Monitor 10a's...Carver m 1.5 or Adcom gfa 5500?

MJJCREW
MJJCREW Posts: 52
edited February 2014 in Vintage Speakers
As the title says...which is better? I have the Adcom and I am looking to possibly sell it to fund the Carver. My 10's have the crossover upgrade.
Need some expert opinions...I am very new to all this.
Thanks,
Jesse
Post edited by MJJCREW on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
«1

Comments

  • StantonZ
    StantonZ Posts: 444
    edited February 2014
    I didn't have a lot of luck driving ANY Polks with Carver amps back in the day due to the low impedance requirements, so I never really tried again; similar issue with Denon. Can't comment on Adcom as I've pretty much stuck with Yamaha (although had some good luck with Technics back in the day).
    Yamaha RX-A2050 AVR (5.0.2); LG OLED77C2 4K TV
    (4) Polk Monitor 10B's w/SoniCaps, Mills, and RDO-194 tweets (R/L F/R)
    (2) Polk RC80i (Top Middle)
    Polk CS300 center channel
    Analog: B&O TX2 Turntable, Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1
    Digital: Pioneer CLD-99 Elite LD, Panasonic DMP-UB900 UHD Blu-Ray
    Bedroom: Arylic Up2Stream AMPv3 driving Polk Monitor 4's w/peerless tweets
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • xjghost
    xjghost Posts: 1,101
    edited February 2014
    I would be interested in what people respond to this also. I am looking into an Adcom and would like some opinions on them vs Carver.
    HT/2Channel: Emotiva MMC-1, Adcom GFA-555II, Polk SDA 3.1's, Teac TN-300 TT, Polk Center and Sub.

    Bedroom system: Carver CT-24, Parasound HCA-800II, Monitor 10's

    Additional projects: RTA 12c's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TennMan
    TennMan Posts: 1,266
    edited February 2014
    You should read posts #11 & #22 in this thread. I prefer the Adcom over the Carver
    • SDA 2BTL · Sonicaps · Mills resistors · RDO-198s · New gaskets · H-nuts · Erse inductors · BH5 · Dynamat
    • Crossover upgrades by westmassguy
    • Marantz 1504 AVR (front speaker pre-outs to Adcom 555)
    • Adcom GFA-555 amp · Upgrades & speaker protection added by OldmanSRS
    • Pioneer DV-610AV DVD/CD player
    • SDA CRS+ · Hidden away in the closet
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited February 2014
    StantonZ wrote: »
    I didn't have a lot of luck driving ANY Polks with Carver amps back in the day due to the low impedance requirements, so I never really tried again; similar issue with Denon. Can't comment on Adcom as I've pretty much stuck with Yamaha (although had some good luck with Technics back in the day).

    What Polks were you driving? He's driving Monitor 10's.... the Carver M1.05t can drive those till they explode.

    Heck the M1.0t can drive my LSi 15's till they cry mercy...


    ______________________

    To the original poster:

    I personally prefer Carver over Adcom, but thats me. One thing to be aware of, just about any of those amps are VERY long in the tooth and should be considered for a recap.

    I know folks that can do a Carver if it hasnt been gone over. Adcom's dont have anyone I know that can do those.
    "....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)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    edited February 2014
    Was less than impressed driving any of my Polks with my Carver TFM-24 (225 WPC into 8 Ohms x 2).

    Love the sound of my Adcom GFAs driving the Polks!

    No, the TFM-24 is no M1.5 - just my two cents.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • trav0810
    trav0810 Posts: 1,056
    edited February 2014
    I'm not a fan of the M1.5t. It's one of my least favorite of Carvers amps. I have ran Polk monitor 10's with an M500t and an M1.0t. Both were more than adequate. That 5500 is a pretty decent Adcom amp. I do not think the 1.5t would be an improvement over it at all.
    The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.” -Albert Einstein

    Sony Playstation 3 for CD and Streaming
    Thorens TD320
    Modified Carver C-1
    Carver TFM 42 and 45 Amplifiers
    Polk RTA15TL Speakers w/Decato mods
    White Lightning Moonshine DIY Speaker Cables and Interconnects
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mr. Bubbles
    Mr. Bubbles Posts: 736
    edited February 2014
    don't have experience with either of those models but have used the Adcom GFA-555ii and the carver 1.0, 400 and 4.0T and prefer the Adcome far and away over any of the Carvers. Am getting ready to try some of my carvers in my HT rig and if I don't like them there they will be on the block.
    If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of Progress?!


