i have the Adcom and like it well enough, but find it a bit aggressive—not harsh, exactly; overeager, perhaps? In any case, the Rotel is available for $100 and I’m looking for opinions on whether it would be a significant improvement (and if $100 is a good price; it fetches a good deal more than that on eBay).
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UncleBingo
Super Member
For 100 bucks give it a shot. You should be able to sell either for more than that I suspect.
faber12
Addicted Member
Notice that the test used the 535-II, not the original Nelson Pass designed 535. I've had both, actually preferred the II but I was pushing it hard and needed the extra power supply to drive woofers (on a bi-amp setup), so musically I never compared them on anything but LF, ran the original 535s on HF.
xero-D-hero
Super Member
May I ask what is being used as a preamp for this ?
I ask because should the preamp be the source of the SQ issues,,,swapping out amps may not "fix" things...
The Adcom GFA-535 Mk1 is definitely a GIGO sorta amp.
And generally speaking I usually dont care to pair my GFA-535 Mk1 w/Adcom preamps/pre-tuners if I can avoid doing so.
When (if) I do pair it with an Adcom preamp/pre-tuner I typically EQ mine to get the sound where I want it.
I do that as I dont necessarily care for the Adcom preamps tone controls,especially where they put the turnover Hz.
Typically they put their preamp's turnover frequencies @ very low Hz & very high Hz,and they leave the midrange unaltered.
Problem is if the source is a bit "shouty" -or- "bright" in the mids,there's no practical way to tame it down other than using an EQ.
And a lot of folks scoff at doing that sorta thing (using EQ's),so they try other things like changing out amps & speakers or such.
Anyhow just some food for thought.
Bret P.
I ask because should the preamp be the source of the SQ issues,,,swapping out amps may not "fix" things...
The Adcom GFA-535 Mk1 is definitely a GIGO sorta amp.
And generally speaking I usually dont care to pair my GFA-535 Mk1 w/Adcom preamps/pre-tuners if I can avoid doing so.
When (if) I do pair it with an Adcom preamp/pre-tuner I typically EQ mine to get the sound where I want it.
I do that as I dont necessarily care for the Adcom preamps tone controls,especially where they put the turnover Hz.
Typically they put their preamp's turnover frequencies @ very low Hz & very high Hz,and they leave the midrange unaltered.
Problem is if the source is a bit "shouty" -or- "bright" in the mids,there's no practical way to tame it down other than using an EQ.
And a lot of folks scoff at doing that sorta thing (using EQ's),so they try other things like changing out amps & speakers or such.
Anyhow just some food for thought.
Bret P.