I had a Yamaha preamp in the late 80's. It was very well constructed and had a fancy flip down door over the tone and selector controls. It sounded OK but it became fatiguing, especially after I purchased my first pair of true high end speakers which were the Ohm Walsh 3's. Those speakers revealed further the short comings in the Yamaha. Dissatisfied I traded the Yamaha in for a NAD preamp which had a unassuming yet clean, open and functionally sophisticated look. Little did I know I was in for a big surprise! The NAD completely blew the Yamaha away like a top fuel dragster against some kid in a souped up Japanese street racer. Absolutely no contest.
Adcom electronics from the late 80s to early 90s were great. I still use the GFA-545 amp and GTP-500 tuner/pre-amo I bought in 1987 and the GFP-656 preamp I picked a few years later. The best CD player I've ever owned is my NAD 5000, which I bought new in 1990 and also still use.
They are still great, im a collector of Adcom gear, i probably have the largest collection of anyone in the states, not to brag but just true. Anyway, i just purchased the brand new GFA-565SE which is made in Taiwan, and its fantastic! They kept the Nelson Pass design, and the amp has a very warm almost tubelike sound. I really wish that they would have kept this brand in the united states as all of the equipment has been bulletproof since the eighties. They? Need to hire someone in charge of marketing so that they can properly Advertise and push the equipment like they did in the eighties and nineties. Adcom ruled The late eighties and early nineties. Someone needs to put them back on the map because of a lot of people don't think they are in business anymore when they really are still producing excellent equipment. You. Can find a lot of used. Equipment on craigslist, that is your best bank for buck. I just found another gtp 450 brand new in the box from a guy that bought it new and never used it Because he got relocated for his job and it just sat in storage . The caps and everything are excellent,no tuner problems and its pristine, and it was only $260.
My 20+ year old Adcom GTP 550 recently died and I thought I would try another brand to replace it. I selected an even older 2001 Conrad Johnson Premier 17 LS Preamp. The difference between the Adcom Pre and CJ Pre is night and day! Don't get me wrong, the Adcom Pre was very good but the CJ makes almost every song I listen to through it sound amazing. My listening sessions have gone from a few hours to all-nighters. One thing to mention is the CJ inverts the signal so they tell you to reverse your speakers polarity, which seemed very strange to me at first but now I fully understand the reason behind it. My amp is a 20+ year old Adcom GFA 5500, Klipsch La Scala's & RF-7 3's and SVS sub.
There was no GFP 550. It was either a GTP 550 or a GFP 555. I have the biggest collection of Adcom gear in the country, over 300 pieces, i know the brand and model numbers and specs inside and out if you have any questions i can help, thanks!
Adcom GCA-510 integrated amp here, freshly repaired. One of the best integrateds ever, imho. As for quality, it certainly compares to my small Sugden integrated.
@@johncourneil7826 mind if I ask what needed repairing? My Adcom equipment is well over 20 years old. Everything works perfectly and still sounds great.
@@f430ferrari5 Hi. The reason i had it repaired was it eventually did lose one channel and, soon after, both channels (no sound)! I brought it to professional technicians who found the culprit : oxydation inside the input selector. They had to unsolder the part from the main board in order to dismantle it for thorough cleaning. They told me they also had to change one fuse inside the unit. They cleaned other things, such as the volume and balance controls (this amp has no tone controls) and they inspected everything else. The main tech guy told me all the condensers and chips are still quite ok. I just tried it in my stereo system yesterday evening and it sounds gorgeous! This little amp (a somewhat scaled down version of the GFA-535), produces deep and powerful bass, and the sound is pristine. It drives a pair of Sound Dynamics R-85, which I got recently via Kijiji for a hundred bucks, pre-owned but in superb condition. Those big little boxes litterally kick the ass out a previous pair of Focal Chorus 705 (worth close to 900 dollars, yet lacking in bass definition and overall sonic impact). Mini monitors of excellent quality but the sound they produce is, well, "mini". I might decide to sell the latter through Kijiji - or keep 'em just as spare. Regarding the GCA-510, I also think it beats, sonically as well as dynamically, an Nad C316bee (my spare amp, along with a Sugden) and even more so a previous Denon AVR-900 (not bad, but much less defined and a bit underpowered in comparison). Needless to say, 13,600 microfarads capacitance per channel is HUGE for a fairly small, lets say modest integrated amp (Adcom). That oversized power supply and the minimalist circuit certainly pay dividends.
I still have my original Adcom GFA-555 power amp that I bought new in 1984. Other than replacing the power switch a few years ago, it's been bullet proof.
Back in the day, the GFA-555 and matching pre-amp were truly better than most of the mass -fi of the day. More real current and drive without gimmicks. No caps in the audio path of the pre-amp. BIG plus.
Bought my first Adcom 500 and 535 in 1989 added a Fostek surround sound processor and Adcom 2535 amp in 1991 creating a 5 channel system. Built a Dyna Audio kit speaker system about the same time. I own some high end Yamaha, but keep returning to to the Adcom for its richness and sound quality...
Glad that I found you. I've been having issues matching a class D amp in my system using a Moon Audio P3 preamplifier. The listening fatigue I was experiencing was disturbing. After watching your video, I remember about my garaged GTP-500 I ignored for years. So decided to match it up with the Class D amp and I was amazed how sweet of a combination these two made. I was also impressed with the headphone amp on the GTP-500. No more listening fatigue to report. THANKS!
Just subscribed, glad you are doing this, welcome. I collect and repair vintage audio equipment. Just went through a NAD 3155 integrated amp cleaned the pots, switches, and checked out the functions for a friend. I use an Adcom GFP-565 preamp and have two modified Adcom GFA-545 mk II amps, and an Adcom GFP-535 mk II amp. Nelson Pass design, still haven't found anything new that is within my budget that I like better. The mods include a negative feedback modification for a warmer sound, and a hotter bias to the transistor output section. Nelson Pass himself recommended the hotter bias to improve the sonics.
I found a NAD 3155 integrated amp in the street with a NAD tuner, it's one of the best amps I've ever owned & the phono section (MM/MC) sounds terrific & natural!!!
I just bought an Adcom GFA 535 II for a very decent price. The seller's excellent rating and information convinced me to get it. I should have it in a few days. Unless it sounds fantastic right out of the box, I want to find a tech to look it over. A few articles I found said Nelson Pass designed the circuitry for this amp and other Adcom models. Now I want an NAD to live on the shelf next to it. This is fun. 😹
Nice to see you have the Proacs set up correctly (tweeter on the inside). I really enjoy your videos... I'm a bit of an audiophile on a budget, myself, so i appreciate where you're coming from with these videos you make. Cheers!
Great video! Fun going thru 1970's and 90's from Dynakit to Pioneer to Luxman, to Kinergetics, to Adcom and B&K. Now, I have IcePower amp with vintage Luxman. So fun!
