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New Member Needs Help

Hello everyone.  I am a new member and could really use some advice.  First, I hope I am posting this in the right section since I suspect the problem lies in the area of my electronics, although admittedly I am not sure.  I was a budding audiophile in my younger days and accrued some equipment, all bought new.  It consists of an Adcom GFA-555 amp, Adcom GTP-500 preamp/tuner, Adcom GCD-700 CD player and a B&O Beogram 1700 turntable.  I am using a set of Soundwave Grand Soliloquy speakers.   My wife would sometimes turn on the equipment for background music but there really hasn't been any serious listening in years.  

Having just retired I now have some free time, so after checking all the connections, I began listening to the system using the CD player as the source.  Overall, I thought it sounded very disappointing - pretty harsh and a bit thin, lacking in bass.  I couldn't listen to it very long.  I then tried the turntable.  The sound wasn't much different but the belt on the TT must be shot and the resulting rumble made serious listening difficult.

Having done some searching on this forum, I decided to pull the speaker cloth and examine the Grand Soliloquy speakers.  They looked perfect.  The cones and surrounds were butyl? rubber and looked good, as did the glue, which I read was a weak spot on some early model Soliloquys.  

So now I am wondering where to go next.  Could the amp/preamp have deteriorated that much with time?   Is that something I would audibly notice?  Would the crossovers in the speakers deteriorate over time?  Or maybe it is just my memory and I don't remember the sound very accurately?  And is any of this equipment up to today's standards and worth saving?  

I also have a pair of Ohm Walsh 2 speakers and an old Harmon Kardon HK730 receiver packed away that I could haul out for a comparison, but I am not sure that will answer any questions, and might confuse me more.  I appreciate any and all ideas from forum members.  Oh, and my room is large - about 14X22 feet.  Sorry for rambling a bit but thanks very much in advance.  
jpl



golftime
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islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
There is always another way. Since you've retired, and conceivably have time on your hands, have you thought about DIY? Most of my system consists of DIY in one way or another.

I didn't build any electronics until I was about 62 YOA. I have now built custom vintage Tannoy speakers, a Transcendent Sound preamp, and two Class D Audio amps that sound WAY better than they have any right to. Also,you may need to update the caps in your speaker crossovers to get them to sound their best.

Price for the preamp kit: $499 Price for the two amp kits: About $600 You can have them built for you at extra cost. I can state unequivocally, I want for nothing in sound quality, and wouldn't change a thing, even if I won the Powerball lotto.

Something to think about.

Regards, and best of luck,
Dan
djohnson54
396 posts
 
In addition to giving the system some time to settle in, I would get some good contact cleaner and clean all the connections from the power cord to the speakers. If the system has been connected for a while you might be surprised at the change. Oxidized connections can contribute to harsh, gritty sound. Dick
playpen
161 posts
 
 Yes I agree with djohnson to start with a total contact cleaning.I use Deoxit red first and then follow up a second time with Deoxit Gold.I retreat with Gold every few months my speaker,CD and TT contacts.It's Amazing just how much better my system sounds with that simple tuneup.It actually does reduce harsh beamy sound which I hate.I can't live without Deoxit Gold.
danvignau's avatar
danvignau
935 posts
 
I have tried Adcom and was quite disappointed. Nelson Pass is a great designer, so it might be the preamp. A similar company, Rotel made preamp/tuner combos, and the ones I tried were terrible, much worse than the Adcom I had for a while. It even sounds muddy as just a volume control for my subs. A Preamp/tuner seems to sacrifice a lot. I would start here. 

Also, CD players have improved the most over the last 25 years. My old Denon 1500, a "Stereophile" recommended one 25 years ago, really does not cut it anymore.

A really good budget one is the Onkyo DX-7555, for around $200-300 used. The remote has to be used to set the tweeter something or the other, and it makes a noticeable difference. I would also suggest a good phono cartridge upgrade. 

Your term, "Lacking in bass" is relative. Music has a lot more bass now than it used too.

I assume you listen in your car. Compare that system to one 25 years ago and consider that the inadequacies of your home system  are more obvious because of the comparison. I used to love my stacked Advents, but they sound pretty bland now. They have not changed. Everything else has.
mesch
3,529 posts
 
If after cleaning all contacts and running your system in you are not satisfied, you might purchase a used integrated amplifier, one that is not too old. Even should you upgrade beyond, it could be sold without much loss. Regarding the TT, a new cartridge is probably required. 
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