2. amps-preamps
  3. 1352603751

What is my weak est link...? Suggestions please.

So here it is: I have a budget of $4000 to upgrade one of the following:

Speakers: Hales Concept 2 (one tweeter - one 7" driver)
Pre: Adcom GFP-750 (Nelson Pass design)
Amp: Adcom 5800

My Thoughts:

Speakers are built like tanks - solid walnut & concrete. Although they lack bottom end.

Bought the Pre years ago; A/B'd them to a Krell Pre ("lower line") which I was prepared to buy. Based on my audition at that time, I picked the Adcom.

Originally, I was thinking about a McIntosh 300 watt amp to replace the Adcom. However, does anyone have any experience with the Adcom GFP-750 as compared to other pre-amps? Also, do you think $$$ would be better spent replacing the Hales with a pair of BW801? I could add a subwoofer, but I kinda like the simplicity of the two speaker set-up.

Thanks for any positive feedback! It is great to have a support community out here in iPod world...

ABP
abp689
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,367 posts
 
I'm not familiar with your amp exactly but I think a great is key to any system. You could get a great amp for 4k. No new speaker is going to sound fantastic without a really good amp.

Not sure what you are using as a source but if you are thinking of running directly from a computer that won't sound good. You will need a dac

I think the one guy was messing with you about the 3k cable
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
Sell all, buy a cable for 3k first and start again.
Syntax

Cable: Do you really think I can find a good cable for only $3k? I have a $4k budget. Maybe this was suggested and an "entry level" cable.

Syntax was having fun with you. Please don't take his post serious. The last thing you need to do is spend $3k on cable(s). A subwoofer may be a good thing.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
You'd have to nuts not to keep da Hales and not lose the Adcom stuff ASAP.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I second Schubert's reco.
krell_man
827 posts
 

I remember back when Adcom first came out. I had Adcom's top of the line 555 amps running in mono with their top of the line preamp. The speakers were Definitive Technology BP-20's, their top of the line at that time.

I bought a Krell KRC-3 preamp and KSA-50S amp along with Dunlavy speakers to replace the system.

For grins, before swapping out the Definitive Techs with the Dunlavys, I hooked up the BP-20s to the Krells. I never heard the BP-20s sound as good as they did then!

If you want to upgrade, leave the speakers alone for now.

Chuck
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