Adcom GFA-5802?
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twochannel
Posts: 170
Does anybody know if the 5802 is a common grounded amp. I have a pair of original SDA-SRS's and I'm thinking of buying one to replace my mono blocks because they do not have balanced inputs and the conversion kits for them are no longer available.
Post edited by twochannel on
Comments
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It is NOT common ground. This amp uses secondary windings. It's not compatible with certain SDA's. I believe if you search there is a thread, and the negative posts can be connected. But don't take my word for it, call Adcom or search the thread for a difinitive answer about the negative posts.
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 | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
Thanks for the information. I have the negative posts connected on my 565 mono blocks as Adcom advised. I saw the information on the their website about the secondary windings on the 5802, so thats the reason for my question. The 5802 has been sold, so I will contact Adcom to see if i can connect the neg's, if another one becomes available.
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I finally located and purchased a preowned Adcom GFA-5802 to audition on my SDA-SRS. I'm very picky about my components and this amp is in mint/low hours condition and was previously delivered to Boston Acoustics according to the shipping label on the box.
WOW! After several weeks of use I have decided to retire my GFA-565 mono's and have started auditioning balanced interconnects. I am currently using Audioquest King Cobra's. There are some trade offs between the 5802 and the mono's. The 5802 has a greater depth to the soundstage using either single ended or the balanced inputs and the soundstage width is somewhat narrower with less effects to the outside of both speakers. The 5802 also seems to tame down the sl2000 tweeters.The opposite is true with the 565mono's. I have also compared the 555mkII to the 5802 and have found that the width of the soundstage is the same, the depth and bass response is greater with the 5802. The only issue I ran into is a bandwidth problem using single ended interconnects between the 5802 and the GFP-750 preamp that I am currently using. Adcom tech recommended going to balanced cables and it eliminated the noise issue. -
I'm an big fan of Adcom equipment and the GFP-750 and GFA-5802 is a formidable combination. You probably already know but both pieces were designed by Nelson Pass and the 5802 is a Mosfet amp vs. the older Adcoms being Bi-polar based.
Enjoy as it doesn't get much better until you spend a lot more $$$ on components and even then sometimes the extra cost isn't worth it.
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 | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
I believe their are some new pieces about to be introduced. The 5802 was discontinued 2 years ago with nothing to fill that slot in the product line. I could not get any information from the Adcom Tech Rep other than the wait and see attitude.
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twochannel wrote: »I believe their are some new pieces about to be introduced. The 5802 was discontinued 2 years ago with nothing to fill that slot in the product line. I could not get any information from the Adcom Tech Rep other than the wait and see attitude.
Yeah well, Adcom is barely a shell of it's former self and I really don't expect anything groundbreaking from them. I fear they will be taking a few steps back and become average and mediocre. The company has been sold several times and the current conglomerate that owns them doesn't seem to keen on keeping up the Adcom traditions.
I hope I am wrong, but it is the state of the audio market today. Nakamichi just melted away to nothing and they were once on the leading edge.
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 | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
twochannel wrote: »I believe their are some new pieces about to be introduced. The 5802 was discontinued 2 years ago with nothing to fill that slot in the product line. I could not get any information from the Adcom Tech Rep other than the wait and see attitude.
I am resigned to the fact that Adcom has seen its best days. The management, technical staff, and "giant killer" mindset that put Adcom on the map are long gone.
I ran my SDA's for several years with a GFP-750 pre and GFA-5802 amp combination. I still have some remorse about selling them, although if I hadn't, they would just be taking up space in my audio closet.
I have also owned the GFA-565 monos and the GFA-555 Mk II and my experiences parallel yours with respect to their sonic characteristics with SDA's. I currently use a GFA-555 Mk II with a pair of CRS+'s in my office rig.Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