I still have my and listen to what I guess is considered Vintage equipment. Purchased together in 1987, a NAD 1300 Preamp, a NAD 2600 Amp , a Dual CS5000 TT, a Onkyo 6 disc CD player and most importantly, a pair of KEF 104/ 2 Tower speakers. All of this in a 2 channel system, no Sub woofer needed. Other than a preamp repair last fall, the system sounds terrific. At 69 yo, retired due to spinal issue disabilities during 2020 COVID pandemic creating a Hibernation from the virus that was unleashed upon the worls (thats a different discussion forum), I also created a new basement stereo setup. No video for now. Denon DRA 800H Receiver, Tascam CD player recorder, Tascam double cassette player / recorder, and a Teac CD / CASSETTE, / USB player and recorder, 1 pair of Elac Debut Reference speakers, 1 pair of Fluance Signature Series Surround HiFi Bookshelf speakers, and 1 pair of Elac Debut 6.2s, and a Mononptice 60 Watt SW. Also added both the Schiit Saga+ and Schiit Mani. The Mani is a superior phono preamp than the Denon. Also threw in the Schiit Loki (a very simple equalizer that works very well). To experiment and expand the 2.1 stereo system , I just acquired a IOTAVXSA3 Integrated amp and a Emotiva A300 Amp. This "hobby" can definitely become an obession ......... too much time on my hands in hibernation. Oh thank you Amazon with their liberal return policies. I agree with the presenter (sorry don't know his name), switching cables and configurations is troublesome. I think the "best setup " is the IOTA and Emotiva connsetup to paralleled Elac Debut Reference speakers and the Fluances in the rear of the room (where I have my drum kit - yeah I went ack to playing after a 50 Year Hiatus), and use the Denon to drive the Elac Debuts in the front of the room. It is impossible for me to compare the Living room setup to the basement studio. But both have wonderful listening experiences . Sorry for rambling.......hey hibernation is to blame. Be safe all .
I managed to dig up my step dad's old adcom gfa 555, it luckily only needed a new fuse for one of the channels and it works beautifully, sadly the gfp 565 that came with it has long since been fried (from a lightning storm before i was even born), but he had a passive adcom slc 505 that does the same job, and doesn't even take up an outlet. Right now my speakers are nothing too special (MCS three ways from the 80s), but there are a pair of working magneplanar 20.7 loudspeakers in the basement, I'd love to use them, but we only have so much room and 2 very active dogs But its really cool to look up this stuff that I had no clue of its value or quality, or who even made it and actually see that people still hold them in high regard today
I've got an Adcom GFP-565 preamp that does the job well for me in my bedroom system. It ticks all the boxes - tone controls I can bypass, headphones sound fine and no complaints about the phono stage. I did have a Saga without the tube but it didn't grab me so I sold it. My other Schiit gear - a Modi DAC, Mani phono pre and Heresy headphone amp, are all quality and were inexpensive - a great combo. Excellent video. Cheers, Tom
I have a NAD 1300 pre-amp that is amazing. In terms of value for the sound quality, it's hard to believe. Adcom did make some incredible components. My GFA 5200 drives a pair of MBL 323"s beautifully. I sold my Audio Research SP-14, and really don't miss it. I'd like to see Schiit make a full size hybrid power amp! Schiit makes "The Sh%t"
Very familiar...in the 1980s NAD was the brand I aspired to own (and Rotel too) but they were still out of my price range. My first upgrade from a Denon receiver around 1990 was an Adcom GFA-545 II and GTP-400 tuner-preamp because they were what I could afford. No regrets-I still have them! I also have a complete top of the line NAD system now (from 1989). Both the NAD and Adcom have good phono stages, but are now being fed by a Schiit Mani and Modi 3.
Outstanding video! I own & love both Adcom & Schiit. I use a Modi/Loki Mini/Magni stack for my headphones and they sound incredible. I have multiple Adcom systems, a GTP-400 & GFA-535 II into 1st gen Paradigm Studio 60's and a GTP-450 & GFA-5200 into 1st gen Paradigm Studio 20's. The Adcoms make the Paradigms sound great no matter what type of music I'm listening to. Keep up the great work.
I used to sell high-end audio equipment in the late 80's-early 90's in San Francisco. I sold NAD and Adcom, but my favorite sounding, that I eventually purchased, and still have in my home's living room 30 years later, is B&K amps and pre-amps, which were designed and manufactured in Lackawanna, NY. I own an EX-442 power amp and Pro-10 MC pre-amp. When I auditioned them back in the day, I found them to be warmer and more tube-like than either Adcom or NAD from that period. But at the same time the detail, sound-stage, impact, and imaging didn't take a back seat to anyone. At the time I was able to compare them directly to much more expensive equipment, like Mark Levinson and Krell solid state gear, and Conrad Johnson tube gear in our listening rooms. I just personally found the B&K equipment to give the best bang for the buck, and I still love listening to them all these years later.
I've been listening to my NAD 7100/2100 receiver/amp combo for over 30 years. First with Boston Acoustics A400s biamped, now running them mono with a pair of big Polks. Just bought a new Denon receiver to replace. NAD sounds way better !! Took Denon to work for shop stereo !! Vintage NAD rocks on !!!
I have several Adcom pieces like new in their original boxes. They were bought new and almost never used, GTP 500ii Preamp/Tuner, GFA 545 Amplifier, GCD 575 CD player, and ACE 515 AC Line Enhancer. I do intend to use them in the future but will need to purchase better speakers than what I could afford back in the 1980’s!
Schiit audio has some really great sounding gear, for little money. My favorite is the Schiit Mani. I want a better, more detailed phono amp in the future, but the Mani is really superb for the 💰. Love the Walsh Ohm speakers, by the way!!
I used to have the GFP 1a, which came out 2-3 years after the GFP 1... It had so much versatility, especially in the phono section with selectable cartridge load options. I would get another in a heartbeat
Hey, those Adcom amplifiers like the 535, 555 and 565 were great amps for the money and they were designed by Nelson Pass. My first NAD piece was a 3080 integrated which I bought in 1978 - it was a powerhouse! In the late 80's my Robertson 4010 died so the audio store owner gave me the Adcom 535 in exchange it, was quite good.
Another series that people forget about that adcom produced that was also designed by Nelson pass was the GFA 5xxx series. I've got the 5400 and it uses a MOSFET design versus the original 555 series, but it's a stellar sounding amp nonetheless and you can usually pick them up pretty cheap nowadays
They were NOT designed by Nelson Pass. I talked to him personally about that and my GFA-5802. Adcom licenced existing PASS topology and made it themselves. Nelson said he did not design or build anything for adcom.
I owned and enjoyed a GFA-535 with an SAE preamp for years -- good stuff at a reasonable price back in the day. That said, nowadays a carefully selected Chinese "chip amp" can sound just a good, if not better all things being equal. Don't get me wrong, I love and use vintage audio gear -- but when it comes to amplification, modern gear can be every bit as good at a far lower cost with the bonuses of much smaller size and vastly less power consumption, presuming you know what to look for and how to get the most out of it.
I use an Adcom GFA 555 with an NAD M3 integrated preamp section. The combo is dumbfoundingly awesome with my JBL L100 Classics. That old Adcom stuff is incredible for the $.
they are rare here in europe,i just got a gfa 545mk2 with 555 preamp,i am in love and it does drive my quantum jr's like dream and they match. wow what a combo adcom and infinity i would not give them for no other gear
I'm in process of looking for a vintage adcom power amp. I fondly remember my last one, and since I picked up these vintage Magnapans, I want vintage power...and lots of it!
I found a NAD 3100 top of the range monitor series in a bin took it home it worked and got it fully recapped and serviced. It's very powerful for a 50w per channel amp sounds like a 100w. Sound quality after recap is amazing. Now trying to buy a set a speakers to match
I’m glad to see a Kate Bush album. I was beginning to think I was the only one who still listened to her. I wish I had acquired an Adcom GFA-555 years ago. I have a pair of Magnepan MMG’s but don’t have a beefy amp to drive them. The Adcom would be ideal. I can’t verify this but I’ve been hearing reports about Schiit gear not being terribly dependable. Also hear their service isn’t great either. Could just be rumors.