    Monitor 5Jr, Monitor 5, RTA12, RTA 15TL, SDA 2A, 1c, SRS 2, 1.2TL, CRS, Atrium.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MJJCREW
    MJJCREW Posts: 52
    edited February 2014
    Lots of good info fellas....Thanks. On the second note....If I do decide to get the Carver is it worth $350??
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MJJCREW
    MJJCREW Posts: 52
    edited February 2014
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    What Polks were you driving? He's driving Monitor 10's.... the Carver M1.05t can drive those till they explode.

    Heck the M1.0t can drive my LSi 15's till they cry mercy...



    ______________________

    To the original poster:

    I personally prefer Carver over Adcom, but thats me. One thing to be aware of, just about any of those amps are VERY long in the tooth and should be considered for a recap.

    I know folks that can do a Carver if it hasnt been gone over. Adcom's dont have anyone I know that can do those.

    I'm looking at a set of sda srs 2's to possibly replace my 10's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • trav0810
    trav0810 Posts: 1,056
    edited February 2014
    MJJCREW wrote: »
    Lots of good info fellas....Thanks. On the second note....If I do decide to get the Carver is it worth $350??

    That's about the going rate. But IMHO it is inferior to either tthe M1.0t, M500t, or TFM35 which coiuld all be had for that price.
    The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.” -Albert Einstein

    Sony Playstation 3 for CD and Streaming
    Thorens TD320
    Modified Carver C-1
    Carver TFM 42 and 45 Amplifiers
    Polk RTA15TL Speakers w/Decato mods
    White Lightning Moonshine DIY Speaker Cables and Interconnects
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MJJCREW
    MJJCREW Posts: 52
    edited February 2014
    trav0810 wrote: »
    That's about the going rate. But IMHO it is inferior to either tthe M1.0t, M500t, or TFM35 which coiuld all be had for that price.
    Where can I find any of those? If I go with the sda's I want more than 200wpc....even with my 10's they are rated for 250 and I feel they are sorely under powered right now.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • trav0810
    trav0810 Posts: 1,056
    edited February 2014
    Don't be fooled by rated power. I was running my SDA's with a pair of modded M1.0t's and switched to a Tannoy Mosfet amp rated at 225 WPC. I have not been disappointed.
    The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.” -Albert Einstein

    Sony Playstation 3 for CD and Streaming
    Thorens TD320
    Modified Carver C-1
    Carver TFM 42 and 45 Amplifiers
    Polk RTA15TL Speakers w/Decato mods
    White Lightning Moonshine DIY Speaker Cables and Interconnects
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MJJCREW
    MJJCREW Posts: 52
    edited February 2014
    trav0810 wrote: »
    Don't be fooled by rated power. I was running my SDA's with a pair of modded M1.0t's and switched to a Tannoy Mosfet amp rated at 225 WPC. I have not been disappointed.
    BTW do you think a set of SDA srs 2 are worth $425?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,554
    edited February 2014
    Carver m 1.5 or Adcom gfa 5500

    Keep looking, there's a big, wide world of amps out there.
    If I go with the sda's I want more than 200wpc....even with my 10's they are rated for 250 and I feel they are sorely under powered right now.

    You have much to learn, grasshopper.
    do you think a set of SDA srs 2 are worth $425?

    Yes.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • trav0810
    trav0810 Posts: 1,056
    edited February 2014
    MJJCREW wrote: »
    BTW do you think a set of SDA srs 2 are worth $425?

    If I didn't have my 2.3's already...I would have been up to FW to buy those SRS 2's by now. He has been trying to sell them for a while, he will probably come down a little more.
    The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.” -Albert Einstein

    Sony Playstation 3 for CD and Streaming
    Thorens TD320
    Modified Carver C-1
    Carver TFM 42 and 45 Amplifiers
    Polk RTA15TL Speakers w/Decato mods
    White Lightning Moonshine DIY Speaker Cables and Interconnects
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MJJCREW
    MJJCREW Posts: 52
    edited February 2014
    F1nut wrote: »
    Keep looking, there's a big, wide world of amps out there.



    You have much to learn, grasshopper.




    Yes.

