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I inherited an older Adcom/Vandersteen 2Ce system and need help!

R

Rex Leetham

New Member
I have an Adcom GFA-545II Amp, an Adcom GFA-2535L, Adcom GTP-600 5 Channel pre amp, Adcom GCD-600 5 Disc CD changer and a pair of Vandersteen 2Ce speakers. Can anyone tell me where I can get some help setting it all up? I plan on buying a nice turntable and want to set up a stereo audio system. It will not be used as a home theater system. I need some help in figuring out the best way to hook it up. And any other suggestions you may have. I apologize for being a newbie, so no mocking needed!
 
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Send the amp into Musical Concepts for entire upgrade. That system is a classic set up,many sold in the day
 
Rex Leetham said:
I have an Adcom GFA-545II Amp, an Adcom GFA-2535L, Adcom GTP-600 5 Channel pre amp, Adcom GCD-600 5 Disc CD changer and a pair of Vandersteen 2Ce speakers. Can anyone tell me where I can get some help setting it all up? I plan on buying a nice turntable and want to set up a stereo audio system. It will not be used as a home theater system. I need some help in figuring out the best way to hook it up. And any other suggestions you may have. I apologize for being a newbie, so no mocking needed!
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Where are you located?
 
Go to hifiengine.com and register, it's free and safe.
Then download the manuals, save them on your computer or bookmark them for future reference.
 
CD player output to 'CD' jacks on preamp.

'Front' preamp outputs to power amp (you will only need one of the two power amps)

Speaker cable from the power amp to the speakers.

Getting the manuals off the web is an excellent idea.
 
Setup is absolutely critical with any Vandersteen. If you follow the setup manual and take the time to place them properly in the room, you will be greatly rewarded.

If you can provide the dimensions of the room, that would be helpful. Note, that the model 2 series has a rear firing passive woofer.

Feel free to message me; I currently have Vandersteen speakers, and have had multiple pairs over the years. I did use an Adcom GFA 353 MKII briefly, as a backup amp, while another was out for service. From my experience (opinion), the Adcom components will be the weaker link of the chain.
 
techguy0192 said:
Setup is absolutely critical with any Vandersteen. If you follow the setup manual and take the time to place them properly in the room, you will be greatly rewarded.

If you can provide the dimensions of the room, that would be helpful. Note, that the model 2 series has a rear firing passive woofer.

Feel free to message me; I currently have Vandersteen speakers, and have had multiple pairs over the years. I did use an Adcom GFA 353 MKII briefly, as a backup amp, while another was out for service. From my experience (opinion), the Adcom components will be the weaker link of the chain.
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Yes....good catch. The OP should be ashamed. Good of you to point out.
 
spark1 said:
His weak link amplification. Hopefully he will upgrade immediately. But not too high up the food chain, or then his speakers will be the weak link.
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He asked for setup tips. I provided them.

He asked for other suggestions. I provided them.

Never bashed his setup. It's very nice, especially as it sounds he's new to hifi.

Not sure what your problem is? Maybe you should add some constructive feedback to help the OP as I have done.
 
spark1 said:
Hopefully he will upgrade immediately.
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The first post covers this!! I don't know why.

Geez, guys. A new member, joined to get help setting up a system new to him and the first response is to upgrade the amps. Wow, you mean the stuff Adcom was selling back then is totally inadequate to power these speakers? Wonder if the previous owner had issues with the performance of the rig.

Some have addressed the how to on setting up a stereo system with this gear. Looking over the manuals is a good start but of course, ask some questions. If you fill in your location, someone local might be willing to help locally. sqlsavior is right, on what to plug in where.
 
If any of the Adcom gear could be considered a "weak link" it's that GTP-600 pre-tuner/processor and not the amp(s).
And that's mainly based on the premise that were talking about using it for a dedicated 2ch. set-up and not a 5.1 set-up.

And yeah in that scenario (strictly 2ch.) the multi-channel GFA-2535L is'nt really needed at all...
But that does'nt imply that the GFA-2535L is somehow unfit for use,it's fine and could indeed be used if need be.

Now that GTP-600 can work fine for the time being no-problemo.
But yeah I'd probably be looking for a better (read: more practical) 2ch. preamp.
And I'd likely stick with Adcom for that preamp as they represent good bang for the buck IMHO.
So I'd sell the GFA-2535L to help fund the preamp purchase.
And then I'd recoup some more when I sold off the GTP-600.
Should be NBD really.

As for adding a turntable keep in mind the fact that the GTP-600 does'nt have a dedicated phono input.
So that too is another "ding" against that particular unit.

Again NBD even if the "new" preamp does'nt have one.
Then I'd just use an external one like the Schiit Mani or such.
That external phono pre could even be used with the current GTP-600.
So that I'd likely buy when I finally found my turntable.

FWIW

Bret P.
 
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