Adcom gfp - 715

bobt

Anybody have any input as to this preamp? ..as far as i understand it's basically a 565..supposed to have the same phono section? Which is the best they made.

BigMac

Info. taken form this thread. http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80288

heiney9 wrote: »

The best pre amp Adcom made was the GFP-750. It was a Nelson Pass design based very closely on his $4000 Aleph P, which is considered among the best sounding SS pre-amps. The 750 is a dead neutral preamp in both passive and active mode. If you don't like dead neutral sounding components I'd steer clear of it.

I have one I'm borrowing from my brother...........it's dead neutral and when paired with my warm, open Aleph 30 amp it certainly sounds much different then what I'm used too. For me the jury is still out as to whether or not it has the correct synergy I'm looking for. That said, it's a fantastic sounding pre-amp.

The GFP-750 retailed for between $1250-1500 depending on when it was purchased. Typically mint units sell in the $800-950 range used with lesser units (many missing the remote) selling for $650-800. I believe you can still get the remote from Adcom, but if you find a unit w/o it I'd call Adcom to make sure.

The GFP-710 and GFP-715 are also among their better designs. Anything with a tuner in it is not the greatest and leaves a lot to be desired. The GFP-555 is also one people commonly see.......not the greatest unit either.

This would be my only recommendation for Adcom pre-amps

GFP-750
GFP-715
GFP-710.......in that order. Anything else short of free; I'd look else where.

Hope this helps

Linky to a review from Stereophile http://www.stereophile.com/solidpreamps/133/

H9

P.s. we were using the GFP-750 to run Ted's currently acquired (by my brother) BAT VK-120's since the Adcom is a true balanced pre and they sounded absolutely fantastic, dynamic, balanced, very open and detailed, not a hint of harshness. If it's good enough for those; it's good enough for anything

bobt

Thanks Big Mac....the 750 is great, but no Phono section. The 715 "should" have the phono section from the 565......the 715 once again..dead neutral..which is really what i want. Alot of people don't want that....

BigMac

I put that link up to show that while the 750 is considered the best by many the 715 is a goodchoice as well. While looking around a little more it seems like the 750 pre when paired with the 5802 amp is an excellent combo. Almost every post that I read said they sounded awesome together. The majority of peeps that sold theirs had remorse once they sold it. Seems like a worthy combo to me.:D

heiney9

The 715 is a far cry from the 750 so I don't think it's as neutral. If it were me and funds were not an issue I'd get the 750 and outboard phono pre-amp.

The 715 is better than the earlier 555/565 pre's from Adcom but it's still a middle of the road pre-amp. One of the biggest difference's (among many others) is the 715 still uses signal degrading switching I/C's and opamps wheras the 750 uses all discrete circuits as well as relays in place of switching I/C's.

The signal paths are shorter as well as it being a single stage gain path; the power supply sections are vastly superior in the 750.

The 715 and 750 are not comparable................the 750 is a much more audiophile pre-amp.

Hope this helps.

H9

P.s. I'll add (the gfp 715)......a decent choice at it's price point, especially used.

bobt

Yes the 750...even from Stereophile...is rated great. But not easy to find, dosent have a Phono section. The 715 has a phono section...which should be from the 565..which was"supposedly good".....
For the price..the 715....dose not seem like a bad deal....May not be an ARC..but then again dosent cost anthing close to it.

jm1

Just curious why you need to have the phono pre in the preamp chassis? This limits your choice of preamps as the phono section was omitted once CDs became mainstream. There are alot of separate phono pre's you can use once you decide on your system's preamp.

bobt

I have no room in my rack for stuff. The 715 is "supposed" to have the 565 PHONO section which was supposed to be pretty good.