Under powered?

NJPOLKER

Its been awhile since I have had time on my hands to listen to my stereo system for more than a few tunes. Golf season is in full swing, no pun intended, so I have been real busy.
My SRSII's are great with the upgraded x-overs and RDO's and so is my Arcam CD player. I know the Adcom 5400 amp is good and the GTP-450 is good too but not powerful enough I guess. If I run the Pre-amp at 11:00 to 12:00 o'clock one of the channels will shut down after listening for maybe 15-20 minutes. I even took a regular room fan and blew air in the direction of the amp to try to cool it alittle.

Could I be doing something wrong other than listening to my music kinda loud?
Could I injure my speakers?
My basement is big so I guess I need alot more power/watts and current.

Thanks for any suggestions, Drew

fbm211

Your amp may need serviced.There is a guy in your state that does adcoms.I sent my monoblocks to him for repair and he did a great job.I would suggest more power for those speakers though.Like at least a 555II or 5800.Anyway the name of his buisness is EBC Electronics. ebcelectronics@verizon.net Hope that helps you out.

amulford

Your amp shouldn't do that. I'd send it out.

danger boy

yikes.. 11 or 12 o'clock is pretty loud.. as least for me i would never be able to stand it that loud. i know all amps and pre amps are differently built. but dang.. i can only go as high as 9 0'clock before it blows my ears out.

i think your amp is in need of service or it's not the right amp for your SRSII's. I didn't trust my Adcom with my SDA's.

I'm using a NAD 2600A amp right now.. thing is rock solid. I mean it won't even get warm after hours of use.. it's a cool running amp. unlike my Adcom GFA 5400 which would be scorching hot after about 15 mins of use.

candyliquor35m

Are you sure your polyswitch isn't tripping?

amulford

If only his tweeters were cutting out you might have a valid question...

My basement is big so I guess I need alot more power/watts and current.

Maybe.

NJPOLKER

Thanks for your suggestions.
I have read that we need alot of good clean watts/current to properly run SDA/SRS speakers. I am thinking I have some good clean watts/current but just not enough.
I will call Adcom tomorrow to review things.
I am considering sending the Carver M-1.5t I have in my closet to Rolland for a rebuild then buy a pre-amp that matches it well.
Oh well, so many choices.

engtaz

The M1.5T will really do them right.

engtaz

heiney9

NJPOLKER wrote: »

Thanks for your suggestions.
I have read that we need alot of good clean watts/current to properly run SDA/SRS speakers. I am thinking I have some good clean watts/current but just not enough.
I will call Adcom tomorrow to review things.
I am considering sending the Carver M-1.5t I have in my closet to Rolland for a rebuild then buy a pre-amp that matches it well.
Oh well, so many choices.

I run a 545 (the earlier version of the 5400) with my 1C's without a single problem. Plenty of power and volume. I'm not in a large room but it's medium sized. Maybe you are having an issue with your amp. The SRS 2's a little harder to drive than my 1C's but it's not night and day.

Al, we have been over your Adcom 5500 issue several times, it wasn't common ground that's why you were having an issue.

NJ, I bet your 5400 isn't common ground and that's where the issue might lie. Call Adcom and find out for sure. If it turns out it's not common ground you are lucky no damage has occurred to the amp or speakers.

For the 1000th time

Adcom 5500, 5800, 5802, 585, 565 are NOT common ground amps. I'm beginning to suspect the 5400 is the same way.

Good luck

and Al quite blaming the Adcom 5500 you own(ed), :). You always make it sound like the amp is unreliable when it's the damn SDA's that are the peculiar ones

H9

NJPOLKER

My Adcom 5400 is not common ground so I ran a wire between the terminals on the back of the amp.
Drew

heiney9

Well then your set as far as that goes. Perhaps it is having some issue.

Good luck

H9

zingo

I would focus on the M1.5t as that would be a good option for you.

heiney9

I'd focus on why the Adcom, which is perfectly capable, has an issue and then get a different (better) pre-amp.

dkg999

I'm going to focus on one statement in his OP - upgraded x-overs. Have you made sure what you did isn't causing a problem? I'm no expert but if the problem started occuring after that upgrade, then it might not hurt to check them.

dcmeigs

Are you sure that the problem is in the amp. It could be the pre.

zingo

dkg999 wrote: »

I'm going to focus on one statement in his OP - upgraded x-overs. Have you made sure what you did isn't causing a problem? I'm no expert but if the problem started occuring after that upgrade, then it might not hurt to check them.

Good thinking.

NJPOLKER

HHMMMMM maybe I will re-try my Cambridge Audio again and see what happens.
The x-overs are fine with out a doubt.
Thanks always Drew

NJPOLKER

I have swapped out my Adcom 5400 amp with my Carver M-1.5t a couple weeks ago. Today I had time to listen for an extended period of time and can say I perfer the Carver. I just finished listening to lots of different tunes but after listening to The Voice and Scarborough Fair by Celtic Woman I was convinced I like the Craver alot. I was able to hear everything in more detail. I do not listen to celtic music often but those two tunes are terrific. I did speak with the tech's at Adcom and the general concesus was I am over driving the amp and can send in for inspection. I really don't think there is anything wrong with the Adcom 5400, its just me cranking tunes to the max and loving it. I will either send the Carver to Rolland for a re-build and or sell the Adcom 5400, Adcom GTP450, Carver M-1.5t, and give a good look at the Rotel 1080 or 1090.
I gotta say it again, the SRSII's are awesome to say the least.
Drew

Dennis Gardner

That Adcom isn't common ground thus it shuts down when it senses the SDA signal as feedback. I can shut down one of my non-common ground amps that is rated for 450wpc into 4ohms when run hard into my CRS+.

stubby

If your going to consider other brands of pre/amplification, I would throw Acurus into the hat. After living with mine for several months now, I can say they are one of the most transparent pre/amp combos I've heard. Muscle when it's needed, but never forceful. Runs cool, never breaks a sweat even when your pushin' it. Dead quiet background. They run a little more dough than some other units on the used market, but they are simple and built like a tank. Fully discrete design. And common ground. Just something to think about.;)
stubby

NJPOLKER

I am well aware of the non common ground issue thats why I tied the terminals together.