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Digital Drive: REVIEW: Adcom GDA-700 DAC Processors by Belgarchi

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REVIEW: Adcom GDA-700 DAC Processors

216.80.143.3


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Model: GDA-700
Category: DAC Processors
Suggested Retail Price: $1000.00
Description: D/A Converter Featuring the UltraAnalog Jitter receiver
Manufacturer URL: Adcom

Review by Belgarchi on April 01, 2010 at 18:32:09
IP Address: 216.80.143.3
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for the GDA-700


This DAC is very well built, two transformers (one toroidal), Ultra Analog AES-21 receiver, excellent Burr-Brown 1702 DAC (20 bits) and is HDCD compatible. By the way, it is a pity that HDCD is dead, there was a genuine sound quality improvement, different than SACD but not really inferior (subjectively), with 16 bits only!
Now, what is puzzling is the very ordinary sound quality, not better than a CD-Player of ~$750 ten years ago.
The bandwidth seemed to be restricted (lack of deep bass and upper high frequencies), and the most annoying was a non-existent soundstage (no depth, narrow,, fuzzy image).
Inferior to a plain $500 MSB Link-II in terms of sound quality.


Product Weakness: Sound, especially lack of deep bass and bad soundstage
Product Strengths: Built quality


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Adcom GFA-545-II
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Adcom GFP-565
Sources (CDP/Turntable): See review
Speakers: B&W M802s2
Cables/Interconnects: Monster Cable, Kimber
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Various
Room Size (LxWxH): 30 x 20 x 15
Room Comments/Treatments: Neutral
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Monster Cable, Panamax
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Adcom GDA-700 DAC Processors - Belgarchi 18:32:09 04/1/10 ( 7)