New Adcom GFA-555 se - Special Edition

Chrisr,

Heat generated from a power amp is not necessarily an indication that there is something wrong with an amp. Your amp may have been biased toward class "A", though I don't remember if my 5400 II ran hot or not. You have not experienced a SS amp running hot unless you run pure class "A" amplification from the likes of Pass Labs or others. You can't touch it for more than a second or so.

I actually liked my Adcom 5400 II very much and it was not bright in my system.

Biased toward class A is the explanation I got, but when I am saying it was hot, it was HOT, scary HOT. To the point that it was self-destructing every three weeks, and with plenty of air around it.
But when it worked, yes I found it to sound good.

Sounds like there was a voltage adjustment off the recommended spec. I had a vintage HK amp where one channel was very hot. After I adjusted the internal pots it was normal.

To Adcom 555 SE owners (power_hungry, stonedeaf, others),

Now that you have had your new SE version for a year or more can your comment on your impression of the sound on this amp as it has settled in your system. I've rekindled my interest in purchasing this amp.

Thanks,
Mike

i Just purchased two of these and intending to audition this week. i will let break for a while.