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Adcom GFA-5802 Stereo Power Amplifier to drive Andra speakers!Is it a good choice

Dear All,

Years and years after my original post for issues with the Andra I speakers I had an amazing yet surprising experience. Initially I used to drive them musical fidelity KW500 which was bright. I sold the musical fidelity and I out the Andras on the side of the room, took picture to sell them. Then I thought of testing them where they are in the room(against another wall perpendicular to original location. I put them 3-4 feet apart(that all I  an do), hooked them to 120 WPC Harman Kardon stereo receiver(that is I have at the moment, I pulled it form the basement) and tried it on my Denon 5901 DVD player. To say the least, I have never heard the speakers before. It was the room, I heard music. The notes were coherent and everything made sense. Bass is very light to non-existing, but the music is there especially the mid range. Enya's watermark album was amazing. I listened for ours and would not leave the  room. Now I am comparing this $300 receiver to the $5000 amplifier in the previous location and it is better from a musicality standpoint.  It was the room folks. Location, location, location.  I will not sell them and I am looking for an amplifier that will drive them without breaking the budget again. Hence my post. what about the  Adcom GFA-5802 Stereo Power Amplifier? if not, any other sgeestion easy on the wallet.
Thanks
Scientist73
scientist73
alpha_gt
155 posts
 
I used an Adcom 555 and Adcom pre for many, many years. I was very fond of them, driving Vandersteen2c they were quite amazing together. And used Adcoms can be had so cheap these days, worth a listen. 

gdnrbob
4,447 posts
 
Yup, my 555 is still going strong and compares well with even McCormack amps. 
wolf_garcia
6,708 posts
 
I still have a very inexpensive (bought used anyway) Adcom 5300 (!) that I use for extra (window placed for deck duty) speakers that sounds great. I've had a bunch of Adcom stuff over the years including preamps and a few other amps and all of them worked beautifully. 
timlub
2,040 posts
 
The 5802 is the best of the Adcom amps and definitely has a Pass flair to its sound... There are several good inexpensive amps out there and this is certainly one of them.
I'd also look for a Muse One Hundred Sixty... Maybe a Sumo Andromeda II or III. 
These are all $500 to $800 and are still all nice sounding amps, but you certainly won't get hurt with the Adcom and at $800 or less, you could recoup your money
viggen900's avatar
viggen900
64 posts
 
Never used that Adcom, however presently have a gfa5500

also a longtime Adcom fan, started when I became hooked on their car audio amps in the early 90's, they were the best car amp I ever heard for a long time.

A few years ago I compared my Adcom to a similarly priced and powered parasound amp.  I hate to say it but the parasound amp was much better.  Much tighter and detailed low end and everywhere else the parasound was a step above the Adcom.  As stated I was a Adcom fan and wasn't expecting to vote against my brand of choice.
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