• 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

Does Adcom make good Amps ?

embrown057 said:
The 565 that destroyed that speaker did not have any leaking lytics, Just one, yes one resistors opened up on the VAS that led to >60vdc to the speaker. They are good sounding amps and most work fine up till the day they fail then it's all over except for the tears. You can argue that there are other amps with NO protection and yes the same thing can happen as this example. Lesson learned, either incorporate a dc protection circuit or get another amp that has one. The movie Deer Hunter comes to mind.
Click to expand...
So out of 14 amps in 30 years, all of them had random failures of a resistor in the VAS stage, or did some of them have the leaky cap problem, or some other issue?
Aftermarket DC protection circuits with a relay are widely available, cheap, and easy to install. So are inline fuse holders. If one is worried about speaker damage in the even of amp failure, peace of mind is cheaply and easily found.
 
I'm puzzled as to why it seems that in every single Adcom thread someone feels the need to drag up the 20 or 30 year old stories. We get it, they blew up some speakers a long time ago. This thread is asking if Adcom makes good amps. Today, not 30 or 40 years ago, today. Has anyone else tried amps from the current line up? The 555SE? or the 450 wpc 585SE? It's 87 lbs, has 28 output devices with 132,000 uF and has DC voltage protection. Anyone?
 
No all had random failures, that was just one example of a Adcom amp gone bad. The ones I have restored with leaking caps (many) had high DC offset but not too the point of smoking any speakers. These are not 30 or 40 year old "stories" and yes dose not reflect on current designs. So to answer the OP's question current designs are good amps for a price point. I'm not trying to beat up the Adcom line, just cautioning on owning the legacy products.
 
I've fixed a couple with the leaky cap problem, including my own 585SE. I've never seen one with any other failure. Though to be fair, I've only had a few come my way over the years.
 
@tarior
That's good cuz I believe my 555ii had fairly light usage. I'm really more concerned with the coupling caps failing in my tube pre. Its old as well, but I'd like to have the caps changed and upgraded cuz I've heard that can even improve the sound, although it sounds very good now. I hope recapping doesn't degrade the sound.

Dave
 
So anyway, my latest observation is that these new Adcom amps respond to better cables, if the rest of the system doesn’t hold it back. I’ve had great results with a mix of audioquest and morrow IC’s.
 
A pair of 555s driving Vandy Threes here.

Do not run a 30hz tone through them med to high levels, you'll be repairing nail pops in your drywall. (grin)
 
runnin' said:
I'm puzzled as to why it seems that in every single Adcom thread someone feels the need to drag up the 20 or 30 year old stories. We get it, they blew up some speakers a long time ago.
Click to expand...

It's not puzzling at all. Many people had their expensive speakers fried by poorly designed amplifiers. Poorly designed, as they incorporated zero speaker protection for connected speakers. Consider adequate DC protection circuitry was the standard on pretty much any and all DC coupled amplifiers for at least a decade prior to the introduction of those models. It was irresponsible, and people don't forget that, especially ones left picking up the smoking ruins of their woofers.

HK did the same with some of their amplifiers too. I know, I've seen the mess they caused when they failed.

Nelson Pass may be highly regarded, but eschewing DC protection on a high power amplifier was inexcusable.
 
That's correct arts. The Pass, Levinson (Madrigal), and Krell amps, all have very much the same style of circuitry, with no coupling caps between amplification stages, and instead, using DC servos to help limit the amount of DC that gets thru.
Adcom circuitry is the same, and they all warm against the use of tube preamps.
In fact, many people have found that the Krells just shut down when coupled with certain tube preamps, unless they do the jumper adjustment that Krell recommends.
So its no big deal, its just a couple of the Adcom models that had internal failures occasionally, and killed some speakers.
I use a tube pre with my 555ii, and its perfect.
Great sounding amp with the right speakers, and an accurate and musical, music source.

Dave
 
jazzmans said:
AFAIK, the 'new' adcom amps all incorporate speaker protection circuits.

Also, the 'new' adcom company is a totally different company then the old Adcom company. They're now like most owned by some huge chinese conglomerate.
Everest World Co Limited. Incorporated in 2010 in Hong Kong.
http://www.everestasia.com/
Click to expand...

It's funny how some people protest any mention of Chinese roots of a company as if it's racist or something. The issue of Chinese ownership or manufacturing can be traced back to the 90's I think. In my opinion, our governments never should have allowed American companies to source manufacturing in China. But that ship has long since sailed, hasn't it? It's too bad that any attempt these days to restrict trade with China is met with a mocking scornful news media that doesn't seem to care about American manufacturing at all.
 
Timely reboot of this thread. I had a a Adcom setup years ago (555 preamp-555 tuner-545II amp and a Adcom CD player) that I foolishly sold when going through a downsizing phase.

Recently picked up a minty 545 at an Estate Sale for a steal. Paired up with my Sherbourn preamp and Von Schweikert VR2's. Reminded me what I liked about Adcom. Found a 535II on EBay for a ridiculously low price and then traded a receiver locally for a GTP-400. The 535 sounds great driving my Polk RTA 12's!
 
And the phono stages in the Adcom preamps are quite good as well. I have a GTP 555 II as a backup pre. If I didn't have a Graham slee reflex M already, I would have no problem using the phono stage on the GTP. It throws a very wide Sound Stage in my setup. And quite detailed as well.

Dave
 
If I'm using the GTP 555 II as a preamp and not just using the phone stage, I find that it's best to use the bypass outs instead of the main outs. That makes a big difference in the sound in my system.

Dave
 
One of the few pieces of gear I regret selling was the Adcom GFP-750 preamp. That was a fine sounding piece of audio engineering designed by Nelson Pass. I also had a GFA 585. It always sounded a bit dark and veiled to me. A buddy of mine came over with a Classe Model 15 to audition. Out went the GFA 585 faster than a bad date at the prom!
Tom
 
I've read a lot of good things about the GTP 750. It's weird, the stuff we get rid of sometimes for a few hundred dollars; seems like the right thing to do at the time tho.
I've got a bunch of stuff kicking around that I should probably dump, (Dual CS515 TT, 8 BayAudio speakers, Energy speakers, Celestion DL8's, a Sherbourn TST/200 amp, an HK receiver, GTP 555ii), but I don't know, maybe I'll just keep it all so i don't regret it later.

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