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In Reply to: RE: Should I consider an Adcom GFA-555? posted by bboroski on January 05, 2012 at 11:07:41
As others have suggested, your $750 would be better spent elsewhere.Far too many newer and better options.
Follow Ups:
New Rule: Whenever somebody says "There are better options", he has to say what they are.
My point was that the 555 is probably only worth between $250-$350 depending on condition. As far as suggestions, I'd just be repeating one or two of the dozens already listed in this thread. New rule: Take your pick.
Hi all ! For $400 - $500 hard to beat the Belles A150 .
But which brands possess the bass slam that the Adcoms are known for?
On the bass slam issue, others will have to comment. My point was that with $750 to spend, the Adcom 555 should not be on your list. Maybe at half your budget?
The Electron Kinetics Eagle amps completely embarrass the 555 in the bass. As Jim noted the Bryston amps are also excellent in that regard although the ST and later amps are substantially fuller and smoother sounding in the mids and highs than their earlier amps. The Odyssey Stratos Extreme and Mono (I've never heard a Khartago) also have significantly better bass than the Adcoms. Ditto the PSE Studio IV and V. It has been awhile since I last heard a McCormack DNA 0.5, 1, 125 or 225 but with the possible exception of the 0.5 I'm fairly confident that these have better bass performance than the Adcoms. There probably are several other examples I'm not thinking of right now, the 555 and its descendents are IMO highly overrated.
Plantsman,
Not sure how you are coming up with this, the adcom amplfiers where never rated over the amps you listed and cost far less new or used, so whatg makes them overrated..?
Speaking of overrated, try anything Eagle kinetics, the big ones are so unstable you should stay away from running them anywhere near 4 ohms or less. The McCormacks are good amplifiers and so is the Bryston, they are priced above the 555 easily.
Regards,
Where I'm coming up with this is that I worked for dealer that sold most of these amps when they were new and I've had many of them in my home. If the Eagle 7A is an amp you are referring to as one of "the big ones" I've seen that amp run both Maggies and Acoustats with no issues.The OP indicated that he was prepared to spend up to $750 used and most of the amps I cited are available used for that amount or less (the more recent McCormacks being a probable exception) with reasonable careful shopping. The PSE amps were in the same price ballpark as the Adcoms when new and walked all over them in almost every regard.
The Adcom was, in it's day, reviewed as something of "giant killer". It wasn't true then and it isn't true today but fan boys on the internet keep the myth alive that this was/is an exceptional amp for the money.
Edits: 01/07/12
Been there, done that (and really wish I hadn't sold 'em).
Jim
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