Adcom vs. Carver

ibewbrother
ibewbrother Posts: 186
edited May 2012 in Electronics
Here's the story...both of my Carvers are at the electronics shop for new meter lamps (still). I happen to have an Adcom GFA-555 that belongs to a friend of mine. I've held off hooking it up.. on one hand hoping my Carvers would be finished....and on the other not wanting to "pollute" (not sure if that's the right word) my thoughts on how the Pioneer sounds.

Now...after a while....I'm starting to get a little tired of the almost shrill at times highs of the Pioneer, but I don't want to corrupt my opinion of the sound when I get my Carvers back. I also don't really want to do the whole install deal twice...if I can help it.

Any thoughts appreciated ......as always....

Brother


also....I could get the Adcom as mine for a good price....Is it worth anything?
"Making life enjoyable through expensive electronics." BillD

Pioneer Elite SC-57
M70 series 2 mains
CS2 center
M40 surround
M30 front height
SVS PB 12 NSD

Carver TFM-45 (mains)
Carver A753x (center, surround)

320GB PS3, 42" Panasonic G10,

M60's as a Zone 2 off of the Pioneer in the living room

R.I.P. Onkyo TX-NR807
Post edited by ibewbrother on
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Comments

  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited May 2012
    I try out everything I can whenever I can. You have an opportunity to learn... take it! Your ears will let you know more than this forum will.:wink:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2012
    The 555s have always sounded like walking on a coarse sand covered, hardwood floor compared to the TFM/sweet/"tube-like" sound of the carvers ! (TFM-35 & TFM-55) I really don't like bright ! :wink: You might find yer heaven on earth however so, I'd say try it. At least you'll have the experience to compare with others later on.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,421
    edited May 2012
    Is that your opinion based on actual experience or are you still standing to close to that mule?

    The Adcom is a nice amp, and worthy of a listen. I am with the Falcon on this one... give it a listen and let the ears decide.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited May 2012
    Get those carvers back and replace those bulbs yourself. Very easy to replace.

    Definately give the Adcom a try.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2012
    Both amps are nice. They do have different signatures. Adcoms are not what I would call a "warm" amp but more neutral. Whereas Carvers I've heard do tend to lean in the "warm" direction. But do take a listen to the Adcom...see what you think! I own one and I can tell you that your pre-amp is pivotal here. If you don't have a nice pre or something that matches up well with the Adcom you might think they are coarse or bright. With the right pre, the Adcom just gets out of the way.

    I'm not surprised that the Pioneer might not like the Adcom, though. Among AVRs I own, an older Denon was the "best" match with the Adcom. And that Denon is certainly "warmer" than your Pioneer--not that the Pioneer isn't a great AVR. It just might not be right for an Adcom?

    Have fun!

    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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  • ibewbrother
    ibewbrother Posts: 186
    edited May 2012
    Well....I put the Adcom on the mains...and it seemed to knock out some of the shrillness of the Pioneer. In Extended Stereo mode it sounds pretty good (considering the other speakers are powered by the Pioneer....shrill highs.) In Stereo it sounds ok...except for the fact that around +2 volume the distortion lights start flickering. I figured that was a clip warning and backed off. I think I'll keep it going 'til the Carvers get back. (my guy said he would get one done this weekend.)

    I am curious now,though. What is this Adcom worth? What little research I did long ago said it was a 80's vintage?

    Thanks all...

    Brother
    "Making life enjoyable through expensive electronics." BillD

    Pioneer Elite SC-57
    M70 series 2 mains
    CS2 center
    M40 surround
    M30 front height
    SVS PB 12 NSD

    Carver TFM-45 (mains)
    Carver A753x (center, surround)

    320GB PS3, 42" Panasonic G10,

    M60's as a Zone 2 off of the Pioneer in the living room

    R.I.P. Onkyo TX-NR807
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2012
    Bunches of em change hands on ebay, you'll see the price ranges there and you can also consider the plus of knowing where/who it's coming from ! I always imagined that I'd like a 555 if I ever had some dullish speakers that needed some "waking up" ! :wink:
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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited May 2012
    Yep...Try that bugger and see what you think. One thing I have found is that Carver, regardless of price, seems to have mixed and competitive reviews. Pondering the sale of the 5/425 if for no other reason to get tubes. Any and all expanded view or knowledge is nothing but a good thing.
    Too much **** to list....
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  • jbooker82
    jbooker82 Posts: 1,627
    edited May 2012
    thsmith wrote: »
    Get those carvers back and replace those bulbs yourself. Very easy to replace.

    On the TFM-45 yes, on the A-753x not so much. You have to totaly dismantle the A series amps to change the bulbs (A-500x, A-760x, and A-753x)
    AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
    Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
    Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Rear: FXI A4
    Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
    TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
    Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
    IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited May 2012
    I'm certainly no expert on ss amps but I'm finding zero wrong w/ my gfa555.The thing can play all day and not even get warm as opposed to my avr that needs room to breathe.Mine was $300 w/ shipping included and came what I like to say slippery clean from Audio Classics.
    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: 25,171
    edited May 2012
    The Adcom is neutral and not bright. The Carvers are what I'd call warm and little more colored. Never cared for the Carver TFM series. Adcom all the way for me, but they are sensitive to pre-amp selection so you will need to experiment.

    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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