New Adcom GFA-555 se - Special Edition

I think the SE version adds balanced input and higher filter capacitance. They may have upper the quality on internal parts and added a toriodal transformer. All in all it may be smoother, more musical and less harsh than the original.

>All in all it may be smoother, more musical and less harsh than the original.<

That doesn't exactly raise the bar very high......

Shakey

Agree with Mjcint -somehow the actual weight of the amp and 200W X 2 class A seems unlikely. Still -found a couple new at a good price -so I ordered two to drive subs.

Stonedeaf,
Let us know what you think when you get it. What is the rest of your system that these amps will integrate into?

Wow. I just stumbled across this. I own a GFA555II which I bought as a demo in 1995. I've been happy as hell with it for years (presently in combo with a Mac C220 pre) but that doesn't mean I'm not looking at upgrading at some point. Surely "Edsel" is not an appropriate analogy. The Edsel was a bomb right out of the gate and the 555 was one of the best value purchases a mid-level audiophile could make for years on end. That technology would advance beyond it twenty years on is no reason to dismiss one of Nelson Pass's landmarks out of hand like that.

So I'm curious what some of the Adcom naysayers would recommend if my target budget is $4-$5K. My present inclination is to go with the Mac 252 as I like the solid-state/tube combination. My present speakers are B&W cdm7se and I've got the 803d's in my sights somewhere down the road.