I started with NAD integrated, and then got Adcom GFP-555 preamp, then 565, and then the 750, which I still own today. I only wish it was more full featured like the 565. I might have kept the 565 if it had remote volume.
yes, I have both, the adcom GTP series preamp, the schiit saga + easily trumps the adcom in terms of dynamics and transparency. Your finding my guess will be the matching of both preamps to your amp. I believe old amps have that bright sounding character, I used a schiit aegir in both comparisons. Cheers, man nice vid.
Funny stumbling across this. I used a pair of GFA555s to power Maggie 2c back in the 80's. With an entry level Conrad-Johnson pre. After all that time, I just picked up Maggie a pair of LRS (which I plan to hot rod w/ outboard crossover, like I did with the old ones) but now will be using a Schiit Vidar for power. Still, old school tube pre.......a Mapletree Ultra SE (which is actually better than that old CJ) though I did just get a Saga S to see if I like sound enough to have remote volume and a smaller foot print The Mapletree is 2 non-stackable units, the PS and the amp (but does sound fantastic) . I'm super impressed by Schiit build quality (in US) sound and price. I now have the Vidar, the Saga S, a Bifrost, and Bifrost 2. Truly a ticket into hi end audio for mass market price. Which was what Adcom offered.
Just discovered your channel. Love it! I was looking for a reason to get the KEF Q150's and also a reason to get my Marantz 2252 refurbed. Have you looked at any of the Aiyima stuff? Looking at getting the Aiyima T9 Pro for desktop to handle KEF's and bluetooth sound. 2252 longer term project. Didn't realize how important the amp is to getting the most out of speakers.
Dude...You killed me with this video. I love Adcom. I have two systems in different rooms. Both with Adcom GFA-555 amps and Adcom GTP-500 preamps. I have the system that has my turntable on it...right now I have it hooked up to the Manui with the gain turned down. It's a cool sound. I have to turn up the volume on my Adcom. It's a clean sound. I may go back to the Adcom preamp. On both systems I have a CD player. I run em through an Adcom DAC. A great sound. So the one thing that I've done is, one system is book self speakers. I have two. Elacs and Kliipch. I like to swap em out. They both sound great but for different reasons. My other system I'm using JSE Infinite Slope Model 2's. 125 lbs each...5 drivers. They can piss my neighbors off when I crank em. I do use a sub for both systems. So I love Adcom stuff...and Adcom has started to make the GFA-555 again. These amps are tanks and are incredible....One more thing...Don't turn your Adcom GFA555 off. I leave mine on 24/7....Thanks...
I have the same stereo system but I need to find out what is missing and how to connect them and if I missing anything because it doesn’t play maybe I’m not connecting them right. P.s I know that it is a good stereo system my system is or shall I say looks like it was hardly used.
@@AmericanConstellation . I’m just trying to find out if I’m missing anything so that I can connect the stereo system, because I had someone try to connect it and they said that it was not working, I just think they don’t know how to connect it. 😁😁😁
I like my Adcom gfp 750 preamp and gfa 7000 five channel amp. Also have Plinius M8 preamp and Plinius SA 102 x 2 and Plinius P8 and SA 100mk3 Conrad Johnson met 1 multichannel pteamp Cary cad 300b sei Dared VP 845 sei Still love my Adcom with JBL L X 600 Very warm and detailed sound Natalie Merchants album Tigerlilly got extensive playtime as did Alice and Chains and Mazzy Star. Underated products When i first purchased my Adcom produ ts around 1996 new i went to radio shack and spoke to a sales person and he said theyre great products rated up with Mcintosh gear! Ill keep mine till im gone.
In audio amplifiers I never much cottoned to NAD or Adcom. Most of the stuff they made sounded a bit thin and shrink wrapped typical of modern IC filled electronics. Schiit is different. While not state of the art they represent the overall best sound per dollar spent of any company I'm aware of.
I had one of those Adcom preamps. Really great. Now I have a John Curl Parasound preamp. PHP-850. I think it is better than the Adcom, but not by much.
The GFP-1 and GFP-1A are a discrete circuit implementation, which requires some expertise. They did cut costs by using back-to-back electrolytic caps, but that's easy to fix, since there is plenty of space inside. The phono stage on these two units has a JFET front-end and is very decent for MM. Use the TAPE OUT to skip all the tone and line preamp circuits. Later on Adcom hired Walt Jung from Analog Devices to design the GFP-565 phono, based on the ultra low-noise LT1028 IC biased into class A. That one is the "real shit"!
@@MODAC it depends on your expectations. If you are putting together a budget system and consider the likes of a Schiit Mani or iFi Zen, then yes, especially if you can DIY the minor mods. I bought a used GFP-1 many years ago and ran it for a year in my main system, then I moved on to tube separates. I still keep this modded GFP-1 as a backup MM phono preamp. It acquits itself well in that role. I also had the NAD 1020B from the same era. It produces a much warmer sound from its phono stage compared to the GFP-1, which is more detailed. Both units are accomplished in their own way. The choice depends on your taste.
I found a NAD 3155 integrated amp in the street with a NAD tuner. The NAD has a terrific MM/MC phono section, very natural sounding!!! I'm seriously considering that Adcom GFP-1 preamp for a second set-up for my turntables which I see you can hook up 2 tt's, that's great!!!
Yes I have the same experience with NAD phono sections! I tried the phono section on 4-5 different amps before I got the NAD, which was the best I heard so far
@@kfernandes86 I hear ya! I have no need to upgrade, not missing out on anything as far as sound quality. I guess the new companies are learning from the old school technicians that made amps sound great from the start! Which NAD do you have?
@@rc52 I first had a 3125 for a nearfield/bedroom setup. But it sounds very good even in my main system. Then I got the preamplifier 106 (I believe its from mid 80s). But I was lucky, the previous owner had done a full recap and replaced all the capacitors with Nichicon. Also I was reading that their phono stage is a full discrete design. It's the best sound from phono I heard so far (I have Rega Planar 3 with Nagaoka MP110)
ADCOM has been my go-to brand on the used market when needing amplification. They hit a sweet spot for value, build quality, and sound. Plus they aren't rare, so you can still find them when you need them. My first two ADCOM pieces were new; a GFP-750 and GFA-5500. Seems they were competing with the likes of NAD, Parasound, Rotel, and Cambridge Audio back in the day. Since then over the years I have picked up used GFA-555II, 5400, and 5300 amps, a GFP-565, and a GCD-700. So I have a small collection of ADCOM gear and all are in use! I also just got my first piece of Schiit a few months ago, a SYS passive preamp. It is used as a volume control for the GFA-5300 which powers some exterior speakers on my deck. The SYS was very inexpensive, and wasn't up to finding another ADCOM pre to do the job at a higher cost.
Hi, i know its late comment I just wanted to ask about adcom gfa 555, i do have gfa 555 ii, but always scared on my speakers coz there is no speaker protection in the amp, whenever i switch it on, i see speakers cone pulls back equally,
My first "real" stereo equipment was a 1980s NAD receiver. A few year ago I bought one of those ADCOM tuner/preamp combo units at Goodwill for 20 bucks. The FM didn't work, and it seems to be a common problem with these units. Sold it for 25 buck to a guy who didn't care about the FM....5 bucks profit!
I’ve have good luck with NAD gear. However, I’m talking about sound quality, not reliability. There are many fantastic sounding products that may fall short sometimes and break.
@@MODAC My own experience with NAD at this point is just about all have failed, so I"m not sure they would be considered a good alternative to modern components now. In contrast, my Adcom preamp is going strong and sounding great.
