Hi-Rez Highway

• I trust you have made this evaluation on someone else's system. - Ozzie 10:01:06 03/01/07 (11)
  In Reply to: The Groove Note SACDs are excellent, though the 180 Gram LPs are better, never heard the CD versions. posted by Teresa on March 1, 2007 at 00:56:17:

  I have finally had a look at your system. Hmm, no CD player whatsoever anymore. With that amplifier choice, it is no wonder LPs, with their high frequency rolloff, sound better than any digital.
  
  

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  • Bashing someone else's gear for no good reason is extremely discourteous (nt) - racerguy 16:09:12 03/02/07 (4)
    In Reply to: I trust you have made this evaluation on someone else's system. posted by Ozzie on March 1, 2007 at 10:01:06:

    .
    
    

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    • Sometimes claims have to be qualified. - Ozzie 10:25:01 03/08/07 (3)
      In Reply to: Bashing someone else's gear for no good reason is extremely discourteous (nt) posted by racerguy on March 2, 2007 at 16:09:12:

      I chose to do that.
      
      

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      • No you don't, you choose to attack a very high quality and fantastic sounding product for no reason whatsoever. - Teresa 15:36:03 03/08/07 (2)
        In Reply to: Sometimes claims have to be qualified. posted by Ozzie on March 8, 2007 at 10:25:01:

        Why attack Adcom? Why not attack the 99% of products that are cold, sterile and lifeless and all of the above and outrageously priced as well.

        Adcom gives excellent sound at an affordable price, why does that bother you?
        
        "Music is love"
        Teresa
        
        

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        • Attack, I am merely giving my rather informed opinion. - Ozzie 03:34:24 03/13/07 (1)
          In Reply to: No you don't, you choose to attack a very high quality and fantastic sounding product for no reason whatsoever. posted by Teresa on March 8, 2007 at 15:36:03:

          Remember this?:

          "The Groove Note SACDs are excellent, though the 180 Gram LPs are better, never heard the CD versions."

          I was giving you my very plausable reason why LPs may sound better than SACDs in your system. You bought the fact that you have a nice tube pre amp. Was that for it's linearity or that this particular model may roll the highs off ever so slightly, thus negating the effects of the amp of choice.

          So you are saying that 99% of all audio products are cold, sterile and lifeless? Sorry Teresa, Adcom, while an ok value, was never ever close to the be all end all for transparency. For the same price, the reviewer in me would have to give Parasound the nod.
          
          

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          • While I will buy the idea my tubed pre-amp may change the character of the sound it doesn’t roll off the highs. - Teresa 21:26:24 03/13/07 (0)
            In Reply to: Attack, I am merely giving my rather informed opinion. posted by Ozzie on March 13, 2007 at 03:34:24:

            The frequency response of the AMC CVT-1030 tubed pre-amp with the Direct Mode on is 4kHz-80kHz –3dB and 20kHz-20kHz +/- 0.5dB. No high frequency roll off here.

            The pre-amp I had prior to the AMC is was a Yamaha CX-630 solid state pre-amp known for it’s warm sound. So if one has a cold sounding pre-amp then it is possible the Adcom GFA-555II may not be a good mate. I don’t know as I generally avoid cold sounding equipment.

            The only reason LPs sound better in my system is because better LPs are sonically superior. But the best by far are the best Reel to Reel tapes. If you ever get a chance listen to a Sound Ideas real time duplicated 7½ IPS reel to reel duplicated on mastering tape.

            Don’t get me wrong I love SACD and it is the best Digital has to offer but these old analog formats are just so much more realistic even if they are a royal PITA.

            Just remember I have never attacked your stereo or anyone else’s and I don't plan to.
            
            "Music is love"
            Teresa
            
            

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  • The Adcom GFA-555II was a "Class B" Stereophile recommend component and praised for it's "tube-like" sound. - Teresa 18:43:50 03/01/07 (4)
    In Reply to: I trust you have made this evaluation on someone else's system. posted by Ozzie on March 1, 2007 at 10:01:06:

    And is supposed to be sonically miles ahead of the GFA-555 original.

    Also don't forget it is fed by an AMC tubed pre-amp.

    And the EMIT tweeters in my original Infinity Reference Kappa 7's extend to 44,000Hz. And it really shows off all the high resolution formats: LP, Reel to Reel and SACD. CD has a brickwall filter at 20kHz and you can really hear the lack of high frequencies on CDs any CDs . On SACD, LP and Reel to Reel the upper high frequencies are beautiful and extended like in live music.

