• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Adcom gear

F

fcarpcarp

Active Member
A gent has these for sale: $700 for the three.

1 Adcom Stereo Power Amp GFA- 555-
1 Adcom Pre Amp GFP- 565
1 Adcom Surround Sound Proccessor GSP- 560
Edit- added full model number to last item.

I'm a little concerned about the reported brightness of the amp, but if I could near break even if I had to sell them later I'd be happy to give them a whirl.

Thoughts?

fcc
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Not sure about the other two components, but several GFA-555s have sold in the last few days on ebay, ranging from about $310 to $390 with shipping.
 
I think the brightness thing with Adcom gear has been way overstated. I used an Adcom GFA-555II with vintage Infinity speakers (which some also say are bright) for years and never felt my system to be anything but neutral in character, with tremendous tight bass. The treble was sweet and extended, with no edge or etch to it at all. Maybe if other parts of your system DO have a tendancy to be bright or have too much sizzle, then the amp might not be a good choice. If not, it's definitely worth a listen, and the asking price for the package ain't bad, and you would have little trouble making your investment back (and maybe a bit extra) on eBay.

The GFP-565 is a great pre-amp, very neutral sounding. I've got one that's probably going back in my bedroon system shortly. It features a really nice MM phono stage and multiple outputs if you want to go to a multi-amp set-up or feed a sub without using Y-connectors.
 
Damage said:
That price is on the high side.
Click to expand...

I agree. I track a lot of Adcom gear and I would put the individual components close to...

GFA-555 - $350
GFP-565 - $225 (the real gem in this bunch)
GSA-560 - $75 (I am assuming GSA-560, because the full model is not given)

This adds up to $600. You may be able to get a little more than this, but you could also get less. Either way, I think that price is too high. I would try to get it down to at least $600.

BTW, I would not worry about the GFA-555 being "bright" or "grainy". I have not had that same experience. You have to first consider what it is being compared to, and then be sure the source of any brightness isn't somewhere else in the chain. IMO the GFA-555 (and GFA-555II) offers a lot of value for the money, and sounds better than nearly anything else in that price range which also has that kind of power.
 
rroobbcc, that last item is a GSP-560, I've corrected the original post. I'll get clarification on the GFA 555 rev number.

I confess a surround processor is of no value to me, I intend this for a strictly 2 channel rig.

I wish I had a feel for the speakers, but as they are still under design/construction I haven't heard them yet.

I'm building a pair of Jim Holtz's Statements, but like most of my projects, I have to add bells and whistles, like the crossovers in a slide out drawer, custom SS legs, and ability to bypass the crossover and use an active crossover for bi-amping. This process is lengthened by my total ignorance, and is par for the course :)

fcc
 
700, is to much.. you wont regret the amp, the pre is good. i have 2 of those amps, i run them in mono w/ a tube pre. they sound great, and lots of head room.

regards
 
Thank you all for the feedback. I felt this price was on the high end but appreciate the confirmation. This seller has seen dollar signs in the sky and I'll let him rest for a while to reflect, or bid him goodby.
A good tuner is more important to me now anyway.

Tedrick (and rroobbcc), I'm with you on this. I much prefer a crispness and neutrality that most would consider forward or brash. The one thing that strikes me about live performance is the punctuation and percussive effect instruments can effect in all registers. IMHO I think this value is underappreciated in recorded music, which suffers for it.

Again, many thanks to all for your sage advice.

fcc
 
I hear you threejagstev, but when I near the nexus between the new and old my Emotiva amp tells me the same extraordinary advances in value are still on offer today, so the issue becomes do I accept the superiority of older equipment at equal price as a settled question?

Dang, just bought a KT-8300, guess that answers the question insofar as tuners are concerned.

But I agree with you, it's a very well regarded amp, and might very well suit me at a nice price.

Memo to self: Increase income....

fcc
 
Last edited:
here's some ebay price info on Adcom from a couple of months ago.