I have an Adcom system that has been sitting in used for quite a few years now . I’ve only used the pre amp which was there highest end model in 1991 . I got that n the 555 lol power amp n there ac enhancer .i still have everything in storage . My snell e/lll floor standing speakers n my h/k flag ship bit stream cd player . Then up graded to denons multi sacd DVD player second to there flag ship . Wish I could get everything up n running again but snells need to be fixed . Just had a new set of speakers I could prolly put it all together . Just not sure if the amp will work 100% after all this time not being used ☹️ but man did that system sound great . Just wished I had a more high end turn table at the time because the pre amp has a very nice phono pre amp built into it .
Had you have experience with the Adcom GTP-350 Tuner / Preamp? What is your opinion on that, if not, are there other Adcom preamps you could recommend?
Hi there I'm from the UK and you've missed out another low budget giant killer. Mission Cyrus one was a very simple amplifier but although not loud the details are stunning . Please try and get hold of one Kindest regards from Old Blighty Richard
Great video. I liked the understated look of the NAD products in the 80s, sadly at the time I couldn't afford one. I was wondering why you had a tape dispenser next to your NAD. Was it an Easter egg or a subtle reminder that you use tape players?
Enjoyed the review, and I had the same conclusion when I compared the Saga to an active preamp. I suspect the differences that made you prefer the Adcom pre is because it's also active compared to the passive Saga +? The pre that sounded better to me over my Saga was the Freya+. Schiit does make excellent gear.
I dunno, although Adcom and NAD are decent, they're more like the new Pioneer and Kenwood. If I were to compare Schiit to anyone from a while back, it'd be Acurus / Mondial. The L-10/RL-11 preamp were pretty much up to Krell build standards, and you could get them for Adcom and NAD money back then, and the build quality was much, much higher.
I'm a Adcom GTP-400 owner! Can't beat it. Have you tried your Valhalla 2 as a preamp? Other users claim it's makes a great sounding way to get into tubes.
@@MODAC Bummer about the speaker driver, hope you find one. I found a link to a video that shows how to fix the power up noise of the Valhalla 2. ruclips.net/video/By3Waot6KzA/видео.html I still would like to know your thoughts on the sound of the Valhalla compared to an older Adcom solid state using it as a preamp?
I have the Adcom GFP-1 that I bought brand new in 81. I'm considering replacing it with the Parasound P6. What do you think? (My power amp is the Parasound A23+).
Thanks. I watched around 500 videos trying to make a choice and decided purist audiophiles are crazy. LOL. I ordered the P6 a few days ago and will have to wait as there's none left in the country. My GFP-1 still works fine and I'm sure hoping the P6 will be an improvement but after forty years... it is time.
I've always been a fan of NAD. I'm afraid you're wrong about NAD's industrial design 'efforts' which were inspired by the legendary Braun design aesthetics. Adcom always looked cheaper to me.
@@MODAC I just got it hooked up. The set up was a Technics 1200 mk 2 with a Goldring 1042 running through a Radial J33 Phono stage, Onkyo Receiver powering Infinity Il-60 towers and HSU 15" powered sub. I just hooked it up. I pulled out the J33 and the Onkyo and have the 1200 connected to a Carver C-16 pre amp and that controlling the Adcom 5800. The mids and vocals sound recessed hollow to me, I am not sure what it is going on. I had that Carver controlling my Dynaco 70 and loved it. The source was my computer through a Topping e30 DAC. I am thinking maybe the Carver Phono stage is not to my liking. I am going to put the J33 back in and see if that fixes the hollow midrange.
Most of the desirable Adcom and NAD gear has gone up in price and even if they do work its hard to say if they sound anything like they did when new, being 40 years old I doubt it. This may very for others but where I Iive there's nearly no repair shops. The ones still around are busy fixing other electronics and can squeeze ya in maybe in the next 3 months for $100 an hour. No thanks, I'll take the Emotiva PT-100 or TA-100 with warranty. I like old gear and appreciate it but the value, risk, reward doesn't jive for me.
@@MODAC Lucky you. I can replace caps, resistors, etc but don't have the proper equipment to test even after things have all been replaced. Don't get me wrong a nice piece of vintage gear comes up for free or cheap I'll take it. 😉
Too bad you couldn't do this in a double blind or ABX.No matter how hard you try, knowing which you're listening to, will always influence your opinion.
I have that turntable could you send me a photo of the mat ? Via Facebook messenger? My auto playback doesn't work i think my turntable mat doesn't have the necessary slots
Wouldn't vintage preamps and amps play CDs at a Warmer level due to the DACs ? My NAD 1300 Preamp has a CD input but I would think si ce it is a 1987 unit, probably has a different DAC. I don't profess by any means about the technicalities of current stereo equipment, but just rely on my 69 year old ears. Times......they are a changin..... Hey when CDs first came out in the early 80s , i said this was just fad. To me tge original Cds sku ded tinny , but that has changed Drastically.
I had a Yamaha preamp in the late 80's. It was very well constructed and had a fancy flip down door over the tone and selector controls. It sounded OK but it became fatiguing, especially after I purchased my first pair of true high end speakers which were the Ohm Walsh 3's. Those speakers revealed further the short comings in the Yamaha. Dissatisfied I traded the Yamaha in for a NAD preamp which had a unassuming yet clean, open and functionally sophisticated look. Little did I know I was in for a big surprise! The NAD completely blew the Yamaha away like a top fuel dragster against some kid in a souped up Japanese street racer. Absolutely no contest.
Adcom electronics from the late 80s to early 90s were great. I still use the GFA-545 amp and GTP-500 tuner/pre-amo I bought in 1987 and the GFP-656 preamp I picked a few years later. The best CD player I've ever owned is my NAD 5000, which I bought new in 1990 and also still use.
They are still great, im a collector of Adcom gear, i probably have the largest collection of anyone in the states, not to brag but just true. Anyway, i just purchased the brand new GFA-565SE which is made in Taiwan, and its fantastic! They kept the Nelson Pass design, and the amp has a very warm almost tubelike sound. I really wish that they would have kept this brand in the united states as all of the equipment has been bulletproof since the eighties. They?
Need to hire someone in charge of marketing so that they can properly Advertise and push the equipment like they did in the eighties and nineties. Adcom ruled The late eighties and early nineties. Someone needs to put them back on the map because of a lot of people don't think they are in business anymore when they really are still producing excellent equipment. You.
Can find a lot of used. Equipment on craigslist, that is your best bank for buck. I just found another gtp 450 brand new in the box from a guy that bought it new and never used it Because he got relocated for his job and it just sat in storage . The caps and everything are excellent,no tuner problems and its pristine, and it was only $260.
My 20+ year old Adcom GTP 550 recently died and I thought I would try another brand to replace it. I selected an even older 2001 Conrad Johnson Premier 17 LS Preamp. The difference between the Adcom Pre and CJ Pre is night and day! Don't get me wrong, the Adcom Pre was very good but the CJ makes almost every song I listen to through it sound amazing. My listening sessions have gone from a few hours to all-nighters. One thing to mention is the CJ inverts the signal so they tell you to reverse your speakers polarity, which seemed very strange to me at first but now I fully understand the reason behind it. My amp is a 20+ year old Adcom GFA 5500, Klipsch La Scala's & RF-7 3's and SVS sub.
There was no GFP 550. It was either a GTP 550 or a GFP 555. I have the biggest collection of Adcom gear in the country, over 300 pieces, i know the brand and model numbers and specs inside and out if you have any questions i can help, thanks!
Typo. Corrected. Thanks.
Glad to see other people still have their Adcom equipment. I am still listening to my Adcom GTP-450 pre-amp and GFA-5500 amp.
