When did Adcom come back to life?

[KenM10759]

I guess I'm ignorant about amps because I don't believe have a need for one, over the two AVR's and one Bluesound Powernode 2 that I own and use.

On the local Craigslist I often see the vintage Adcom GFA amps from the mid-80's come up. Today I noticed a feed on my Facebook page about Adcom. Looks like their making amps. Is that again, or have they been in business all along and never went out? I thought they had closed years ago.

How long has this been going on now? The products do look legit, look like the old ones and aren't terribly expensive. Any reviews on them? I'm just curious because I'm not in the market for an amp. (If one fell in my lap, I might try it though.)

https://www.adcom.com/

 

[PENG]

I guess I'm ignorant about amps because I don't believe have a need for one, over the two AVR's and one Bluesound Powernode 2 that I own and use.

On the local Craigslist I often see the vintage Adcom GFA amps from the mid-80's come up. Today I noticed a feed on my Facebook page about Adcom. Looks like their making amps. Is that again, or have they been in business all along and never went out? I thought they had closed years ago.

How long has this been going on now? The products do look legit, look like the old ones and aren't terribly expensive. Any reviews on them? I'm just curious because I'm not in the market for an amp. (If one fell in my lap, I might try it though.)

https://www.adcom.com/

I don't know how long, but definitely not new. Amps are not high tech, not even close. They are matured kind of products. So reputable ones such as Adcom is going to die hard, not surprisingly Much more difficult to make AVP/AVR, obviously.

 

[KenM10759]

Amps are high-tech enough that I wouldn't be able to build one unless it was a kit with specific instructions.

The Class D amps that seem to work so well are really high-tech to me.

 

[PENG]

Amps are high-tech enough that I wouldn't be able to build one unless it was a kit with specific instructions.

The Class D amps that seem to work so well are really high-tech to me.

It's all relative. Anyone can build with kits and instruction but most should be able to design and build their own too. It will take much longer to do and only after reading a good book or two.

 

[slipperybidness]

Amps are old-hat. Well understood and characterized.

The real magic nowadays is getting the PCB grounding plane and the trace lay out optimized!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The Adcom GFA-5705 200x5 amp is looks very pretty.

Would be nice to see an Adcom Pre-pro (built from ground up) with 7.1.4 Atmos and 4K HDR for around $2,000.

 

[lovinthehd]

Think it was within the week I posted that they're long gone....and now, reading this, it indeed sounds familiar and I did know this....LOL the memory ain't what it was. Interesting that they seem to support the older product and even have a trade-in program for it.

 

[PENG]

I am happy to see them still in business. Their amps are not heavy, seemed to favor simplicity in their design, and powerful. My GFA-555 did have one channel failed, but only after 20 years or more. I continued to use it for the center channel for a while before storing it somewhere in the garage, and now when I have time to try repairing it, I could not find it. The very quiet GFP 565 preamp is still in perfect condition after 28 years.

 

[lovinthehd]

I've been happy with my Adcom preamp (GFP555II), think I've had it for at least 25 years? Using it for my JBL LSR305s now....

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

Who is designing these amps these days?

Is it still Nelson Pass?

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

The Adcom 200 WPC x 5CH is $3,000/ 80-LBS. Kind of pricey. I think $1,500/ 20-LBS would be nice. Looks very pretty, though.

Would be nice to see an Adcom Pre-pro (built from ground up) with 7.1.4 Atmos and 4K HDR for around $2,000.

Looks very impressive. I'm wondering how it would compare to ATI.

 

[PENG]

Who is designing these amps these days?

Is it still Nelson Pass?

Even if they aren't, they likely retain some, if not most of the design concepts and features, such as using lots of storage capacitance, simple gain path, simple circuitry overall, low parts count etc. I don't see much reason for them to change much, other than making incremental improvements and/or cost saving efforts. If he was involved in the new Adcom amps, you may find FETs (J & MOS) instead of BJTs in them.

 

[PENG]

Looks very impressive. I'm wondering how it would compare to ATI.

Just took a quick look of the GFA-5705. The specs are definitely comparable to the ATI and the Monolith 5X. Monolith has more transformer VA, the GFA has more capacitance. It is really hard to beat the Monolith. I often recommend them, but I don't prefer them mainly because of their weight. My favorite 200X5 amp is probably be the Anthem MCA, or the Adcom.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Adcom also makes an extremely affordable analog stereo Preamp - the GFP-815.

Combine that with the affordable 125x2 or 200x2 Adcom amps, and some Separates guys might be very happy.

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

I wonder if these have protection circuitry built in? The old ones didn't.

 

[slipperybidness]

I've never heard Adcom gear, but I have always liked the really understated aesthetics!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I wonder if these have protection circuitry built in? The old ones didn't.

Looks like they do have protection circuits.

@PENG might elaborate.

For the GFA-5705 200x5 amp:
- 25A AMETHERM NTC Resister for surge suppression
- 20A speaker relay to protect custom speaker system
- Over current protection
- Over temperature protection
- DC servo & DC current protection

https://www.adcom.com/GFA-5705 user-manual.pdf

For GFA-555se 200x2 Amp:
"The AC Fuse protects the electronic circuits of the GFA-555se"
" The GFA-555se is provided with a thermal protection circuit "
"The Distortion Alert circuit is a unique ADCOM distortion detection system which reads all forms of non-linear distortion such as THD, IM, slew‑induced, “clipping”, etc. The Distortion Alert LEDs will light when distortion reaches approximately 1% regardless of impedance, voltage/ current phase angle or the reactance of the loudspeakers which the amplifier is driving. "

https://www.adcom.com/GFA-555se-Manual.pdf

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

Thanks. I should have read the manual.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Thanks. I should have read the manual.

No biggie. We take turns reading manuals. It was my turn today. Tomorrow it’s your turn.

 

[TechHDS]

The Adcom GFA-5705 200x5 amp is looks very pretty.

Would be nice to see an Adcom Pre-pro (built from ground up) with 7.1.4 Atmos and 4K HDR for around $2,000.

Nice very clean look!

Mike