2. amps-preamps
  3. 1217472704

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
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.
johnss
581 posts
 
If you really want to hear what the Adcom pre amp sounds like, try it with an outboard power supply. All the Adcom pre amps benefit from this greatly; huge improvement; will cost you 150 bucks in parts to do it, and its a simple connection to your existing pre amp.

J
maril555
619 posts
 
I know I would inflame many members by saying this, but I'll do it anyway:
I never heard Adcom, but I owned various preamps at different price points, and came to conclusion, that if you are on the path to find "miracle component" and " a giant killer", sooner or later you'd realize they are pretty much non-existent entities. Miracles do not happen in this hobby, and to a certain point (point of diminishing returns, that is) you get what you paid for.
If it was that easy to create $1400 preamp equal to the best $10,000-15,000 units, somebody would've done it by now.
Do arrest me now.
koiman
51 posts
 
Johnss,
What outboard power supply are you talking about.
kanuk OP
21 posts
 
VTL 5.5 was noisy to start with and had a veil that the Adcom does not. It may be a question of synergy but in my system the Adcom in pasive smoked it. And I was not.
More to discover