I have GTP-550 pre-amp and GFA-5500 amp and GCD-700 5 disc changer.
Adcom GCA-510 integrated amp here, freshly repaired. One of the best integrateds ever, imho. As for quality, it certainly compares to my small Sugden integrated.
@@johncourneil7826 mind if I ask what needed repairing?
My Adcom equipment is well over 20 years old. Everything works perfectly and still sounds great.
@@f430ferrari5 Hi. The reason i had it repaired was it eventually did lose one channel and, soon after, both channels (no sound)! I brought it to professional technicians who found the culprit : oxydation inside the input selector. They had to unsolder the part from the main board in order to dismantle it for thorough cleaning. They told me they also had to change one fuse inside the unit. They cleaned other things, such as the volume and balance controls (this amp has no tone controls) and they inspected everything else. The main tech guy told me all the condensers and chips are still quite ok. I just tried it in my stereo system yesterday evening and it sounds gorgeous! This little amp (a somewhat scaled down version of the GFA-535), produces deep and powerful bass, and the sound is pristine. It drives a pair of Sound Dynamics R-85, which I got recently via Kijiji for a hundred bucks, pre-owned but in superb condition. Those big little boxes litterally kick the ass out a previous pair of Focal Chorus 705 (worth close to 900 dollars, yet lacking in bass definition and overall sonic impact). Mini monitors of excellent quality but the sound they produce is, well, "mini". I might decide to sell the latter through Kijiji - or keep 'em just as spare. Regarding the GCA-510, I also think it beats, sonically as well as dynamically, an Nad C316bee (my spare amp, along with a Sugden) and even more so a previous Denon AVR-900 (not bad, but much less defined and a bit underpowered in comparison). Needless to say, 13,600 microfarads capacitance per channel is HUGE for a fairly small, lets say modest integrated amp (Adcom). That oversized power supply and the minimalist circuit certainly pay dividends.
Yup I still have my Adcoms as well
I still have my original Adcom GFA-555 power amp that I bought new in 1984. Other than replacing the power switch a few years ago, it's been bullet proof.
Back in the day, the GFA-555 and matching pre-amp were truly better than most of the mass -fi of the day. More real current and drive without gimmicks. No caps in the audio path of the pre-amp. BIG plus.
Impressive how you can say schiit with a straight face. Bravo
Bought my first Adcom 500 and 535 in 1989 added a Fostek surround sound processor and Adcom 2535 amp in 1991 creating a 5 channel system. Built a Dyna Audio kit speaker system about the same time. I own some high end Yamaha, but keep returning to to the Adcom for its richness and sound quality...
Glad that I found you. I've been having issues matching a class D amp in my system using a Moon Audio P3 preamplifier. The listening fatigue I was experiencing was disturbing. After watching your video, I remember about my garaged GTP-500 I ignored for years. So decided to match it up with the Class D amp and I was amazed how sweet of a combination these two made. I was also impressed with the headphone amp on the GTP-500. No more listening fatigue to report.
THANKS!
Wow. Glad I could help! Thanks
Just subscribed, glad you are doing this, welcome. I collect and repair vintage audio equipment. Just went through a NAD 3155 integrated amp cleaned the pots, switches, and checked out the functions for a friend.
I use an Adcom GFP-565 preamp and have two modified Adcom GFA-545 mk II amps, and an Adcom GFP-535 mk II amp. Nelson Pass design, still haven't found anything new that is within my budget that I like better. The mods include a negative feedback modification for a warmer sound, and a hotter bias to the transistor output section. Nelson Pass himself recommended the hotter bias to improve the sonics.
I found a NAD 3155 integrated amp in the street with a NAD tuner, it's one of the best amps I've ever owned & the phono section (MM/MC) sounds terrific & natural!!!
I just bought an Adcom GFA 535 II for a very decent price. The seller's excellent rating and information convinced me to get it. I should have it in a few days. Unless it sounds fantastic right out of the box, I want to find a tech to look it over. A few articles I found said Nelson Pass designed the circuitry for this amp and other Adcom models. Now I want an NAD to live on the shelf next to it. This is fun. 😹
Nice to see you have the Proacs set up correctly (tweeter on the inside). I really enjoy your videos... I'm a bit of an audiophile on a budget, myself, so i appreciate where you're coming from with these videos you make. Cheers!
Great video! Fun going thru 1970's and 90's from Dynakit to Pioneer to Luxman, to Kinergetics, to Adcom and B&K. Now, I have IcePower amp with vintage Luxman. So fun!
Nice video! I was pleased to see a 10,000 Maniacs record in the stack. In My Tribe is one of my favorite albums.
Mine too!
I still have my and listen to what I guess is considered Vintage equipment. Purchased together in 1987, a NAD 1300 Preamp, a NAD 2600 Amp , a Dual CS5000 TT, a Onkyo 6 disc CD player and most importantly, a pair of KEF 104/ 2 Tower speakers. All of this in a 2 channel system, no Sub woofer needed. Other than a preamp repair last fall, the system sounds terrific. At 69 yo, retired due to spinal issue disabilities during 2020 COVID pandemic creating a Hibernation from the virus that was unleashed upon the worls (thats a different discussion forum), I also created a new basement stereo setup. No video for now. Denon DRA 800H Receiver, Tascam CD player recorder, Tascam double cassette player / recorder, and a Teac CD / CASSETTE, / USB player and recorder, 1 pair of Elac Debut Reference speakers, 1 pair of Fluance Signature Series Surround HiFi Bookshelf speakers, and 1 pair of Elac Debut 6.2s, and a Mononptice 60 Watt SW. Also added both the Schiit Saga+ and Schiit Mani. The Mani is a superior phono preamp than the Denon. Also threw in the Schiit Loki (a very simple equalizer that works very well). To experiment and expand the 2.1 stereo system , I just acquired a IOTAVXSA3 Integrated amp and a Emotiva A300 Amp. This "hobby" can definitely become an obession ......... too much time on my hands in hibernation. Oh thank you Amazon with their liberal return policies. I agree with the presenter (sorry don't know his name), switching cables and configurations is troublesome. I think the "best setup " is the IOTA and Emotiva connsetup to paralleled Elac Debut Reference speakers and the Fluances in the rear of the room (where I have my drum kit - yeah I went ack to playing after a 50 Year Hiatus), and use the Denon to drive the Elac Debuts in the front of the room. It is impossible for me to compare the Living room setup to the basement studio. But both have wonderful listening experiences . Sorry for rambling.......hey hibernation is to blame. Be safe all .
I managed to dig up my step dad's old adcom gfa 555, it luckily only needed a new fuse for one of the channels and it works beautifully, sadly the gfp 565 that came with it has long since been fried (from a lightning storm before i was even born), but he had a passive adcom slc 505 that does the same job, and doesn't even take up an outlet. Right now my speakers are nothing too special (MCS three ways from the 80s), but there are a pair of working magneplanar 20.7 loudspeakers in the basement, I'd love to use them, but we only have so much room and 2 very active dogs
But its really cool to look up this stuff that I had no clue of its value or quality, or who even made it and actually see that people still hold them in high regard today
I've got an Adcom GFP-565 preamp that does the job well for me in my bedroom system. It ticks all the boxes - tone controls I can bypass, headphones sound fine and no complaints about the phono stage. I did have a Saga without the tube but it didn't grab me so I sold it. My other Schiit gear - a Modi DAC, Mani phono pre and Heresy headphone amp, are all quality and were inexpensive - a great combo. Excellent video.
Cheers, Tom
That's an extremely good preamp. Nice. Cheers!
