Adcom GFA-555 on the way
Monster Jam
Posts: 919
Scored an Adcom GFA-555 of ePray for 237 bucks, including shipping. I hope it works.
This is my first external. I plan on using it to power a pair of JBL bookshelfs for computer use, BUT I may hook it up to my H/K AVR 525 to see if I will hear a difference in my LSi15s.
Call me a skeptic, but I didn't want to fork out $500 bucks or more on something I'm not sure I need.
This is my first external. I plan on using it to power a pair of JBL bookshelfs for computer use, BUT I may hook it up to my H/K AVR 525 to see if I will hear a difference in my LSi15s.
Call me a skeptic, but I didn't want to fork out $500 bucks or more on something I'm not sure I need.
Do you hear that buzzing noise? 
Post edited by Monster Jam on
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If that's in decent shape you'll be surprised at how much it will PUMP up your LSi15s...
Enjoy....Adcoms are a great price to power value in amps. I have one myself and it's a work-horse!
cnhCurrently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
I think if you put the Adcom on your LSi's you will not take them back off. It is rated at 325 wpc into 4 ohms. I can say that your HK will not even come close to that much power.Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
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You should hear a marked difference running the 555 vs. the HK on your LSi's. If you don;t (and I'm not being flippant) you should re-evaluate your whole audio future. The results would be the same even it the brand wasn't Adcom but a comparable amp from any other reputable manufacturer; ie; Parasound, Rotel, NAD, Carver, B&K, etc, etc."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 | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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Monster Jam wrote: »Scored an Adcom GFA-555 of ePray for 237 bucks, including shipping. I hope it works.
If you used Paypal to buy this, aren't you protected regardless? I have been watching some of these and the II series on Ebay..... -
When you guys say, hear a difference...do you mean in terms of sound quality at all levels or that the speakers will sound much better at higher volumes? Or...both? I mean, I'd love to get an amp to improve my sound quality...but I don't need my speakers to be any louder than they already are in my current room (I have RTi12s).
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From everything I have read, the cleaner, increased power an external AMP provides gives your speakers a much more detailed, fuller, all-around better quality sound - not necesarily louder. I am on the edge myself of purchasing my first external AMP to go with my Pioneer sc-05.
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When you guys say, hear a difference...do you mean in terms of sound quality at all levels or that the speakers will sound much better at higher volumes? Or...both? I mean, I'd love to get an amp to improve my sound quality...but I don't need my speakers to be any louder than they already are in my current room (I have RTi12s).
Yes, an amp what has more power will be able to reproduce the sound better at all volumes.
An amp that is putting out 10 watts of power, that can be pretty loud, and has the ability to put out 250 watts has more in reserver than an AVR that has 65 watts pushing the same 10 watts. You are making the 2nd amp work harder which can cause the replicatioin of the sound to degrade.
I can say most on this board will say that you can never have too much power.Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t -
From everything I have read, the cleaner, increased power an external AMP provides gives your speakers a much more detailed, fuller, all-around better quality sound - not necesarily louder. I am on the edge myself of purchasing my first external AMP to go with my Pioneer sc-05.
I'm in the same boat
I'm pushing RTi12s, CSi5, and RTi6s with an SC-05 -
Thanks for the reply's. I will bench test the Adcom to make sure it works on my guinea pig bookshelf JBLs before I hook them up to my LSis. You know, just in case it wants to blow up or something.Do you hear that buzzing noise?
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Monsterjam, I almost blew up a set of rt3000p's with a yardsale or goodwill find. A Marantz int. amp.
When I turned the balance knob..:eek:KABOOOOOM.:eek:
My wife came running in to see if I was alive.. A dead short in the balance pot. I only blew one tweeter thank GOD but it was the loudest thing I have heard in my life I think.Ken at cust. serv. told me what to do from then on, just what you're going to do.
Good going and good luck with the amp.Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
Monster Jam wrote: »Thanks for the reply's. I will bench test the Adcom to make sure it works on my guinea pig bookshelf JBLs before I hook them up to my LSis. You know, just in case it wants to blow up or something.
Congrats on the Adcom amp.Linn AV5140 fronts
Linn AV5120 Center
Linn AV5140 Rears
M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
Odyssey Mono-Blocs
SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D -
Good luck as well. I want to get a GFA-555MK2 some time... you got one hell of a deal if it's in great shape.Main Surround -
Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub
Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250
Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD -
Funny story Tony!
FedEx guy showed up at 10:30 Saturday night. 10:30 at night and he said he had TWO MORE STOPS!!!
Unpacked it the next day. Kudos to the seller (a pawn shop) - they double packed it and ensured it was well protected. It looked exactly as it did in the picture, dust in the heatsink vents and all. But really not in too bad of physical condition - the cosmetics aren't that bad.
I took some time to wipe it down with a clean cloth, hooked it up to the JBL 500 bookshelf speakers and then to my Creative Zen mp3 player. The speakers make serious hum and pop noise when I handle the 3.5mm plug that goes into the Adcom via RCA jacks. I found that the Adcom powered up properly, and delivered the audio to left and right channels, so it seemed to work. But it didn't get loud. It was clean, but wasn't as loud as I thought it would be. In fact, I'd say that my 15 year old Pioneer receiver would have driven the speakers harder than the Adcom. Strange, and slightly disappointing. I knew at that point I wouldn't hook them up to the LSi15s and would not consider ever buying another separate amp for the LSi's.
That was last night.
Today I ran some errands (rotate tires, buy spark plugs, etc.). Got home and turned on the computer. Plugged the computer into the Adcom, and viola!!! Its a Whole New World! (Yes, I listened to some Disney tracks) What the hell - the Adcom came alive, and is giving the JBLs more than enough power, and the volume slider on the PC is almost zeroed! Powerful, Lively, Wildly Entertaining! It also runs cool as a cucumber. Why would the mp3 line level out be so low and the PCs not be?! Strange, but extremely satisfying. I know at this point I will hook them up to the LSi15s and definitely will consider buying another separate amp for the LSi's. $237 bucks well spent.Do you hear that buzzing noise? -
It will put out even more with HK I would image. The PC and MP3 player are both low voltage sources I think...
Hook it up and let us know how it sounds. I think you might be surprised... You may only be getting about half of its potential running it the way you are..
Nik
