parasound or Adcom amp?

wlmdx

Hi,
My current set up is Yamaha Rx-v2400 and Polk RTi10s, CSI5 and FX3s. The sound is little too "bright" for my taste in music(2 channels). I can have a used Adcom GFA-5500 for $650 or buy a new Parasound hca-1500 for $799. Which amps will give me the warmth for my setup? If I use the Yammie as a Preamp, can I still use the tone control for the bass/treble? What do you like or dislike about there amps(noise,run hot etc...) Thanks in advance!

Early B.

An amp may help, but the brightness is largely a function of the speakers. The RTi10's are considered bright to some people. (I used to own a pair.) If they are too bright for your taste, you may consider moving up to the Lsi line.

danger boy

you may want to stay away from an Adcom. I use one (GFA 5400) for my fronts. and once i crank up the sound.. it becomes brighter, and brighter. Some people will say it's my source.. and i won't agrue that point. but the Adcom exagerates the brightness already present.

Oh yeah.. my Adcom runs pretty hot. Hotter than i think it should run.. for only being 125wpc high current.

dorokusai

The Parasound is a much better amplifier IMO.

keith allen

Man I know what ya mean about bright tweets,I have the RTi8's was running them off a denon dra 685 a pretty powerful 2 channel receiver and they would get almost harsh,so after reading and getting input from a lot of folks I bought a carver amp,I kept seeing "tube like sound" and "smooth sound" in the many reviews I read,so I bought one.Well it may have simmered em down a little bit but not near enough,so I purchased a carver preamp....much better,but at times could get a little harsh still,so next I bought a real good cd player,replacing my run of the mill onkyo with a music hall...that was the trick man!Not going to say it has tube sound,but it has smooth warm sound.It sounded more like I upgraded speakers,as my neighbor commented"sounds like you put another grand in your speakers

cfrizz

I have the Parasound 1500A it barely gets warm when I push it hard, so I would go with that. Keep an eye out on:
http://www.audioadvisor.com for a B-stock 1500A for $687.00. It comes with the full warranty. This is how I got mine. It will make your fronts shine.

They also sell Adcom products, and are having a B-stock sale going on right now.

RuSsMaN

If had to wager on what was the 'key' influence on your system being bright, it would be the FETs in the Yammies pre-amp (drive) stage. I'll never own a Yammie preamp / receiver again. Amps, sure, pre/line stage - nope.

I'm going to assume that the RTi's didn't sound bright at the store, or you wouldn't have bought them.

Cheers,
Russ

wlmdx

Thank you for your help folks

keith Allen

What model is your Carver Amp?

scottnbnj

room acoustics and placement might be amplifying to the problem too.

)

keith allen

I have a tfm 22,its the same amp as a 24 ,and a 25...225 wpc I think.

Early B.

I'm going to assume that the RTi's didn't sound bright at the store, or you wouldn't have bought them.

For a while I thought the RTi series speakers sounded very good, but now I consider them to be "bright" after I got some Lsi7's.

fireshoes

I have a friend with a Parasound Preamp and Amp on his LSi9's and I love the sound of it.

The current RTi's are a bit edgy for my taste as well. If there's a common criticism of them, that's what it is. Hopefully Polk will tone them down a bit for the next installment.

hamzahsh

I think the new Polk RTi line is brighter sounding than the older one. I use RT800i and the sound is always been warm for both my music and movies for me. Trilams were the best! Too bad they don't use them anymore.

I use Yamaha RX-V1400 pre/pro same as 2400 and I use Adcom GFA-7805 amp for my Center and surrounds and the sound is warm. Adcoms are warmer sounding amps very robust. The problem is the silk dome tweeter in your Polks.

If I've have to buy new Polk speakers. I'll get the LSi but I won't buy the RTi line at all. I'll get the B&W or Paradigm instead.