I have a NAD 1300 pre-amp that is amazing. In terms of value for the sound quality, it's hard to believe. Adcom did make some incredible components. My GFA 5200 drives a pair of MBL 323"s beautifully. I sold my Audio Research SP-14, and really don't miss it. I'd like to see Schiit make a full size hybrid power amp! Schiit makes "The Sh%t"
Very familiar...in the 1980s NAD was the brand I aspired to own (and Rotel too) but they were still out of my price range. My first upgrade from a Denon receiver around 1990 was an Adcom GFA-545 II and GTP-400 tuner-preamp because they were what I could afford. No regrets-I still have them! I also have a complete top of the line NAD system now (from 1989). Both the NAD and Adcom have good phono stages, but are now being fed by a Schiit Mani and Modi 3.
I found a NAD 3155 integrated amp in the street with a NAD tuner, sounds terrific with a great phono section (MM/MC)!!!
Outstanding video! I own & love both Adcom & Schiit. I use a Modi/Loki Mini/Magni stack for my headphones and they sound incredible. I have multiple Adcom systems, a GTP-400 & GFA-535 II into 1st gen Paradigm Studio 60's and a GTP-450 & GFA-5200 into 1st gen Paradigm Studio 20's. The Adcoms make the Paradigms sound great no matter what type of music I'm listening to. Keep up the great work.
I used to sell high-end audio equipment in the late 80's-early 90's in San Francisco. I sold NAD and Adcom, but my favorite sounding, that I eventually purchased, and still have in my home's living room 30 years later, is B&K amps and pre-amps, which were designed and manufactured in Lackawanna, NY. I own an EX-442 power amp and Pro-10 MC pre-amp. When I auditioned them back in the day, I found them to be warmer and more tube-like than either Adcom or NAD from that period. But at the same time the detail, sound-stage, impact, and imaging didn't take a back seat to anyone.
At the time I was able to compare them directly to much more expensive equipment, like Mark Levinson and Krell solid state gear, and Conrad Johnson tube gear in our listening rooms. I just personally found the B&K equipment to give the best bang for the buck, and I still love listening to them all these years later.
I've been listening to my NAD 7100/2100 receiver/amp combo for over 30 years. First with Boston Acoustics A400s biamped, now running them mono with a pair of big Polks. Just bought a new Denon receiver to replace. NAD sounds way better !! Took Denon to work for shop stereo !! Vintage NAD rocks on !!!
I have several Adcom pieces like new in their original boxes. They were bought new and almost never used, GTP 500ii Preamp/Tuner, GFA 545 Amplifier, GCD 575 CD player, and ACE 515 AC Line Enhancer. I do intend to use them in the future but will need to purchase better speakers than what I could afford back in the 1980’s!
Schiit audio has some really great sounding gear, for little money. My favorite is the Schiit Mani. I want a better, more detailed phono amp in the future, but the Mani is really superb for the 💰. Love the Walsh Ohm speakers, by the way!!
I used to have the GFP 1a, which came out 2-3 years after the GFP 1... It had so much versatility, especially in the phono section with selectable cartridge load options. I would get another in a heartbeat
Hey, those Adcom amplifiers like the 535, 555 and 565 were great amps for the money and they were designed by Nelson Pass. My first NAD piece was a 3080 integrated which I bought in 1978 - it was a powerhouse! In the late 80's my Robertson 4010 died so the audio store owner gave me the Adcom 535 in exchange it, was quite good.
Another series that people forget about that adcom produced that was also designed by Nelson pass was the GFA 5xxx series. I've got the 5400 and it uses a MOSFET design versus the original 555 series, but it's a stellar sounding amp nonetheless and you can usually pick them up pretty cheap nowadays
They were NOT designed by Nelson Pass. I talked to him personally about that and my GFA-5802. Adcom licenced existing PASS topology and made it themselves. Nelson said he did not design or build anything for adcom.
I owned and enjoyed a GFA-535 with an SAE preamp for years -- good stuff at a reasonable price back in the day. That said, nowadays a carefully selected Chinese "chip amp" can sound just a good, if not better all things being equal. Don't get me wrong, I love and use vintage audio gear -- but when it comes to amplification, modern gear can be every bit as good at a far lower cost with the bonuses of much smaller size and vastly less power consumption, presuming you know what to look for and how to get the most out of it.
My dad left me 6 adcom 535. Been switching them out, play all amps for 2 months 2@ time.
I use an Adcom GFA 555 with an NAD M3 integrated preamp section. The combo is dumbfoundingly awesome with my JBL L100 Classics. That old Adcom stuff is incredible for the $.
I have the same set up. I like the NAD preamp better than the Adcom preamp.
they are rare here in europe,i just got a gfa 545mk2 with 555 preamp,i am in love and it does drive my quantum jr's like dream and they match. wow what a combo adcom and infinity i would not give them for no other gear
Thanks for the video, I love my ADCOM gear more and more.
I'm in process of looking for a vintage adcom power amp. I fondly remember my last one, and since I picked up these vintage Magnapans, I want vintage power...and lots of it!
ProAc is a total sleeper! Scored a pair of Studio mk II in similar condition as your Walsh, they sound amazing!
Hell yeah ! Thanks for the video keep them coming !
I still am using my old 60 Watt per channel Adcom GFA 535. Still works great.
I found a NAD 3100 top of the range monitor series in a bin took it home it worked and got it fully recapped and serviced. It's very powerful for a 50w per channel amp sounds like a 100w. Sound quality after recap is amazing. Now trying to buy a set a speakers to match
I’m glad to see a Kate Bush album. I was beginning to think I was the only one who still listened to her. I wish I had acquired an Adcom GFA-555 years ago. I have a pair of Magnepan MMG’s but don’t have a beefy amp to drive them. The Adcom would be ideal. I can’t verify this but I’ve been hearing reports about Schiit gear not being terribly dependable. Also hear their service isn’t great either. Could just be rumors.
I started with NAD integrated, and then got Adcom GFP-555 preamp, then 565, and then the 750, which I still own today. I only wish it was more full featured like the 565. I might have kept the 565 if it had remote volume.
yes, I have both, the adcom GTP series preamp, the schiit saga + easily trumps the adcom in terms of dynamics and transparency. Your finding my guess will be the matching of both preamps to your amp. I believe old amps have that bright sounding character, I used a schiit aegir in both comparisons. Cheers, man nice vid.
I use Adcom GTP600. Not going anywhere.
Funny stumbling across this. I used a pair of GFA555s to power Maggie 2c back in the 80's. With an entry level Conrad-Johnson pre. After all that time, I just picked up Maggie a pair of LRS (which I plan to hot rod w/ outboard crossover, like I did with the old ones) but now will be using a Schiit Vidar for power. Still, old school tube pre.......a Mapletree Ultra SE (which is actually better than that old CJ) though I did just get a Saga S to see if I like sound enough to have remote volume and a smaller foot print The Mapletree is 2 non-stackable units, the PS and the amp (but does sound fantastic) . I'm super impressed by Schiit build quality (in US) sound and price. I now have the Vidar, the Saga S, a Bifrost, and Bifrost 2. Truly a ticket into hi end audio for mass market price. Which was what Adcom offered.
Now you're talking... Can't beat analog, and Adcom is one of the best, love it!!
had the Adcom been recapped, it could sound even better being up to specs against a new shitt preamp!
Just discovered your channel. Love it! I was looking for a reason to get the KEF Q150's and also a reason to get my Marantz 2252 refurbed. Have you looked at any of the Aiyima stuff? Looking at getting the Aiyima T9 Pro for desktop to handle KEF's and bluetooth sound. 2252 longer term project. Didn't realize how important the amp is to getting the most out of speakers.
