Emotiva or Adcom?

dbaldus

I'm doing some research here before I pick up my first external amp, and I have found that I should probably be able to pick up a used Adcom GFA-7000 and a new Emotiva LPA-1 for about the same price (around $500). They are both right in my price range, but I have mixed feelings on which to get. Here is what I am thinking:

Reasons I want the Emotiva:
-Good reviews around here
-Has 5 year warranty through Emotiva

Reasons I want the Adcom:
-Brand is better trusted/been around longer
-Has more wattage per channel (130 wpc vs the Emotiva's 125 wpc, not a big deal)
-Retails at $1300, which makes me think that it is a better quality amp than the Emotiva, which retails at $500

I don't want to be easily fooled by the retail pricetag on the Adcom, but what are your thoughts on that? Is the Adcom a better amp than the Emotiva? By a long shot?

I'm basically trying to decide whether or not it would be worth getting the Adcom over the Emotiva even if I don't have a warranty on the Adcom because it will be used. If the Adcom sounds like it is worlds better than the Emotiva, I'll probably go for it, otherwise I'll probably just try the Emotiva out.

What are you thoughts on this? Emotiva or Adcom? Your 2 cents worth will be much appreciated!

dorokusai

Emotiva.

dbaldus

dorokusai wrote: »

Emotiva.

...why?

Early B.

Get the Emotiva.

None of your reasons for considering the Adcom are valid.

jwhitakr

I'd go with the Emotiva too. Biggest selling point in my mind is the fact that it comes with a 5-yr warranty.

mhartman29

EarlyB, you have the emotiva lpa. What are your thoughts on the amp?

Early B.

mhartman29 wrote: »

EarlyB, you have the emotiva lpa. What are your thoughts on the amp?

Awesome. Incredible. Buy it.

dorokusai

dbaldus wrote: »

...why?

I would take a 5 year warranty any day, it's priced right and the gear has a good reputation.

mhartman29

I already have bought it, but it hasn't arrived yet. So I was fishing for some more details to keep me sane until it arrives!

dbaldus

So you would all put the Emotiva in the same line of quality as the Adcom, even though Adcom has been around for much longer and seems to have "proven themselves"?

mjwilliams45

I've had the emotiva for about three weeks and it has made a dramatic improvement in my system. I use an Onkyo 705 as the pre, and I have no complaints other than my 12v trigger will only work for zone 2 (an onkyo problem). Saving money here will not sacrifice quality, get the emotiva.

dbaldus

mjwilliams45 wrote: »

I've had the emotiva for about three weeks and it has made a dramatic improvement in my system. I use an Onkyo 705 as the pre, and I have no complaints other than my 12v trigger will only work for zone 2 (an onkyo problem). Saving money here will not sacrifice quality, get the emotiva.

Could you comment on some of the improvements that you have noticed? Is it a night and day difference or something that only a true audophile would notice? If it is the latter, I probably can't justify spending the $500 at this point in my life (college), but if it truly is a night and day difference, then I'm in!

bobman1235

If you can't afford it, wait until you can. No amount of improvement is worth graduating college with even more debt than you already will.

brijenjas

dbaldus wrote: »

So you would all put the Emotiva in the same line of quality as the Adcom, even though Adcom has been around for much longer and seems to have "proven themselves"?

Buy the LPA-1

I've owned both, had Adcom GFA6000, and currently own the EmotivaLPA-1.

I would rate the quality of the Emotiva at least as good as the Adcom, very solid, great sounding, well built unit. http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=647497&postcount=401

Also to me , the Emotiva gear looks wayyy better.;)

dbaldus

bobman1235 wrote: »

If you can't afford it, wait until you can. No amount of improvement is worth graduating college with even more debt than you already will.

I appreciate your concern, but please allow me to clarify my statement so no one hear feels bad telling me to buy something that "I can't afford"

I have some money that I have set aside from my 3 internship experiences that I would like to spend on myself as a gift for buckling down at college over the last three years and getting those internships. I'm considering either upgrading my computer with a few new parts or getting an external amplifier. I'm currently leaning towards getting the amplifier because I use my home theater more than my computer for entertainment, but if there isn't going to be a major noticeable difference by upgrading then I would rather spend my money on the computer upgrade.

So what does everyone think? Is the difference in upgrading to an external amp going to be a huge difference or something that only a true audiophile would notice?

I think I'll probably just try it through Emotiva (at the very most, it will just cost me return shipping if I don't like it), but I'm interested to hear people's thoughts on this, especially those that have an LPA-1.

mjwilliams45

I am by no means an audiophile, but I do appreciate good sound. When I first got the emo I had monitor 40's for my mains and a cs1 center, my surrounds and sub are bic. I don't listen to alot of music but when I listened to music via 2 channel the difference was very evident. It really brought the background up, and the dynamic range just seemed much fuller. I then upgraded to rti6's for my mains and a csi5 center; the emo just lights these up in 2 channel music and ht movies. It's comes down to what your looking for. I'm very satisfied. If your budget is tight, amps and speakers aren't going anywhere, just hold off. The emo does look cool too. I think it's a no brainer myself;jmo..