Adcom GFA-555 & GFP-555

[mhartman29]

I saw an ad for what seems like an inexpensive combination of these items. I tried to read up on them a little here and google, but didn't find too much.

What do you all think of this pre & amp combo? Is it worth buying for stereo applications?

[ben62670]

The Pre is harsh(not terrible, but grainy) It is very punchy, has a great tuner, and a phono input. The amp Kicks butt. You can get $100 for the Pre all day long if you decide not to keep the pre. A lot depends on your speakers to. What are you planning on driving with this?

[vonnie123]

The preamp is a good device that has tuner, aux, and phono inputs. I sold mine a couple of years ago for around $125 The GFA 555 amp is a great machine, although I had to change out the RCA input jacks due to a mechanical failure. I bought it new in 1988 and it has served me well. A couple of cooling fans on top of the amp case would benefit the device.

[engtaz]

Amp is great but prefer other pre's.

engtaz

[George Grand]

That amp's grainy top end seems like it would be a perfect match to the grainy preamp. I never had the pre, but that amp? Grain city.

[heiney9]

I've had several Adcom's never found them grainy. Different strokes for left handed people. At that price you could easily recoup your funds if it turned out you didn't like either or both. I say go for it and see for yourself.

H9

EDIT: oops you didn't post a price. If it's $400 or less for both that's a decent price. Not a steal at $400 but decent. IMO, the only Adcom pre that is any good is the GFP-750. The others are very very mediocre.

[Wesley Snipes]

I just picked up the GFA 555 (rack mount) on ebay for $250.. I haven't yet recieved it but pretty good deal? Is it rated 200 wpc RMS? or is that peak? It's hard to find info on this amp.

[heiney9]

I just picked up the GFA 555 (rack mount) on ebay for $250.. I haven't yet recieved it but pretty good deal? Is it rated 200 wpc RMS? or is that peak? It's hard to find info on this amp.

Here's some info. 200W x2 @ 8 ohms 325W x2 @ 4 ohms and that is a conservative rating as many tested higher than the factory specs.

http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/678/

H9

[heiney9]

1989 Measurements

The Adcom GFA-555 was a powerhouse. Output at clipping was 231.7W into 8 ohms (23.6dBW), increasing to 331.9W into 4 ohms (22.2dBW). Like the PS Audio 200C, however, the GFA-555 blew output fuses when asked to drive a 2 ohm load to high levels. Again, the power supply seems much more robust than the output stages. Incidentally, I have owned a GFA-555 for about three years and never had a fuse blow during normal (music-listening) use.

Frequency response was very flat over the band (fig.1), with a slight (0.2dB) rolloff at 20Hz and 20kHz. There was about a 0.1dB level difference between channels. Output impedance was extremely low at 0.05 ohm over most of the band, rising to 0.07 ohm at 20kHz. THD was constant across the audible band at about 0.04% with 5W output into 8 ohms.

H9

[mhartman29]

Thanks for all the info guys!!!

[a_mattison]

I've had several Adcom's never found them grainy. Different strokes for left handed people.

I'm left handed and wouldn't replace my GFA-555 for anything anywhere close the $300's I paid for it. I've never experienced any grainyness either.

Buy the combo, sell the pre.

[mhartman29]

Unfortunately, I lost out on the item. I emailed the guy, but he had already sold it! Oh well, I know to keep my eye out for that amp. Thanks again for all the info!