Adcom GTP-400 vs. GTP-500

[stonecutter2]

Hi there!

I won an auction on eBay for what was listed as a "GTP-400" combo pre/tuner. I received it, and it's a GTP-500. NOT (that I can tell) a GTP-500II. I assume it would be marked with the II somewhere if it were a mkII. I understand that the mkII lets you bypass some caps or something, to get different quality sound.

Anyhow, paid $75. Should i be disappointed that i got a GTP-500, or okay with it? Are there any known huge drawbacks to the 500 vs 400 series? All buttons/switches seem to work just fine, and I'm going to hook it up later tonight to my Onkyo Integra M-504.

I didn't have my heart set on a GTP-400 in any way, just wanted something to be a nice pre for my M-504, for my basement/entertaining stereo. Will be hooking up my turntable, cd player, 8 track, and reel to reel to it.

Is the incorrect listing a dealbreaker, or okay deal?

I appreciate anyone's opinion on the matter. Thanks!

 

[stonecutter2]

I read a little about how the 500 can have issues with the tuner (the one i have here powers up the tuner fine, haven't tried it plugged in yet, though), but the 400 didn't have that issue.

Also, I read some good mentions of the 400's phono stage. I'm assuming that might not be the case for the 500.

 

[stonecutter2]

Plugged it in, and it sounds great. Still making sure all parts work, but so far everything sounds awesome, even the tuner.

 

[Wolverine]

Congrats!
I recently converted my entire main system to Adcom and am very happy with it.

 

[stonecutter2]

Thanks!

I've decided to keep the pre, so long as the phono stage works okay - testing that tonight.

For anyone who might end up finding this via search, according to Adcom's history webpage, the GTP-500 is the predecessor of the GTP-400. It apparently is somewhat prone to tuner problems, unlike the GTP-400 (so I've read). The GTP-500 is circa 1986 or so.

After my wife left for work today, I really pushed the GTP-500 and the M-504. The sound is very open, nicely crisp and extremely detailed. There is a bright quality to it, - but I also have a nice Onkyo equalizer that can help me adjust the sound if it gets too harsh.

Miles Davis Kind of Blue sounded excellent

 

[audiojones]

I have Adcom pre and power amps and I think they're great. I used to have a GTP-500II but I got rid of it because of a MAJOR (IMO) design oversight with the recording switch function. The way that the switching was laid out you couldn't record from tape 2 on to tape 1. Tape 2 is my reel to reel and tape 1 is my cd recorder, so I need to go back and forth between the 2 of them. Other than that it was an excellent preamp / tuner and I never had any problems with it (neither has the guy who bought it from me a few years ago - I see him every day at work). *UPDATE* The guy who bought my GTP-500II told me the FM tuner section went dead a while ago. He says he doesn't care about it because it's a great preamp and he doesn't even listen to the radio anymore but it bothers me that so many of them conk out. I've read that it's caused by a defective trimmer coil supplied to Adcom at the time of that series.

 

[kevinw69]

I am new here and I know this is an old thread. But just in case, I just pulled an Adcom GTP-400 from my check out pile and wondered how to use it? I have a Rotel RA-812 amp to pair this with. Do I hook the tuner and tape players to the Adcom then just use the main out? or do I put all the other inputs to the Rotel and just run the Adcom tuner to the Rotel? thanks