Adcom GTP-500ii vs NAD 1300

[Bob Oz]

Need help choosing a pre-amp

Looking to set up a system with a pair of NAD 2140 amps.
Want to resurrect my old Dual turntable from the 80's and play CD's.

The plan is to power a set of Paradigm Reference Studio 60 .v2's

I've heard good things about the sound if the Adcom, but the unit I'm looking at has the usual tuner problems.
I'm leaning towards the NAD, just for the sake of keeping things paired to a brand.

Any advice or wisdom is appreciated...

 

[Bob Oz]

I also have a Marantz SR4120, which might be a better option...
Or should I save that for the baby Maggies?

 

[Guest159]

I have a GTP-500. No tuner issue. I like it. It's quiet, decent channel separation, all JFET op-amp audio path, with a very clean sound. My only issue with it is that it's got some DC on the direct coupled outputs , but it's got 2 sets of outputs and the others are cap coupled with some good film caps. I can't hear the difference. I'd recommend the thing. The differences between the 500 and 500ii are pretty minor. I'm partial to the sound of FETs. That Adcom has more detail, air, transparency, and punch than anything with BJTs I've ever used with my amps.

 

[TomBig58]

Adcom makes good gear but you can't beat the features of the NAD 1300. MM/MC, cartridge capacitance switch, hi/low outputs, and more not found on the Adcom. I have one and it has a great phono section.

 

[leesonic]

NAD 1300 will probably need a restore. It's over 30 years old, and even the best electrolytic caps will probably need refreshing after all that time. NAD used some Taiwanese sourced caps that don't seem to last any better are worse.

Lee.

 

[xero-D-hero]

Own both an Adcom GTP-500 (Mk1) -and- a NAD 1300.
IMHO the 1300 is clearly the better preamp.

Agree some freshing may be a wise idea.
But that's de rigueur for any piece of geat that old,even the Adcom GTP's.

And pair that 1300 with the matching NAD 4300 tuner,it'll stomp the snot outta the GTP-500 tuner section.
The NAD 4300 tuner is a really nice sounding tuner and very well regarded by the tuner user community.

Only thing I dont much care for with the 1300 is the volume / balance knob arrangement.
Other than that there's the lack of remote control capabillity for the 1300 to lament as well.

Minor gripes though to be honest...

FWIW

Bret P.