Adcom GFA-555 amp – 200 wpc @ 8 ohms, 325 wpc @ 4 ohms broken on/off switch - $305 + $45 – (17 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 amp – left channel distortion at hi levels - $208.45 + $40 – (13 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 amp – $276 + s/h – (22 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 amp - $300 + $25 (29 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 amp - clean inners - $305 + $37 (33 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 amp - $299.99 + $36.77 (23 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 amp - $330 + s/h (bin)
Adcom GFA-555 amp - $380 + $30 (39 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 amp - $325 + $18.05 (23 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 amp - $318 + $45 (11 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 amp - $355 + $30.13 (13 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 amp - $400 + $45 (24 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 II amp – mint - $410 + s/h (26 bids)
Adcom GFA 555 II amp - $382 + calc s/h (17 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 II amp – 200 wpc - 800 damping - $601 + $30 (19 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 II amp -- $392.51 + s/h (22 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 II amp -- $436 + $50 (19 bids)
Adcom GFA-555 II amp – mint, box, manual - $560 + $30 (20 bids)
Adcom GFA-700 amp – 5 chan. amp from 2000-01, 125wpc, 180wpc into 8 & 4 ohms, $1300 new, -
Adcom GFA-5300 amp – 80wpc, 120wpc into 8 & 4 ohms – damping 350 - $135 + $20 (8 bids)
Adcom GFA 5400 amp – 125 wpc @ 8 ohms, 200 wpc @ 4ohms (Damping Factor – 500) - $171.50 + s/h (13 bids)
Adcom GFA-5400 amp – mint - $255 + $39.50 priority mail (9 bids)
Adcom GFA-5400 amp - $284.75 + $27.46 (18 bids)
Adcom GFA-5400 amp - $293 + $35 (13 bids)
Adcom GFA-5500 amp – 200 wpc @ 8 ohms, 350wpc @ 4 ohms – damping 700 - $321 + s/h (18 bids)
Adcom GFA-5500 amp – Really clean & great pixs - $500 + $84 (21 bids)
Adcom GFA-5500 amp – mint, original box, packing foam and manual - $500 + $35 (1 bid)
Adcom GFA-5500 amp - $455 + $40 (32 bids)
Adcom GFA-5500 amp - $420 + s/h (11 bids)
Adcom GFA-5500 amp - $450 +$40 (1 bid)
Adcom GFA-5500 amp - $390 + $75 (14 bids)
Adcom GFA-5500 amp - $450 + $60 (1 bid)
Adcom GFA-5802 amp – 300wpc @ 8 ohms/450wpc @ 4 ohms - $336 + $60 (13 bids)
Adcom GFA-7700 amp - 185 wpc into 8 ohms - $450 + $50 (23 bids)


Adcom GFP-1A preamp - $132.50 + s/h (10 bids)
Adcom GTP400 Tuner / Preamp – $130 + $18 (11 bids)
Adcom GTP-500 II preamp – mint - $189.50 + $28 (12 bids)
Adcom GTP-500 II preamp – mint - $222.50 + $19/95 (16 bids)
Adcom GFP-555 preamp - $152.50 + s/h (22 bids)
Adcom GFP-565 preamp - $228.50 + 29.95 (15 bids)
Adcom GFP-600 preamp - $99 + $11 (1 bid)
Adcom GFP-600 preamp - $176.01 + $29.99 (14 bid)
 
VintInfinity said:
Do you run your Kappa 9s with it?
A 555 should be showing up in the next few days to power my 9s.
Click to expand...

Yes, VintInfinity,

The 555 was the amp I originally bought for the Kappa 9s, and it worked fine!

After about 2 years of 555 power, I had to have a pair of VTL Delux 300s. I tried biamping for a while, but it was too much hp for my 1200sf apt. I could barely crack the volume unless I ran the preamp at -20 dB all the time! lol

So the 555 has been driving a pair of Sony 3-ways in the computer room and the main system is currently hors de combat while I decide what to do about my speaker foam rot problem.

Truth be told, I'm really lusting after a pair of Martin-Logans, but both the price tag and the fact that the VTLs probably won't drive them are serious reality-check points. Maybe I oughtta just pick up another 555 and put 'em in mono mode... ;)
 
threejagstev said:
Yes, VintInfinity,
Truth be told, I'm really lusting after a pair of Martin-Logans, but both the price tag and the fact that the VTLs probably won't drive them are serious reality-check points. Maybe I oughtta just pick up another 555 and put 'em in mono mode... ;)
Click to expand...
Huhh?!?!?! The Kappa 9's are one of the most notoriously difficult speakers to drive and are known amp killers. I'd think an amp that can handle those would do fine on about any other 'real world' speaker.
 
Tedrick,

Martin-Logans are electrostats, and the best-sounding models are even worse than Kappa 9s.

The only reasons I could get away with running the VTLs full-range (strapped at 2 ohms) with them were I never put them in Extended mode, and the 9s' upper impedance dip occurs (as I recall) above about 16KHz, where there isn't much energy anyway.

Also, except once when the neighbors really pissed me off ( lol ) I never played them that loud anyway! :)
 
Thanks again folks, your comments were very helpful.
I gave this one a pass. I couldn't justify more than $500 (tops) without the processor and it was an all or nothing deal.

fcc
 
threejagstev said:
Tedrick,

Martin-Logans are electrostats, and the best-sounding models are even worse than Kappa 9s.

The only reasons I could get away with running the VTLs full-range (strapped at 2 ohms) with them were I never put them in Extended mode, and the 9s' upper impedance dip occurs (as I recall) above about 16KHz, where there isn't much energy anyway.

Also, except once when the neighbors really pissed me off ( lol ) I never played them that loud anyway! :)
Click to expand...
I'm familiar with ML's, but had never heard or read that they were tough to drive. Learn something new every day :yes:.
 
I had contacted this seller about the model numbers and to have him clarify the condition of the gear. Never got a response. I agree that the asking price is high, if the 555 isn't a Mark II. Sounds like you made the right move, for your own personal needs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom