Adcom GFA-555ii

audiocr381ve

Is one worth $300 is great condition? Would it be a step up from my Parasound HCA-750a or a lateral move?

leroyjr1

$300 -$350 is about the average for one in good condition. Never heard the HCA-750 but I'd take the adcom over that smaller parasound. For a couple hundred more I'd go after a HCA-1500 or something similar.

audiocr381ve

Thanks Leroy, any other thoughts on this? I'm driving a pair of 4 ohm speakers.

cnh

The Adcom will drive a 4 ohm load all day long and not break a sweat. But I agree with Leroy. Worth about 300. And more neutral sounding than a Parasound. Parasounds are generally, "warmer". This is really a call on what kind of sound you prefer.

Plus Adcoms are very picky about the pre you match them with. They really need a "good" pre to shine!

cnh

audiocr381ve

I'll actually be using a Pass DCB1 buffer as a preamp. I wonder how that would work.

My speakers are pretty efficient (I think) at 88db. Hmmm...what to do..

leftwinger57

the Adcom is my first foray into seperates and I couldn't be happier. I got mine from Audio Classics w/ shipping included for an even $300. The thing came slippery clean does not get even the slightest bit warm after running all day, and from what I hear and have been told it can push around and speaker load that this forum deals with. They are all over e-bay and do average 3bills just look for the one in best shape.Here you will get differing opinions but since I only know of one and it's the the one your after go for it.

kidglove13

I have been running the smaller 545 for a long time
And that gives me all the power I need for my SDA's
So the 555 can easily power pretty much anything with ease and $300 is about average rate
As others have said they are a little picky about pre's
I run a small tube preamp and I have been pretty happy with that set up
I do not know much about buffers

sda2mike

i have a 555...it's a hook it up and forget it's there component..i'm sure you know - get good cables

chandler9a

I also have a 555 original. Love it but starting to think about moving up the chain a bit. Something that would match nicely with my GFP-750. Thinking about B&K but I'm sure there are a good number of choices out there. Hard to beat the GFA-555 for the price.

hochpt21

chandler9a wrote: »

I also have a 555 original. Love it but starting to think about moving up the chain a bit. Something that would match nicely with my GFP-750. Thinking about B&K but I'm sure there are a good number of choices out there. Hard to beat the GFA-555 for the price.

Your thinking about the B & K and I'm thinking about the GFP-750. Maybe we should just be roomates? Ok, maybe that was weird. :cool:

heiney9

audiocr381ve wrote: »

I'll actually be using a Pass DCB1 buffer as a preamp. I wonder how that would work.

My speakers are pretty efficient (I think) at 88db. Hmmm...what to do..

88dB is not that efficient. The 555 will run them fine. You could look at something a little higher the chain too.

H9

audiocr381ve

heiney9 wrote: »

88dB is not that efficient. The 555 will run them fine. You could look at something a little higher the chain too.

H9

Yea, the shipped has sailed on this thread.

I'm actually getting a Pass F5 DIY amp from the same gentlemen I bought my DCB1 from. Should be a treat :cheesygrin:

FTGV

audiocr381ve wrote: »

d.

I'm actually getting a Pass F5 DIY amp from the same gentlemen I bought my DCB1 from. Should be a treat :cheesygrin:

Not likely to be a good marriage since the F5 has low gain so in most systems will need to used with a preamp having more than unity gain.

heiney9

FTGV wrote: »

Not likely to be a good marriage since the F5 has low gain so in most systems will need to used with a preamp having more than unity gain.

Have to agree plus 88dB speakers with crossovers isn't the best match either, better than some other First Watt gear however. First Watt gear with a couple model exceptions aren't really made to drive conventional speakrs.

You should seriously look at the Aleph 30 on Audiogon if it's still FS, offer $900. You can thank me later

H9

FTGV

A multi way speaker should'nt present a problem for the F5 but it will in all likelihood require some voltage gain preceeding it if you want to have any sort of reasonable output with speakers of average sensitivity.

audiocr381ve

FTGV wrote: »

A multi way speaker should'nt present a problem for the F5 but it will in all likelihood require some voltage gain preceeding it if you want to have any sort of reasonable output with speakers of average sensitivity.

It's actually a F5T, I don't know if that matters. But before my DCB1 shipped the gentlemen who built it hooked it up to his F5T and said they had great synergy. I guess we'll see!

Btw, he's letting me audition at no cost to me.

heiney9

audiocr381ve wrote: »

Btw, he's letting me audition at no cost to me.

Can't hardly go wrong there.

H9

FTGV

Synergy no doubt,enough gain maybe not.But since you get to test drive first you'll be able to determine for certain.

audiocr381ve

Exactly. The DCB1 is a great piece by the way, I hope the F5 compliments it. I'm having a ton of fun adding a little DIY to the system.

heiney9

If it all works together and the clone is actually a decent one, you should be ready to **** your flat hat!

H9

audiocr381ve

heiney9 wrote: »

If it all works together and the clone is actually a decent one, you should be ready to **** your flat hat!

H9

Hehehe, I certainly hope I do:cheesygrin: