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Adcom GFP 750: why spend more?

After reading all the rave reviews since the late 90's I finally caved in and bought a second hand unit...no need to say more, it is quite an amazingly transparent gear and smoked my VTL 5.5 in the area of transparency, neutrality and bass control....and with my tube DAC, I do not need more tube magic in my system.
I am wondering what can be gained by spending more all the way to 20 times more to buy an active SS or tube preamp that will induce some coloration at best. In other words, when the almost ideal absence of coloration is available with balanced in-out, remote, balance control, HT by-pass and pre-out, when is more needed, really? Please educate me on the benefits of "more" when less is likely more in the world of preamps..am I missing something?
kanuk
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
How would the GFP 750 in passive mode hold up to a Sonic Euphoria PLC?

I'm seriously considering one of those.

I also wonder how the $399 Shanling PH300 headphone amp, used as a 2-input preamp, would compare to those tube-based Melos head amps of a decade ago.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
I owned the Adcom. Now I have the H20 Fire. They are not even comparable on any level of sonic ability. There is one point in favor of the Adcom. The Fire, new at $5k, is considerably more expensive.
usblues
1,217 posts
 
Saying an Adcom smoked a VTL 5.5 pretty much blew your cover here.Or should I say smoked?
lissnr
365 posts
 
I'm with Usblues on that one...A VTL 5.5 vs any Adcom (unless the tubes in the VTL desperately need replacing) isn't a contest, the VTL makes music. Real, natural music. 'nough said.
richmon
248 posts
 
Well as someone who enjoyed the GFP750 (in active mode) for a couple years before changing to a Supratek tube preamp (approx 2400 new). With no other changes..

Quantum leap forward in bass response, soundstaging, noise floor. I was especially suprised at how much better the bass response got. Now we're comparing a $1400 new to a $2400 new unit, but that was a well spent 1000 bucks.
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