    The hard strident quality of CDs is in the upper midrange not the high frequencies. My new Universal Yamaha player has tamed most of these CD nasties but I would never fool myself into believing CD is a high-resolution format.

    The Groove Note SACDs are almost as good as the LPs, but I cannot comment on the CDs. Just because I refuse to comment on the CDs or even try them is no reason to attack my power amp!

    
    "Music is love"
    Teresa
    
    

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    • Come on now Teresa... - Ozzie 10:42:07 03/08/07 (1)
      In Reply to: The Adcom GFA-555II was a "Class B" Stereophile recommend component and praised for it's "tube-like" sound. posted by Teresa on March 1, 2007 at 18:43:50:

      why bring up specs? After all, as a reviewer you know that it's how something sounds that matters, now how it measures? I personally have yet to hear an Adcom product in any system that sounds anything near "tubelike." If this was in a review, someone must have been paid off. While a good amp, it does not quite do all of the things you have desrcibed. That hard strident quality that you describe very well may partly be due to your agine amplifier. Your pre amp may soften it up a bit, but that can not emeliorate it all. Like your Adcom, my old Parasound is dated. With it's power capacity, it does do quite well on the low end though.

      After I properly modded my player, there is no glare is minimalized on CDs. SACDs sound absolutely fine. Dare I say, SACDs are pretty darn close to a live mic feed. I have yet to hear an LP in any system sound close to a live mic feed. Pretty? Maybe so. Closer to live, ah, no. A good reel to reel. Absolutely yes, they sound most excellent. Didn't you give up on dual layer SACDs since they didn't sound right?
      
      

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      • Too bad you have not heard how well the best Adcom's sound, - Teresa 15:31:08 03/08/07 (0)
        In Reply to: Come on now Teresa... posted by Ozzie on March 8, 2007 at 10:42:07:

        especially the 555II's "smooth" and "warm" bass with the light delicacy and detail in the high frequencies, best Amp I have ever owned! Why do you think I kept it for 14 years?

        The only format I have heard hard strident sound on CDs. LPs, Reel to Reels, Cassettes never sound strident. And only SACDs and DVD-Audios from low resolution PCM have hard strident sound. SACDs from PURE DSD and Analog masters sound very smooth and detailed.

        Didn't you give up on dual layer SACDs since they didn't sound right?
        No because of TOC reading errors, when I play an SACD I want to play the SACD layer, not the CD layer and not be able to play the disc at all. It was all due to frustration.

        Listen to great original Adcom GFA-555II with an excellent pre-amp and speakers and you will be shocked how realistic your system will sound!

        The reason a power amp has to be stable down to 1 ohm for the Infintiy Reference Kappa's 7 is if it is not the amp will overheat and could become unstable.
        
        "Music is love"
        Teresa
        
        

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    • Re: The Adcom GFA-555II was a "Class B" Stereophile recommend component and praised for it's "tube-like" sound. - r17 22:04:37 03/01/07 (1)
      In Reply to: The Adcom GFA-555II was a "Class B" Stereophile recommend component and praised for it's "tube-like" sound. posted by Teresa on March 1, 2007 at 18:43:50:

      Hi,I used to have a 555-II,that I used to power a subwoofer in bridged mode.Used as a full range amp it was totally unlistenable-extremely grainy-with or without a tube preamp before it.
      It took me fully 2 years to sell it,even though I offered it at at a ridiculously low price.
      Not an amp that I could recommend,other than as a subwoofer amp.The 545-II that I had was much much better,and even drove my CLSs quite decently until I could afford something better.Impressive for something that cost me under 200$.
      Raanan
      
      

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      • Sorry about your bad experience, the 555II has served me well for 14 years. - Teresa 00:04:16 03/02/07 (0)
        In Reply to: Re: The Adcom GFA-555II was a "Class B" Stereophile recommend component and praised for it's "tube-like" sound. posted by r17 on March 1, 2007 at 22:04:37:

        It has helped provide the most realistic sonics my system has ever had especially the warm deep bass, the extremely wide and deep soundstage and the superb imaging. And it matches well with my finicky Infinity EMIT planer speakers which are nominal 4 ohms that dip as low as 1 ohm. There are not a lot of solid state amps stable down to 1 ohm!

        Again I am sorry you couldn't get better sound from your 555II, could it have been a problem with the amp/speaker interface?
        
        "Music is love"
        Teresa
        
        

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  • Agreed - sgb 10:44:01 03/01/07 (0)
    In Reply to: I trust you have made this evaluation on someone else's system. posted by Ozzie on March 1, 2007 at 10:01:06:

    nt
    
    

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