• 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 GFA-545: Pedestrian or 'WOW!!"

Natasha Bell

Natasha Bell

The Adcom Girl
Subscriber
I have been thinking recently about some of the components I had, and then disposed of (or were disposed of for me), and I have to say that the Nelson Pass designed Adcom GFA-545 was just really sweet. That, in retrospect it was probably foolish to get rid of it.

What made me think of it was several videos I saw on Youtube where they were trashing this amplifier. How it "doesn't compare", this and that... I generally don't get irritated easily, especially by Youtube videos, but this one was an exception. These snooty young guy (probably like 19 or 20) that made the video was comparing it to a Krell amplifier, then he had a huge Yamaha (which he referred to as a "piece of ****") which he called "mediocre at best, but at least better than the Adcom". :mad::eek: I just wanted to put on a pair of my husband's size 12 hiking boots and plant one into the guy's butt sideways. ;)

You know, perhaps my tastes are "pedestrian" as I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth (like the Youtube guy evidently), but I had a lot of fun with my Adcom (both the 545 and later 555), and in my view, they were certainly not "mediocre" in any way as they sounded fabulous... :music:
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Odds are if the GFA-545 sounds subpar in a given system,it's probably not the fault of the amp itself.
It could easily be the source(s),preamp -or- possibly the speakers/room,or just a lack of synergy between the components in that given system.

IMO this amp is a capable enough amp,but GI = GO as a general rule,and any number of things can go sideways after the amp.

Ask me one could easily do a lot worse than owning a GFA-545.

JMO ~ FWIW

Bret P,
 
Natasha Bell said:
I have been thinking recently about some of the components I had, and then disposed of (or were disposed of for me), and I have to say that the Nelson Pass designed Adcom GFA-545 was just really sweet. That, in retrospect it was probably foolish to get rid of it.

What made me think of it was several videos I saw on Youtube where they were trashing this amplifier. How it "doesn't compare", this and that... I generally don't get irritated easily, especially by Youtube videos, but this one was an exception. These snooty young guy (probably like 19 or 20) that made the video was comparing it to a Krell amplifier, then he had a huge Yamaha (which he referred to as a "piece of ****") which he called "mediocre at best, but at least better than the Adcom". :mad::eek: I just wanted to put on a pair of my husband's size 12 hiking boots and plant one into the guy's butt sideways. ;)

You know, perhaps my tastes are "pedestrian" as I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth (like the Youtube guy evidently), but I had a lot of fun with my Adcom (both the 545 and later 555), and in my view, they were certainly not "mediocre" in any way as they sounded fabulous... :music:
Click to expand...
Nelson Pass-designed stuff is certainly no slouch in the sound department. The Adcom amps are generally very well-regarded. I love my Pass-designed Nakamichi PA-5.

The big Yamaha amps are very well regarded as well - both the vintage home and pro amps. They may not be in competition with the best of the best, but they are certainly not "****" either.

I think he's a moron to be quite honest. And/or he has amps that need some servicing. Krell amps are certainly something to boast about, but there's this thing called "the point of diminishing returns" and the Yamaha and Adcom amps certainly surpass that point.
 
Natasha Bell said:
What made me think of it was several videos I saw on Youtube where they were trashing this amplifier.
Click to expand...
As NW said, all of Nelson's "children" are good sounding designs. While perhaps not as refined as his main line products, they are quite respectable. Do you know what his take on "GFA" means? :)

Interview with Pass

Natasha Bell said:
These snooty young guy (probably like 19 or 20) that made the video was comparing it to a Krell amplifier...
Click to expand...
Never took a liking to their overly dark sound, but they were great on bass. HP used a KSA-250 for subwoofer duty with his Nola Grand References many years ago.
 
Yesterday Christine and I pulled the NAD C 740 receiver from our bedroom system, which includes the Klipsch Fortes dcmfan recently helped recap, brace and reseal - and a pair of Polk subwoofers as speaker stands. In place of the receiver, I inserted a very clean GFA-535ii power amp which I found in Barter Town last week, and an equally excellent GTP-450 stereo preamp (with remote) from ebay (also last week).

The combo sounds amazingly good - Adcom acquits itself admirably. Not that these are my first Adcom components - I've owned virtually all the GFAs at one time or another. Good wow factor, imo.
 
Last edited:
musichal said:
Yesterday Christine and I pulled the NAD C 740 receiver from our bedroom system, which includes the Klipsch Fortes dcmfan recently helped recap, brace and reseal - and a pair of Polk subwoofers as speaker stands. In place of the receiver, I inserted a very clean GFA-535ii power amp which I found in Barter Town last week, and an equally excellent GFP-450 stereo preamp (with remote) from ebay (also last week).

The combo sounds amazingly good - Adcom acquits itself admirably. Not that these are my first Adcom components - I've owned virtually all the GFAs at one time or another. Good wow factor, imo.
Click to expand...

I so agree. All the Adcom pieces I have ever had were all really good too. They seem to be very musical indeed :)
 
I have plenty of adcom gear around here,so I must like it,LOL.

Current stable includes:
ACE-515 (2x)
GTP-450 (w/remote)
GTP-500 MkI (w/remote)
GTP-502 (w/remote)
GFA-535 MkI
GFA-545 MkI
GFA-555 MkI
GFA-5200
GFA-5300
GFA-5400

Plan to acquire:
Another ACE-515 -or- two.
GDA-600 -or- GDA-700 DAC (mostly for the HTPC in my Adcom rack enclosure system).
GCD-575 CDP (Philips TDA1541A DAC in this CDP).
Possibly a GFS-300/GFS-600 speaker selector.
Also maybe grab a GFP-710 and/or GFP-715 preamp if the right unit comes up @ the right price.

Definitely a great "bang for the buck" choice in audio gear if you ask me.

JMO

Bret P.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom