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Keep Adcom GFP-750 or Replace

Hi all.  

I am in the process of going through my system and updating it a bit.  The process started about a year ago when I decided it was time to burn everything on CD to FLAC so I could easily access it.  I ended up with a Jriver Id as a music server and upgrading from my old Bel Canto Dac 1 to a Schiit BiFrost Multibit.  Recently my Magnepan 3.5's started to delaminate so they are off at Magnepan being rebuilt.  Finally, my Sunfire Amp is about 20 years old, so it is going off to Bill Flanery to get serviced and caps replaced.  So my system as it sits looks like this:

Pioneer Elite CD Transport
Jriver Id
Rega Planar 1 to a Schiit Mani Phono Pre
Bose Soundtouch Wireless Link Adapter (Please don't laugh, it was the only reasonably priced streamer for Amazon music and Spotify with an optical out.  It pained me to give them my money).  
Schiit Bifrost Multibit DAC
Schiit Loki EQ
Adcom GFP 750 Preamp
NHT X2 Crossover
Rythmik F15HP Subwoofer
Sunfire Stereo Amp
Magnepan 3.5 (using Revel F36s until they come back)
Monster HTS-3500 power controller
Wireworld Cables

My room is pretty large, approximately 21x21 with a cathedral ceiling and open to other rooms.  It is bit lively, but I am installing some GIK panels to help mellow it out.  I listen mostly to classic rock, but it can go from classical to rap depending on my mood.  I historically like a more laid back sound, for speakers Magnepan and Vandersteen have always hit the mark closest.  I do not do a lot of serious listing anymore, often I run the streamer.  It is only once every couple of weeks that I really sit down to listen.  I am also not a big vinyl person.  

So I am now looking at my 20 year old Adcom and that parts are becoming NLA and that it really probably needs a refresh which will run $500-600 (perhaps it will be an upgrade because replacement parts will be better, but impossible for me to tell).  In the alternative, it looks like I could get about $700 for the Adcom and not spend the money shipping it and getting it fixed, so if I bought something else, it would put me in the $1200-1300 budget range.  So I have been looking and come up with:

1)  Emotiva XSP-1-  Hits a lot of boxes on features I would like.  It has a built in crossover so I could ditch the NHT X2.  It has a remote trigger so I can turn the pre-amp on an everything else comes on (yes I am getting lazy). It has a processor loop for my Loki.  It has a built in phono preamp, so one less box.  I am just not sure if it will hit where I want on the sound spectrum, which is a bit laid back.

2)  Rogue Audio RP-1- Looks like the sound profile I like and has a built in phono preamp.  Used it would likely be in my budget.

3)  Schiit Saga or Freya-  I really like these guys, they have gotten back to the idea of audio doesn't have to cost a fortune and should be fun.  I am really intrigued by their amps, but am unsure which one if I get one.  I like the Freya allows me to run as solid state or tubed.  I have the ability to run balanced from the preamp to crossover to amp, but never have bothered and not sure it is worth the extra.  

Also, I have to have a remote for volume and am not interested in a passive preamp (I find it just doesn't have the drive when I run the Adcom in passive mode).  Thoughts, guidance, suggestions?

Thank you.
mcreyn
timlub
2,042 posts
 
I fall somewhere in between loomisjohnson and kalali…
The Adcom is a fine sounding pre and I certainly don’t believe that a current Parasound or PS will be a significant upgrade, but I do believe that with trying other things you might find a different taste that is pleasing to you. I can see you preferring something else, but the Adcom is a solid performer. Overall, I believe that the Adcom is worth a revamp of a few hundred dollars and I believe that you can get it done for that however, if it came to $1200 for a refresh, I’d be looking at other pre’s myself.
I ran across this link and came back and edited to add this. Even includes a parts list to upgrade your pre, it might be worth doing the upgrade yourself. 
   https://hoppesbrain.com/2017/03/11/adcom-gfp-750-upgrade/

roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
+1 timlub! These upgrades from hoppesbrain.com would be the way to go! You have an excellent preamp with its Nelson Pass heritage. Well worth keeping!
mcreyn OP
293 posts
 
Thanks for the suggestions.  I looked at the hoppesbrain and liked his stuff.  He is not taking new orders and had a year long waiting list before that.  I am about the world’s worst at soddering, so won’t try it myself as damage is almost inevitable.  I am leaning towards the Freya as it can run solid state or tube and has a 5 year warranty. The power switch on the back is also a potential upside as it keeps curious people during parties from putting on their own demos.  
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
Great link, hadn't seen it before. Thanks for sharing. I might actually consider rolling up my sleeves and do it myself if its just a matter of desoldering/resoldering new components. I'd be curious to hear your feedback on how the Freya compares with the 750. The tube section will probably warm up the tone so that by itself might be worth a try.  You can always return in within 15 days if you don't hear much improvement. I do occasionally switch my 750 with my Aric Audio tube preamp from a different system and the tube line stage does sound more inviting and more musical but I still like the phono stage in the 750 better. I'm a little surprised you're using the Mani instead of the 750 phono stage but if you just need a line stage, I'd seriously consider Aric's Unlimited for just a couple of hundred dollars more than the Freya, assuming you don't need balanced outputs. It's a very good all-tube preamp.

wolf_garcia
6,739 posts
 
I've owned a few Adcom preamps over the years (most recently sold my last one maybe 6 or 7 years ago and it had balanced outs, although I can't remember the model) and they work fine, but last year I bought a Freya just to see what's what as they're so inexpensive, and now I absolutely think the Freya is "mo fun"...it's paired with a little Dennis Had single ended amp. I now have accumulated piles of 6SN7GTB tubes and am enjoying every Schiit minute. It is interesting that Schiit's "local" CA operation cranks out some embarrassingly (to other manufacturers anyway) inexpensive items that, in my recent experience anyway, work beautifully. I bought a Loki around the same time as the Freya and although it is by far the least expensive item in my gear heap, it's an astonishingly useful and well designed little EQ...again...there's absolutely no (especially USA made) gear like it or the Freya out there at anything approaching the cost of either one.
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