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Adcom GFA 585

Jim Eck

Jim Eck

Chicks dig the Mule
Well, bought an Adccom 585 off of the auction site, when the amp arrived, and it won't make a sound. It does power up, you hear click when it powers up, and the power light is on red, and then immediately after there is a second click like relay, I have checked the fuses on the back of the amp and they all check for continuity. I haven't opened it up yet to look around, I guess I should have. I have emailed the seller to see what he has to say, anybody have any ideas on this, this is my first Adcom.

Jim
 
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After 20 minutes of playing nothing, it started making some terrible buzzing and distorted noises, that lasted for around 20 seconds and then that cleared up and it sounds fine now, I don't know if that is the normal warm up time or if the caps just needed time to reshape. I will watch it closely, next time I power it up I hope it doesn't go through that again.

Jim
 
Be careful you don't toast your speakers. I am sure some of the folks with Adcom's will chime in.
 
If you plan on keeping it, you might want to take the cover off and see if anything is loose, rolling around, out-of-place, or burnt looking. Shipping can loosen things and/or a piece of something can be rattling around in there. Since it sounds like the amp is having a hard time getting past the output protection circuit and relay, a metering of the speaker outputs for DC offset seems warranted.
 
That is NOT normal behavior for an Adcom. In general, they either fire right up, or they blow fuses immediately, or they REALLY "fire" right up.

Do keep an eye on it and let us know.
 
As far as I know, there's no relay in the Adcom amps...at least there's not in any of three I have. Proceed with utmost caution until you can get it diagnosed.
 
So far the seller is ignoring my emails since I intially let him know I wasn't satisfied. Ebay won't allow me to start a dispute yet, it must be 10 days or more after the purchase. I don't know how this will come out but I don't like the way it is going, I might have a very expensive boat anchor. But at least it is a heavy one. :D

Jim
 
If it is making music after it's little "tantrum", all is not lost. Don't give up yet. Sounds like a bad/loose connection or solder joint. Definitely check for DC offset, it could be at the threshold for tripping the output relay, if that particular model has one.
 
Most of the Adcom's of this vintage have real issues with leaking caps. If they've vented, the board will have to be removed, stripped of contaminated parts, and thoroughly cleaned (soap and water, or maybe even the dishwasher).
 
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