    That is why I am here! :-) learned how little I knew about my bike when I joined a forum and I am humbling exploring you guys for help!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited February 2014
    MJJCREW wrote: »
    BTW do you think a set of SDA srs 2 are worth $425?

    Yes, but as travis said, see if you can haggle him down a bit more, just because :smile:.

    And also like he said, if I had the cash (and more importantly a suitable room) I would have bought these already.
    "....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)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MJJCREW
    MJJCREW Posts: 52
    edited February 2014
    trav0810 wrote: »
    If I didn't have my 2.3's already...I would have been up to FW to buy those SRS 2's by now. He has been trying to sell them for a while, he will probably come down a little more.
    I'm probably going to buy them....offer $400 ?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,442
    edited February 2014
    trav0810 wrote: »
    That's about the going rate. But IMHO it is inferior to either tthe M1.0t, M500t, or TFM35 which coiuld all be had for that price.

    Careful the M500t is NOT common ground.....
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MJJCREW
    MJJCREW Posts: 52
    edited February 2014
    So the Carver tfm-35 is a better amp? Both of these are located in Indy.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • OldmanSRS
    OldmanSRS Posts: 419
    edited February 2014
    The TFM-35 has all the power you need but I've run one for 20 years and it never really impressed me. My suspicion was confirmed when I compared it against a stock Adcom GFA-555. My -35 Carver was very lacking in detail and impact over the Adcom. I've run nothing but Carvers on the 1.2s/other Polks and never realized what I was missing. The Carver sounds constantly veiled in the mids and top end on both channels. When played loud the sounds get mixed together. The bass is strong but not as tight as the Adcom so it actually sounds like more bass but it's actually more less-controlled bass. The Carver sounds like one amp reproducing all frequencies, and the Adcom sounds like one amp for each frequency.

    To be accurate I should disclose I bought my used Adcom with a Musical Concepts modification. It consists of bypass caps across the large caps, across the 4 small electrolytic caps on the input board, and across the bias adjust pots. There is a change in the feedback circuit providing some additional feedback. The internal power and output wires are larger as well. We compared the modded amp to TennMan's stock amp and he likes the bass on mine better. Said it was more detailed and discrete sounding. We're duplicating the mods on his amp to see what happens

    I have a set of 10As and the Adcom made the same huge improvement in their sound as well.

    You can get a decent GFA-555 or 555II on ebay for $300 - $350.
    '65 427 Shelby Cobra
    '72 Triumph TR-6
    __________________
    '88 Polk SDA SRS 1.2, with upgraded XO caps and Erse SDA inductors
    '86 Polk SDA CRS+
    '84 Polk Monitor 10A (Peerless tweeters)
    '05 HSU VTF-3 Sub (Original OEM)
    '20 HSU VTF-3 Sub (three more, 100% cloned)
    '93 Carver TFM-35
    '88 Carver M-1.0t
    '88 Adcom GFT-555
    '88 Adcom GFP-555
    '88 Adcom GFA-555 (upgraded/restored)
    '88 Adcom GFA-555 (a second one upgraded/restored)
    '05 Onkyo DV-555 media
    '89 Fosgate 360 Digital Space Matrix
    '89 Fosgate 360 Digital Space Matrix, internal surround amp bridged to drive only a center channel
    '91 Kenwood Basic M1D Amp
    '89 Pioneer Laser Disc media
    '89 Sony SuperBeta HiFi media
    One PGA2310 based custom built remote volume control
    Four Polk T-15's
    Four Polk TSi-200's
    Four Polk TSi-100's
    Two Polk CS-10's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited February 2014
    Interesting. Makes me curious how my M1.0t will sound on my LSi 15's when its back from a fresh refurb...... Should ship out friday this week :smile:..
    "....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)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • OldmanSRS
    OldmanSRS Posts: 419
    edited February 2014
    I considered getting my 1.0 hot-rodded but decided to restore an Adcom myself after hearing one. Let us know how yours sounds when you get it back.

