Adcom GFA 555II...lateral move or jump on it?

ROHfan

I have a line on an Adcom GFA 555II for $300. Was wondering how much of an improvement I would hear powering my SDA 2s? Currently using an HK3490 as an external.

Denzel

I have Adcom all the way around... powering my SDA-SRS and others. I went from a Denon AVR5805 to separates a couple years ago. No comparison, the GFA555mkII for the SRS's opens up the speakers like never before. Your SDA 2's will really sound great.

ROHfan

Denzel wrote: »

I have Adcom all the way around... powering my SDA-SRS and others. I went from a Denon AVR5805 to separates a couple years ago. No comparison, the GFA555mkII for the SRS's opens up the speakers like never before. Your SDA 2's will really sound great.

Thanks for the quick response. I kinda had that feeling as well. Now I just have to convince the wife to take another road trip!

erniejade

I am going to take a different stand on this one.
the HK3490 is a receiver but, its a good sounding well built receiver. you might gain a little bit of power but, the adcom 555 is more on the nutral to bright side where the HK runs a bit warmer on the sound. It depends on what you are looking for. You might find it too bright vs what you have now.

ROHfan

erniejade wrote: »

I am going to take a different stand on this one.
the HK3490 is a receiver but, its a good sounding well built receiver. you might gain a little bit of power but, the adcom 555 is more on the nutral to bright side where the HK runs a bit warmer on the sound. It depends on what you are looking for. You might find it too bright vs what you have now.

The HK does sound very good but I'm worried about frying it, not being 4ohm stable and all, I think.

PSOVLSK

I was running an HK 7300 (flagship HT AVR), but it was running very warm. I added an Adcom 545 and I didn't really notice too much of an improvement, but the HK ran cooler so it was worth it.

That being said, your AVR may not be quite as good as the 7300 and the Adcom you're looking at is better than the 545, so you may notice more of a difference.

Oh yeah, I was driving LSi7, LSiC, and FXiA6 at the time if I'm not mistaken.

astar13656

I run an adcom 555 with my 2A's and it does a fine job.

I'd say take a chance and try it out!

xftman

At lease you will double the power from your Adcom. If your speaker like more power why not. Saw one on Ebay bid up to $390 + shipping. I guess $300 is a good price?

xftman

ROHfan wrote: »

Currently using an HK3490 as an external.

How do you use as external? Do you use the Main-In as your audio input? what do you use as your pre-amp?
Thanks!
Joe

ROHfan

xftman wrote: »

How do you use as external? Do you use the Main-In as your audio input? what do you use as your pre-amp?
Thanks!
Joe

Main In on HK3490, using Marantz SR5004 L and R pre-outs.

deronb1

If you still have the SL2000s in the 2As, then the highs can get a bit bright with an Adcom 555 series. I put a single tube buffer between my pre and amp and it helped soften the sound a bit, while keeping much of the detail that 555 creates. I later upgraded to RD0-194s and while I probably don't "need" to keep the buffer in, I do anyway.

Dabutcher

I have been very happy w my GFA 555 w my SDA's . Rocks real loud and good detail to my beginners ears. Paid $250.00 BIN EBay w twenty shipping. I feel I still want more power,but who doesn't when your rockin huge towers! Good luck,Darryl

gudnoyez

I say go for it. I have been running my 2B's off a GFA-545II, and just bought a GFA-555II for them off a fellow forum member, and will be moving the 545 to power a pair of CRS+s. The 545II did a fine job on the 2B's never broke a sweat, I can only Imagine how they will sound now with the 555II and will find out in a couple of days.

leftwinger57

When I got my 555 I was both thrilled and impressed. After being disappointed w/ my RX-V665 getting hot and clipping at high
listening levels I went and got an amp that both handle any load and reinforce my avr if I needed to.I told this before that I got
mine from Audio Classics for $300 even w/ shipping included which just about slammed every entry on E-bay w/ shipping added. I think it's not a lateral at all move but a major step up and you could also go seperates by getting a pre and still use your exsisting .
As for being bright or forward I think the determining factor there are your speakers themselves and not the amp. All the speakers
I have are of either line array, tf350s or Bose 601s, or ADC 303ax which are very AR 2X like all of which are not bright sounding
speakers.Bottom line for$300 or less go for a very clean powerful amp that will last for ages.

ddsski

Think of Adcom as the Chevy of power amps. If you have an old Asian unit, its an upgrade. I believe you're talking Harmon Kardon. I would consider Adcom a downgrade, major power improvements aside. Mine is the annoying piece in my system. It's noisy.
I'd rather have a top shelf 50wpc amp than a 200 watt piece that clips etc. You can put a classic old Mac 50wpc amp up against most anything and it will just plain sound better. Good power is better than a lot of bad POWER. Most folks look at power outputs like horsepower. They always forget to look at the other number-->torque or in amp terms, things like distorion and dynamic headroom etc.
Most important is the incalculable "listener fatigue " caused by inferior products. I'll gladly sacrifice 1-2db for quality.

sda2mike

i have a 555 with my 2btl's...it's a powerhouse for sure...the biggest sonic improvement is the pre, though

Bob in WI

" Im going nuts this evening. " ...... yep