking about having to use jumpers on the inputs if running either balanced or unbalanced, cant remember which, did not know then that i would be getting one.

    Will be reading owners manual, but we know sometimes they can be a little lacking.

    Any advice?

    Yea, you'll need them. Contact the seller and ask if they were included. If not, buy em' here and thank Brock (H9) for the link.

    http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/115/5157
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