Adcom GFA-7500 THX amp

mdaudioguy
mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
edited April 2010 in Electronics
Saw an Adcom GFA-7500 for $650 in reportedly pristine condition. Worth it? What's the reputation of this 5-channel amp? I know it boasts THX certification, but how would it be for 2-channel use also?
Post edited by mdaudioguy on
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited March 2010
    I'd offer him $500
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2010
    It's a great amp. One of the last good amps in my opinion. Very musical. If it is local it is worth the $650 IMHO. I had one. It'll smoke an EMO.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited March 2010
    Also for $600 look at the Rotel RMB-1075, had one and loved it.
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  • JohnLocke88
    JohnLocke88 Posts: 1,150
    edited March 2010
    I've had this amp for about six months now. Love it. Way better than the crappy onboard amp section of my onkyo 705. Never heard an EMO, so can't speak to their quality.

    EDIT: As for two channel use, My GFA-5500 has decided to act up recently, so I'm using 2 channels of the 7500 with negative terminals strapped to run a new pair of SDA-2A's I picked up. Sounds pretty good imho.
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited March 2010
    Different seller than the one above that I asked about, but I found a GFA-7500 locally and picked it up for $450, including a set of 5 Canare LV-77S ICs from Blue Jeans Cable. The amp is immaculate; not a scratch! Sold my XPA-3 and pulled my XPA-2 out to be used elswhere (TBD)... In the meantime, this Adcom is TCB!! Anybody have experience with these ICs?
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited March 2010
    One thing I noticed right away with this amp - rather thin power cord. Anyone ever replace/upgrade a stock PC? Not the "removable" type... that's easy. ;)
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  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,068
    edited March 2010
    Great amp and a great price! I paid over $500 shipped for mine a few years back. I've thought about replacing the power cord but never done it. That was definitely a lame decision on Adcom's part. Enjoy!
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited March 2010
    dpowell wrote: »
    Great amp and a great price! I paid over $500 shipped for mine a few years back. I've thought about replacing the power cord but never done it. That was definitely a lame decision on Adcom's part. Enjoy!

    Thanks. I like it so far. Doesn't quite have the pop of the pair of Emo's I had, but why would it? They were 200W x 2 and 300W x 2, but despite this I'm pretty happy with the performance. Come Monday it'll be mated with an HK, so we'll have to see what the synergy is then... :)

    Yeah, if power cords can make a difference, this one is due for a replacement. Just wondering if that would be difficult or feasible. :confused:
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  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,068
    edited March 2010
    When I used my 7500 with the RT3000's, it drove them quite easily since the bass was handled by the internal amps on the RT3000's. Now that it is driving the SRT's, it's a whole different ballgame and the Adcom will not be staying long-term in my system. At 150wpc, it doesn't have all that I want it to have but that doesn't change the fact that it is a great amp.

    I suppose if I had the time and really wanted to do surgery on the amp and a really nice power cable, I would as I have noticed a difference when upgrading the power on other components.
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited March 2010
    Ed, your really rolling the gear in and out! Quite the addicting hobby?:D

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited March 2010
    Hawkeye wrote: »
    Ed, your really rolling the gear in and out! Quite the addicting hobby?:D

    Gordon
    Yeah, man! Guess what? I pulled my original amps and dropped this one in (not literally) and I used the 5 ICs the guy threw in with the sale - pretty decent looking, well-built cables from Blue Jeans. Sounded ok, too. After a week, I pulled the two cables for the mains and inserted a pair of the Scarlet Vipers, and wow! (again) - tighter and clearer sound! Love 'em - thanks again!

    I'm moving stuff in and out faster than my wife can keep up with it (actually, she quit trying a while ago). ;) I'm going to end up with a HT rig and a separate 2-channel rig in the same room, AND my plan includes putting all four Scarlet Vipers to good use! :) More to come...
    Later,
    Ed
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  • wnhs
    wnhs Posts: 2
    edited April 2010
    Hi guys -- just came across this thread. I actually have a GFA-7500, which I have owned and really enjoyed for along time. Not sure if this is the appropriate place for this comment, but I am looking to sell it as I am recently married and my surround setup is a casualty of wedded bliss. Anyway, if you guys know anyone who's interested, let me know. I am in NYC (hence the tight space) for local pickups. Thanks!
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  • wnhs
    wnhs Posts: 2
    edited April 2010
    Sorry -- didn't realize there was a for sale section of the forums. Will post there.
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