    Greg
    '65 427 Shelby Cobra
    '72 Triumph TR-6
    __________________
    '88 Polk SDA SRS 1.2, with upgraded XO caps and Erse SDA inductors
    '86 Polk SDA CRS+
    '84 Polk Monitor 10A (Peerless tweeters)
    '05 HSU VTF-3 Sub (Original OEM)
    '20 HSU VTF-3 Sub (three more, 100% cloned)
    '93 Carver TFM-35
    '88 Carver M-1.0t
    '88 Adcom GFT-555
    '88 Adcom GFP-555
    '88 Adcom GFA-555 (upgraded/restored)
    '88 Adcom GFA-555 (a second one upgraded/restored)
    '05 Onkyo DV-555 media
    '89 Fosgate 360 Digital Space Matrix
    '89 Fosgate 360 Digital Space Matrix, internal surround amp bridged to drive only a center channel
    '91 Kenwood Basic M1D Amp
    '89 Pioneer Laser Disc media
    '89 Sony SuperBeta HiFi media
    One PGA2310 based custom built remote volume control
    Four Polk T-15's
    Four Polk TSi-200's
    Four Polk TSi-100's
    Two Polk CS-10's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited February 2014
    OldmanSRS wrote: »
    I considered getting my 1.0 hot-rodded but decided to restore an Adcom myself after hearing one. Let us know how yours sounds when you get it back.

    Greg

    Didn't hot rod it so much. Just got it refreshed to replace the parts that go bad after 30 years lol.... So if your thinking of the M1.0t MKII mod's I just went with the Opt 002 of that which will allow for more current to pass as needed. The rest didnt happen for me.

    I also modded the LED's (expect the very top) to be white, and had newer binding posts and a IEC plug added.
    "....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)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited February 2014
    Have you considered Parasound? I hear really good things about the HCA-1200 and HCA-1500 with Polks.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited February 2014
    skrol wrote: »
    Have you considered Parasound? I hear really good things about the HCA-1200 and HCA-1500 with Polks.

    I can second that. My RTA 11TL's LOVE my Parasound HCA-750ii and its just the baby of the bunch. I cant image what they would sound like with more POWA!!!
    "....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)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MJJCREW
    MJJCREW Posts: 52
    edited February 2014
    Well Hell!!! I am not sure what to do now!!! I have a Adcom gfa 5500 and the the wpc is the same as the gfa 555....The guy with the sda's is considering a trade for the amp even up....Opinions? I also have a message out to the guy with the tfm-35....amps seem to be in short supply around here for the $350 range.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited February 2014
    MJJCREW wrote: »
    Well Hell!!! I am not sure what to do now!!! I have a Adcom gfa 5500 and the the wpc is the same as the gfa 555....The guy with the sda's is considering a trade for the amp even up....Opinions? I also have a message out to the guy with the tfm-35....amps seem to be in short supply around here for the $350 range.

    Ok... I am getting lost in the dialog of this thread.

    You have a Adcom GFA 5500. You are or are not looking at a GFA 555? What other amps are you considering from CL? Also the guy with the SDA's is going to trade you his SDA's for your GFA 5500?

    Do me a favor. Post the amps you are looking at and links to the CL ads for them. There is a slight chance I know one of the guys selling their Adcom, but I need to see the ads as I am lost (but thats not surprising to those that know me)
    "....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)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TennMan
    TennMan Posts: 1,266
    edited February 2014
    MJJCREW wrote: »
    Well Hell!!! I am not sure what to do now!!! I have a Adcom gfa 5500 and the the wpc is the same as the gfa 555....The guy with the sda's is considering a trade for the amp even up....Opinions? I also have a message out to the guy with the tfm-35....amps seem to be in short supply around here for the $350 range.
    I believe if you do some reading that you will find the gfa5500 and gfa555 are different animals. I'm not saying you should sell one to get the other but you at should at least read this before you make up your mind. I chose the gfa555 over the newer Adcoms because it is a much simpler design and I got a good price on it.
    • SDA 2BTL · Sonicaps · Mills resistors · RDO-198s · New gaskets · H-nuts · Erse inductors · BH5 · Dynamat
    • Crossover upgrades by westmassguy
    • Marantz 1504 AVR (front speaker pre-outs to Adcom 555)
    • Adcom GFA-555 amp · Upgrades & speaker protection added by OldmanSRS
    • Pioneer DV-610AV DVD/CD player
    • SDA CRS+ · Hidden away in the closet
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,442
    edited February 2014
    maybe read this also:http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?39661-Can-Adcom-GFA-5500

    the most important aspect I would say is make sure you have common ground.....IN ANY AMP unless you plan on a dreadnaught

    and maybe this one around post 13-14 but it still stand on all I've said common ground

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?26816-SDA-SRS-s-and-the-Adcom-5802...&highlight=adcom%20common%20ground
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter