Adcom 555 -2 vs McIntosh?
erniejade
Posts: 6,321
I have a chance to pick up a Adcom 555-2 local to me. I have not heard one. How would it stack up against my McIntosh 2105? I know on total RMS the Adcom is higher, Rated at 200 per vs the McIntosh at 105 per ( 133 w/o distorting at the last time it was tested 
BUT not being able to hear them side by side or on my own rig...
I have always heard great things about the Adcom 555 but I don't hear too much about the series 2.. In overall smoothness or musical ability, NOT in sheer volume, what amp of the 2 listed would me more musical sounding?
I like a solid tight bass hit that the McIntosh has but I have never heard the 555.
How much of a difference is there beteen the 555 and the 555 -2?
Rest of the system carver C-19 tube pre, Jolida cd100, polk 1.2 polk 2.3 and carver amazings for speakers.
Thanks everyone for an opinion that chimes in on this.
BUT not being able to hear them side by side or on my own rig...I have always heard great things about the Adcom 555 but I don't hear too much about the series 2.. In overall smoothness or musical ability, NOT in sheer volume, what amp of the 2 listed would me more musical sounding?
I like a solid tight bass hit that the McIntosh has but I have never heard the 555.
How much of a difference is there beteen the 555 and the 555 -2?
Rest of the system carver C-19 tube pre, Jolida cd100, polk 1.2 polk 2.3 and carver amazings for speakers.
Thanks everyone for an opinion that chimes in on this.
Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
Post edited by erniejade on
Comments
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I would lean toward the Mcintosh personally, but only because of reputation as I have heard neither amp. I have heard other Mac's and Adcom's in the past and just think the Mac has a cleaner, more accurate sound.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
nooshinjohn wrote: »I would lean toward the Mcintosh personally, but only because of reputation as I have heard neither amp. I have heard other Mac's and Adcom's in the past and just think the Mac has a cleaner, more accurate sound.
That is exactly what I was also thinking. I do own the Mac. but as we all know,,, we always "try" out different gear thinking one might be better then the other. I did hear a lower powered Adcom amp and I did not care for it compaired to the 2105 I have. I thought it was a bit thin sounding but, I keep reading raving reviews on the 555. so my still has peaked my interest.
I might just save up and go tube on the amp anyway lol. Although right now, I do like the tube and SS combo I have. One day I need to throw the sunfire sig on the 1.2's and do a head to head at " normal" volume 2105 vs Sunfire Sig II.
Thanks for the opinion. I think i might pass on the 555 -2 on craigslist here.Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's. -
I would be very afraid of the Sig II on the TL's... I would ecourage you to set it up in bi-amped mode with the voltage taps to the highs and the current taps on the mid/bass. This combination will probably bury the Mcintosh in all respects.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
Pass on it if you didn't like the lower powered Adcom. Which Adcom was it? I prefer the Adcom 545 to the 555.
The 5802 would be a better choice.
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 | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
It was a 535. When I heard it around a year or 2 ago, I had it up against my Integra amp. The Integra was much fuller sounding at low to med. volumes on my system. I just keep hearing great things on the 555 or in this case the 555-2 so I just always wonder how it would do against the McIntosh.Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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The Mac will sound warmer. Otherwise, I have no idea."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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I have both and prefer the Mac. The Adcom seems a little shrill on the extreme high end. Both are fine amps though.
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Thanks everyone for the input. I will pass on the Adcom.Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