Thanks. Not tried anything by Aiyima.
Dude...You killed me with this video. I love Adcom. I have two systems in different rooms. Both with Adcom GFA-555 amps and Adcom GTP-500 preamps. I have the system that has my turntable on it...right now I have it hooked up to the Manui with the gain turned down. It's a cool sound. I have to turn up the volume on my Adcom. It's a clean sound. I may go back to the Adcom preamp. On both systems I have a CD player. I run em through an Adcom DAC. A great sound. So the one thing that I've done is, one system is book self speakers. I have two. Elacs and Kliipch. I like to swap em out. They both sound great but for different reasons. My other system I'm using JSE Infinite Slope Model 2's. 125 lbs each...5 drivers. They can piss my neighbors off when I crank em. I do use a sub for both systems. So I love Adcom stuff...and Adcom has started to make the GFA-555 again. These amps are tanks and are incredible....One more thing...Don't turn your Adcom GFA555 off. I leave mine on 24/7....Thanks...
I have the same stereo system but I need to find out what is missing and how to connect them and if I missing anything because it doesn’t play maybe I’m not connecting them right. P.s I know that it is a good stereo system my system is or shall I say looks like it was hardly used.
@@marieantoinette81 Ok...so explain to me what is missing? I can help...
@@AmericanConstellation . I’m just trying to find out if I’m missing anything so that I can connect the stereo system, because I had someone try to connect it and they said that it was not working, I just think they don’t know how to connect it. 😁😁😁
@@marieantoinette81 I'll try to help you later today...
@@AmericanConstellation . Awe thank you. Hopefully I have all the connections to connect it.
I like my Adcom gfp 750 preamp and gfa 7000 five channel amp.
Also have
Plinius M8 preamp and Plinius SA 102 x 2 and Plinius P8 and SA 100mk3
Conrad Johnson met 1 multichannel pteamp
Cary cad 300b sei
Dared VP 845 sei
Still love my Adcom with JBL L X 600
Very warm and detailed sound
Natalie Merchants album Tigerlilly got extensive playtime as did Alice and Chains and Mazzy Star.
Underated products
When i first purchased my Adcom produ ts around 1996 new i went to radio shack and spoke to a sales person and he said theyre great products rated up with Mcintosh gear!
Ill keep mine till im gone.
In audio amplifiers I never much cottoned to NAD or Adcom. Most of the stuff they made sounded a bit thin and shrink wrapped typical of modern IC filled electronics. Schiit is different. While not state of the art they represent the overall best sound per dollar spent of any company I'm aware of.
Loved the break down if the Chit bro
Yes Sir . I had to pull out my old Adcom gtp 350 after my Marantz died.
Adcom is JUST LOVELY .your lucky you found a adcom
I had one of those Adcom preamps. Really great. Now I have a John Curl Parasound preamp. PHP-850. I think it is better than the Adcom, but not by much.
The GFP-1 and GFP-1A are a discrete circuit implementation, which requires some expertise.
They did cut costs by using back-to-back electrolytic caps, but that's easy to fix, since there is plenty of space inside.
The phono stage on these two units has a JFET front-end and is very decent for MM. Use the TAPE OUT to skip all the tone and line preamp circuits.
Later on Adcom hired Walt Jung from Analog Devices to design the GFP-565 phono, based on the ultra low-noise LT1028 IC biased into class A.
That one is the "real shit"!
Do you think it’s worth investing any funds into the GFP-1?
@@MODAC it depends on your expectations.
If you are putting together a budget system and consider the likes of a Schiit Mani or iFi Zen, then yes, especially if you can DIY the minor mods.
I bought a used GFP-1 many years ago and ran it for a year in my main system, then I moved on to tube separates.
I still keep this modded GFP-1 as a backup MM phono preamp. It acquits itself well in that role.
I also had the NAD 1020B from the same era. It produces a much warmer sound from its phono stage compared to the GFP-1, which is more detailed.
Both units are accomplished in their own way. The choice depends on your taste.
I found a NAD 3155 integrated amp in the street with a NAD tuner. The NAD has a terrific MM/MC phono section, very natural sounding!!! I'm seriously considering that Adcom GFP-1 preamp for a second set-up for my turntables which I see you can hook up 2 tt's, that's great!!!
Yes I have the same experience with NAD phono sections! I tried the phono section on 4-5 different amps before I got the NAD, which was the best I heard so far
@@kfernandes86 I hear ya! I have no need to upgrade, not missing out on anything as far as sound quality. I guess the new companies are learning from the old school technicians that made amps sound great from the start! Which NAD do you have?
@@rc52 I first had a 3125 for a nearfield/bedroom setup. But it sounds very good even in my main system. Then I got the preamplifier 106 (I believe its from mid 80s). But I was lucky, the previous owner had done a full recap and replaced all the capacitors with Nichicon. Also I was reading that their phono stage is a full discrete design. It's the best sound from phono I heard so far (I have Rega Planar 3 with Nagaoka MP110)
NAD are underestimated coz of their designs but great sound quality....
ADCOM has been my go-to brand on the used market when needing amplification. They hit a sweet spot for value, build quality, and sound. Plus they aren't rare, so you can still find them when you need them. My first two ADCOM pieces were new; a GFP-750 and GFA-5500. Seems they were competing with the likes of NAD, Parasound, Rotel, and Cambridge Audio back in the day. Since then over the years I have picked up used GFA-555II, 5400, and 5300 amps, a GFP-565, and a GCD-700. So I have a small collection of ADCOM gear and all are in use! I also just got my first piece of Schiit a few months ago, a SYS passive preamp. It is used as a volume control for the GFA-5300 which powers some exterior speakers on my deck. The SYS was very inexpensive, and wasn't up to finding another ADCOM pre to do the job at a higher cost.
Hi, i know its late comment
I just wanted to ask about adcom gfa 555, i do have gfa 555 ii, but always scared on my speakers coz there is no speaker protection in the amp, whenever i switch it on, i see speakers cone pulls back equally,
It’s a little risky. I blew a pair of Celestion woofers with one and made a video about it. Sold the 555. All my amps have relays now.
@@mohdaleskafi7606 the speaker relays are part of the design of the amps. Thanks!
Im not into much technecalities, just a begginer, but trying to save my ls50s
Amp works just fine i belive, but i wanted to be extra causious
I have an Adcom 5800 running Martin Logan EM ESL's....sounds fantastic !!
I wish I still had my GFP 565 Preamplifier and GFA 565 Monoblocks.
I am going to keep my eyes open for some Adcom gear
Plenty of it about.
Great video! Thanks! How do the saga+ and vahalla 2 compare as preamplifiers?
Own a Hafler 220 power amp and Hafler preamp - have you listened to either of them?
Used to own them! They were great.
I worked at a retailer that sold both Adcom and NAD back in the 80s.
Me too!
Me three!
Did you get a nice discount?
I just bought a new adcom preamp, little weird buying but sounds great
My first "real" stereo equipment was a 1980s NAD receiver. A few year ago I bought one of those ADCOM tuner/preamp combo units at Goodwill for 20 bucks. The FM didn't work, and it seems to be a common problem with these units. Sold it for 25 buck to a guy who didn't care about the FM....5 bucks profit!
Nice review!!! Happy New Year!!!
Thank you. Same to you!
Quality of internal NAD components? They are known to be largely DOA today with replacement components unavailable.
I’ve have good luck with NAD gear.
However, I’m talking about sound quality, not reliability. There are many fantastic sounding products that may fall short sometimes and break.
