Need help wiring up an Adcom amp for 4 speakers

[Ron-P]

I am buying a second pair of surrounds for the side walls in the theater. I'd like, if possible, to avoid adding another amp at this time. My questions is, can I use my current 535 to power 4 surrounds either by wiring them in series or parallel?

I tried finding specs on the amp to see if it can handle a 4 or 16 ohm load but came up empty.

[marker]

But you wouldn't be getting true 7.1 if you go that route Ron. As cheap and plentiful as the baby Adcoms are, why not jusy pick up another?

[Ron-P]

The problem I am having is getting surround effects to the front row. My current surrounds are located along side the back row and the front row loses out. I need side surrounds for the front row and this seems to be the best solution for now. I will go 7.1 but not right now. Adding an amp and a pair of speakers for 7.1 won't help the front row out.

[marker]

Oh, OK, gotcha.

I think this would in effect create a 4 ohm load, but I'm sure that amp can handle it. I've got a GFA-535L of my own that still works fine, but I'm not using it right now, but out of curiosity I recently hooked it up to my set of RT2000i and IMO it drove them better than the 120 watt HK 3480 stereo receiver did.

[marker]

On second thought, why not just move the side surrounds closer to the front since you would now have 2 at the rear anyway?

[Emlyn]

The manual for the GFA-535 states the ability to drive low impedance loads, which I'm assuming means stable to at least 4 ohms continuously, but specs are only given for 8 ohms. Is this the original GFA-535? The amp should have two sets of binding posts and an A/B switch on the front. You should have no problem running four surrounds with it if they're nominal 8 ohm. The original 535 was set up to run two pairs of speakers at the same time from the same inputs (A, B, or A+B). Can you just run separate wires for each speaker and avoid running the speakers in series? It shouldn't make a difference either way.

Adcom GFA-535 (http://www.adcom.com/pdfs/gfa535manual.pdf)

[marker]

That's right! I forgot, but it does have 2 sets of A + B speaker wire posts, but they are funky speaker wire posts though. They are the only thing about that amp I don't like because it limits you on the wire you can use.

Anyways, there's your answer right there Ron! Good luck


BTW- what exactly is the difference between 535, 535 II, 535L, etc.?

[RuSsMaN]

Buy another amp Ron, and get your Y splitter on.

[SCompRacer]

Originally posted by marker



BTW- what exactly is the difference between 535, 535 II, 535L, etc.?

When I was researching the Adcom GFA-555, I read somewhere that the difference between the 555 and 555 II was the amount of distortion (circuitry improvements in the II). This might apply to the 535 too. I saw the back of a 555 II and it had four fuses under the speaker outputs too, along with a power fuse. The 555 I have just has a power fuse.

I never verified any of this info. Just passing it on.

[Ron-P]

Is this the original GFA-535?
Yes, it is.

Can you just run separate wires for each speaker and avoid running the speakers in series? It shouldn't make a difference either way.
Yes, I can. Actually, it'll be easier to do it this way rather then try and series wire the speakers.

I also forgot about the A/B switch. That will do the trick.


Buy another amp Ron, and get your Y splitter on.
I working in that direction, just can't drop all the coin at once. The 535's are selling upwards of $200 on ebay lately. I keep a direct link to Adcom and Polk stuff on the bay.

Thanks to all!

[RuSsMaN]

I'll see if I can find one for you from one of my sources.

[hoosier21]

Originally posted by marker
BTW- what exactly is the difference between 535, 535 II, 535L, etc.?

There was the original 535, it had A and B speaker outputs (one set of stereo inputs)

The revised the 535 to the 535 II, I am sure they did other revisions, but the big difference is they deleted the A-B switch and extra speaker outputs.

The 535L, has a left and right volume dial. "L" = level I guess

[Ron-P]

I'll see if I can find one for you from one of my sources.
Excellent, thanks for the help bro.

[markmarc]

I just picked up an Adcom speaker switch box for $55 shipped. And I have an original 535 in shipment to me now. I'm slowly rebuilding my system. My big decision is whether to keep or sell my Celstion SL6si speakers. They image so well on the music I listen to, but lack bass.

Oh well.....

[RuSsMaN]

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30061

Ron, nab that Adcom greg has for $100 shipped, its' close enough to the 535.

[Ron-P]

Nabbed! Thanks again Russ.