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If you had your choice.

James Harco

James Harco

Well-Known Member
I need some advice. Apparently I suffer from "audio gear acquisition syndrome". That said? i'm shopping for another amp. My options are Hafler 200, Adcom 535, Adcom 545, and lastly a Dynaco 410 (wish it was the 400, love the blue light dial kit). All are about the same price given how far I would have to drive to pick each up. Which would you recommend?

My speakers are Infinity ref 5, Sony SS TL-5, Wharfedale W60d's. Not sure what the final lineup will be based on which amp I buy. Really appreciate it if anyone has feedback for any combination of the above.

Thanks, james.
 
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Well, the 410 has the most guts but is also the oldest and most likely to need work (especially if it was originally built as a kit). Adcom and Hafler both made good stuff, personally I would go for the Hafler 200 or the Adcom 545.
 
What speakers do you have, or dream to own. What kind of music, do you use vinyl at all? How big is your room, I just noticed you have a Dyna ST70 and a PAS 3,so you can hear better than most. By getting a GOOD 100wpc sub, you will take a tremendous load off the ST70 and give you good punch, not mud to your sound. I have two Trevor Lee's Modified PAS 3 that I have used for years. I think he stole the circuit from the old Paragon preamp. No Tone controls but they are fabulous.
 
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The 410 kinda scares me with it's power, and age. speakers will probably end up being the Sony SS TL-5's, or infinity reference 5's. My wife nixed these, so if you know anyone in the portland oregon area? http://www.shopgoodwill.com/auctions/ESS-amt-1D-Speakers---Pick-Up-Only-28704350.html My room is about 15x20 with arched 15ft ceiling. I said the Dynaco's power scares me, but then I keep on hearing about what a great amp these are, and what a difference extra power makes even at moderate listening levels. On the other hand, the adcom's? are a known quantity. Rock solid. The hafler? a bit long in the tooth, but lots of upgrade options.
 
Oh yeah, music? Jazz, classical, some "softer" 70's 80's rock. Chris Botti, Parker, Benoit, U2, McLachlan, Bach, Dvorak pretty representative. I know to check for cap "leakage", but with the dynaco, or hafler, are there other things i should be afraid of? My main system is a Dynaco PAS3 -> dahlquist dq10 -> 1) dynaco st 70, recapped, glass tube audio mod and 2) sanyo P55. Playback is mostly FLAC through a DAC (hifiberry raspberry pi).
 
I own the Adcoms (GFA-535 MkI & GFA-545 MkI) and both are very capable amps that are conservatively rated as SOP,typically the 535 puts out closer to 80wpc than it's rated 65wpc and the same is true for the 545 that typically puts out closer to 125wpc vs. it's rated 100wpc.

Excellent power supplies,big ol' caps,lots of juice for low ohm speakers,what's not to like?
Some people freak out over those Adcom amps not having any speaker protection,but that has'nt bothered me,at least not yet it has'nt (knocks on wood).
Very good "bang for the buck" outta these Adcom amps,so ask me they should always be worthy of an audition.

That said I'd take a Hafler 200 in a heartbeat if a nice one showed up for the right price,so yeah I too have GAS,that fact aside the Halfer amps have solid reputations as well so I'd have absolutely no heistation buying one of those.

Dont know diddly about the Dynaco amps,and I probably never will,I leave that gear for the Dynaco fans,not because there's anything wrong with Dynaco,it's just one of those things,like there is with classic cars,see there are AMC guys,Chevy guys,yadda,yadda,yadda and I just so happen to be a pontiac guy (at least last time I checked I was,LOL) so I just have'nt found a reason to go looking for that Dynaco stuff,though I do like the look of the Dynaco SE-10 EQ,and would snatch one of those up in the blink of an eye,but I digress on this for now.

FWIW

Bret P.
 
Thanks Ross, FreddyMac2, and zero-D-zero. I've been out of the audio world for a while, and am stunned how much great gear is available for pennies on the dollar. The guy with the Hafler also has the 545 and he emailed me offering both for 200. That seems like an offer I can't refuse.
 
I have owned both adcom amps and they sounded pretty good, little bright with some speakers.
However, they don't have speaker protection relay so if something goes wrong, speakers will smoke.
Not sure about protection relay in hafler or dynaco.
Price is right. 545 alone goes for $200.
 
I had a 416 years ago. It's a beast in every sense of the word. Big, heavy, powerful and not much beyond that. The cooling fan sounded like a 747. I hated it and it left the rack quickly. It blew up pretty much every speaker I owned at the time and I never liked the sound quality. I suppose it has it's place, but it wasn't for me.
 
I'd add another to the list, Hafler XL-280. It's in the same price range but believe it would best all of the ones you mention.
 
Snappahead said:
Big, heavy, powerful and not much beyond that. The cooling fan sounded like a 747. I hated it and it left the rack quickly. It blew up pretty much every speaker I owned
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Thanks Snappahead, I'm kinda partial to my speaker collection
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. So it definately sounds like it would need fuses and a quieter fan. The adcom is newer, so I'm not as worried there. Does adding a fuse or two to the speaker line affect the sound "much"?
 
James Harco said:
Thanks Ross, FreddyMac2, and zero-D-zero. I've been out of the audio world for a while, and am stunned how much great gear is available for pennies on the dollar. The guy with the Hafler also has the 545 and he emailed me offering both for 200. That seems like an offer I can't refuse.
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Take them!
 
I did forget to tell you that the Nak also has on off and volume remote. I know it is a tiny little receiver but it is so pure that you will not believe it!
 
I had my Adcom 565 amps recapped once and they are very good. If you don't mind some fan noise, the Hafler 500 is a good alternative to the 200 but not as common. I do love the look of the 416s with the meters or LED displays.
 
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