@@MODAC My own experience with NAD at this point is just about all have failed, so I"m not sure they would be considered a good alternative to modern components now. In contrast, my Adcom preamp is going strong and sounding great.
No body talks about SOUNDCRAFTSMEN out of Santa Ana Ca I still have a working DX pre AMP EQ combo originally paired with a PCR800 power AMP
I have an Adcom system that has been sitting in used for quite a few years now . I’ve only used the pre amp which was there highest end model in 1991 . I got that n the 555 lol power amp n there ac enhancer .i still have everything in storage . My snell e/lll floor standing speakers n my h/k flag ship bit stream cd player . Then up graded to denons multi sacd DVD player second to there flag ship . Wish I could get everything up n running again but snells need to be fixed . Just had a new set of speakers I could prolly put it all together . Just not sure if the amp will work 100% after all this time not being used ☹️ but man did that system sound great . Just wished I had a more high end turn table at the time because the pre amp has a very nice phono pre amp built into it .
I used to want to buy Proton.. Did go up to Carver.
Still miss the adcom pre, nad amp and Harmon disc player that disappeared from my apartment
Had you have experience with the Adcom GTP-350 Tuner / Preamp? What is your opinion on that, if not, are there other Adcom preamps you could recommend?
Well,NAD,before they went for the britisch budget high end style,they came with brushed silver faceplates and pretty japanese styled over.
Hi there
I'm from the UK and you've missed out another low budget giant killer.
Mission Cyrus one was a very simple amplifier but although not loud the details are stunning .
Please try and get hold of one
Kindest regards from Old Blighty
Richard
I owned one in 1986. It was very good, but a reputation for being rather unreliable. Thx.
Great video. I liked the understated look of the NAD products in the 80s, sadly at the time I couldn't afford one. I was wondering why you had a tape dispenser next to your NAD. Was it an Easter egg or a subtle reminder that you use tape players?
Don’t read too much into my goofy videos. Thanks.
Enjoyed the review, and I had the same conclusion when I compared the Saga to an active preamp. I suspect the differences that made you prefer the Adcom pre is because it's also active compared to the passive Saga +? The pre that sounded better to me over my Saga was the Freya+. Schiit does make excellent gear.
Found this searching for help swapping out the power switch on my Adcom GTP-450. Its so hard to find a repair shop that's qualified.
I dunno, although Adcom and NAD are decent, they're more like the new Pioneer and Kenwood. If I were to compare Schiit to anyone from a while back, it'd be Acurus / Mondial. The L-10/RL-11 preamp were pretty much up to Krell build standards, and you could get them for Adcom and NAD money back then, and the build quality was much, much higher.
I'm a Adcom GTP-400 owner! Can't beat it. Have you tried your Valhalla 2 as a preamp? Other users claim it's makes a great sounding way to get into tubes.
Watch my Sad Celestion video for the answer. Thx
@@MODAC Bummer about the speaker driver, hope you find one. I found a link to a video that shows how to fix the power up noise of the Valhalla 2. ruclips.net/video/By3Waot6KzA/видео.html
I still would like to know your thoughts on the sound of the Valhalla compared to an older Adcom solid state using it as a preamp?
What tubes do you like for the Sega +? I would like to try other tubes with mine. Thanks!
I’m using a vintage NOS RCA VT-231 6SN7. It honestly only makes a very subtle difference. I tried many different ones.
great vid! thank you
I have the Adcom GFP-1 that I bought brand new in 81. I'm considering replacing it with the Parasound P6.
What do you think?
(My power amp is the Parasound A23+).
Sure, Parasound makes great stuff and are still in business.
Thanks. I watched around 500 videos trying to make a choice and decided purist audiophiles are crazy. LOL. I ordered the P6 a few days ago and will have to wait as there's none left in the country.
My GFP-1 still works fine and I'm sure hoping the P6 will be an improvement but after forty years... it is time.
I have this stereo system but I’m not sure how to connect it. Lol I think I’m missing something though.
I've always been a fan of NAD. I'm afraid you're wrong about NAD's industrial design 'efforts' which were inspired by the legendary Braun design aesthetics. Adcom always looked cheaper to me.
I recall preferring B&K to Adcom back in the day.
Never heard any B&K gear myself.
Arent they made like Schiit too ?
How is the 555? I am going to pick up a 5800 tomorrow!
I like it. Found one for $75 and quickly closed the deal. Just had it serviced.
@@MODAC You stole that. I just paid $400 today for this 5800. I am about to hook it up to my Carver C16.
@@TheMaxx111 If you've seen my other videos, I'm pretty good at finding deals. It takes effort. How is yours?
@@MODAC I just got it hooked up. The set up was a Technics 1200 mk 2 with a Goldring 1042 running through a Radial J33 Phono stage, Onkyo Receiver powering Infinity Il-60 towers and HSU 15" powered sub. I just hooked it up. I pulled out the J33 and the Onkyo and have the 1200 connected to a Carver C-16 pre amp and that controlling the Adcom 5800. The mids and vocals sound recessed hollow to me, I am not sure what it is going on. I had that Carver controlling my Dynaco 70 and loved it. The source was my computer through a Topping e30 DAC. I am thinking maybe the Carver Phono stage is not to my liking. I am going to put the J33 back in and see if that fixes the hollow midrange.
Are phono cartridge settings on the back of the Carver set properly?
I'm considering starting my own audio company called Fuhk Audio. What does everyone think?
Most of the desirable Adcom and NAD gear has gone up in price and even if they do work its hard to say if they sound anything like they did when new, being 40 years old I doubt it. This may very for others but where I Iive there's nearly no repair shops. The ones still around are busy fixing other electronics and can squeeze ya in maybe in the next 3 months for $100 an hour. No thanks, I'll take the Emotiva PT-100 or TA-100 with warranty. I like old gear and appreciate it but the value, risk, reward doesn't jive for me.
I am very lucky to have someone local who can do repairs well. He doesn’t charge $100/hr, more like $35. That is a factor for sure.
@@MODAC Lucky you. I can replace caps, resistors, etc but don't have the proper equipment to test even after things have all been replaced. Don't get me wrong a nice piece of vintage gear comes up for free or cheap I'll take it. 😉
Dynaco was the value brand in the 1960s
And 1970s.
Too bad you couldn't do this in a double blind or ABX.No matter how hard you try, knowing which you're listening to, will always influence your opinion.
How the heck am I supposed to a double blind test by myself? Virtually no one does them because they require too much time and effort. Thx.
I have that turntable could you send me a photo of the mat ? Via Facebook messenger? My auto playback doesn't work i think my turntable mat doesn't have the necessary slots
i have some ohm walsh 2 xo. bass driver has a buzz.
Wouldn't vintage preamps and amps play CDs at a Warmer level due to the DACs ? My NAD 1300 Preamp has a CD input but I would think si ce it is a 1987 unit, probably has a different DAC. I don't profess by any means about the technicalities of current stereo equipment, but just rely on my 69 year old ears. Times......they are a changin..... Hey when CDs first came out in the early 80s , i said this was just fad. To me tge original Cds sku ded tinny , but that has changed Drastically.
And where is the promised comparison ?
Yamaha c65 is the Chit
The shit is no substitute so the comparing is flawed
I'd believe you if you weren’t getting kick backs.
Kick backs??
That is a DX 4200
I can't help it. Yoy keep saying sbit. lol. I used to have an NAD
I refuse to purchase a product carrying the name Shiit. Really? They couldn't come up with a better name?
You spelled it wrong. Don’t be such a prude. It’s awesome stuff. Give it a chance.
@@MODAC I'm not offended by the name. I just think it's stupid.