With the high-end audio world still waiting with bated breath for the return of Mirage Loudspeakers, it feels somewhat strange to tell you that Adcom is available once again.
Yes — the same Adcom that manufactured excellent sounding but somewhat unreliable high-end amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, tuners, and CD players almost 30 years ago.
The GCD-575 CD player was a decent sounding unit in 1989 but the build quality for $600 was less than inspiring; the drawer mechanism on the earliest models was extremely cheap and I would wager that Adcom bought them from Sony.
I remember listening to the GCD-575 connected to the rather underrated GFA-535 power amplifier and thinking that one did not require a pre-amplifier with this combination; the variable output was up to 5.3V, with an output impedance of 100 ohms. You could control the volume on the front panel of the CD player.
So why is Adcom back?
The vintage audio movement has kicked into high gear in recent years with the return of Mission, Leak, Audiolab, and a rather surprising number of loudspeaker designs that pay homage to classic designs of the past 50 years.
Adcom had a huge following and some of its best amplifiers could drive the living hell out of a pair of Vandersteen or MartinLogan loudspeakers at the time.
Nelson Pass played a significant role engineering some of their best products — but understand that he has absolutely nothing to do with these updated designs.
Roy Hall showed me some of the new Adcom designs at CAF 2023 but all of the products were on static display.
The opening slate of equipment are updated and modernized versions of components ranging from the Nelson Pass designed Adcom GFA-555MS ($1,399) and GFA-555se ($1,699) and other models from the previous lineup.
The 200 watt per channel, time-tested 555MS power amp, is now updated with new parts designed for even better performance and confident longevity.
The GFA-555se is also returning; the Nelson Pass design broke ground when it came out in the 80’s, getting rave reviews and providing tank-like reliability at a decent price.
Externally, the chassis footprint and front panel design are identical to the original. Internally, all circuitry has been upgraded to meet ETL/ETLc, FCC, LVD and CE/EMC requirements using UL approved FR-4 printed circuit boards.
GFA-555se Specifications
- 200 watts per channel, 8 ohms
- 300 watts per channel, 4 ohms
- 600 watts, 8 ohms BRIDGED
- Balanced and Single-Ended Inputs
- 16 discrete output transistors
- Custom 700 watt toroidal transformer
- 60,000uF total storage capacitance
- Ultra-Stable Bias Circuitry
- Direct-Coupled Input & Output Circuitry
- No Current Limiting
- No Output Inductor
- 120 VAC 50/60 Hz
- Max Dimensions: 7 1/4″ x 17″ x 14 3/16″
- Warranty: 2 yr. limited manufacturer
For those looking for a balanced power amplifier with even more power, the Adcom GFA-565 is also back with even more horsepower and capable of driving even the most demanding speakers in the audiophile market today.
On the preamp front, Adcom has the GFP-915 ($999) which is an elegant, Bluetooth enabled, traditional stereo preamp available at a very competitive price.
Adcom’s GFP-915 preamp features separate input selectors for simultaneous listening and recording from different program sources.
Walking on those lines, Adcom’s engineers have developed a new phono stage catering to the resurgence in vinyl records with MM and MC configurations accessible.
The USB and Optical digital inputs are limited to 24-bit/192kHz; there is no support for DSD or MQA.
GFP-915 Specifications
- Class A line level pre-amp
- Seven analog source inputs includes MM/MC Phono
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Optical and USB digital inputs
- Bass & Treble Tone Controls (defeatable)
- Balance Control
- Headphone Jack (3.5mm)
- Main and Record outputs
- Phono Ground
- 12V trigger
- RS232 Control
- External IR input
- Remote Control with source selection
- 120-230VAC, 50-60Hz
“ADCOM is back with a few updated legacy products that we will be selling directly to consumers starting in 2024” says Boris Meltsner. “Audiophiles should expect to see more products coming later in the year including new-school, Class-D switching amps that will have the performance that we expect from the best tube and Class-A amps, but without any of the hassles. Our new amps will use less power, create less heat and will provide huge volumes of power in our next generation of product. Our legacy products are better than ever and represent a great mid-fi value to anyone looking to make great sound in their AV system without breaking the bank,” Meltsner mused.
The new range also includes the Adcom GFA-585se Power Amplifier which is a class A/B power unit, driven in parallel to deliver 450 watts/channel into 8 ohms.
GFA-585se Specifications
- 450 watts per channel, 8 ohms
- 600 watts per channel, 4 ohms
- 1000 watts, BRIDGED, 8 ohms
- Output Current 50+ amps
- Drives low impedance (down to 2 ohms) speaker systems
- Balanced and Unbalanced Inputs
- 14 pairs of select matched TO-3 bipolar output transistors
- Custom toroidal transformer
- 132,800uF total storage capacitance
- 18,800uF individual power supply for input stage & pre driver stage
- Ultra-Stable Bias Circuitry with thermal & dynamic tracking
- DC Servo & Omron 20 amp speaker relay protection circuits
- 25 Amp NTC Resistor for Surge killer & Auto delay time shunt relay
- Over current protection
- Over temperature protection
- DC voltage protection circuit
- Large outside double heatsinks for each channel
- Auto ON/OFF with audio signal detection
- Auto ON/OFF with 12V Trigger
- Covered 24k gold plated 5-way speaker terminals
- Power: 120V AC 60Hz, Max power consumption 2000VA
- Dimensions: 10 3/4″ x 17″ x 19 3/4″(6 units) with rear carry handles
- Warranty: 2yr. limited manufacturer
We plan on reviewing some of these new components in 2024 and look forward to hearing if the Nelson Pass magic is still there; hopefully they have fixed the heat issues.
For more information: adcom.com
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ORT
January 21, 2024 at 5:31 pm
Decades later Adcom’s products are still too plain looking for me. I am not one to “install” an amp on my floor and even if I were so inclined Adcom stuff looks like it should be surrounded with Barrier Tape.
Having said the obvious, I wish them all the best. In the wacky world o’ car sales there is the term, “Beeback”. That is when a possible sale is put on hold by the customer who says they’ll “be back”.
So Adcom’s come back is in reality a Beeback until they actually are back. And if prices are too high for reality?
Red or Blue. Welcome to the Wabbit Hole.
ORT
Ian White
January 22, 2024 at 1:00 am
ORT,
All of the products are available now. I do think the look should have been updated. The parts quality is supposedly a lot better and the reliability needs to be for this to do well.
The prices are actually not terrible so far.
Best,
Ian White
Karl J
January 28, 2024 at 10:39 pm
I love their 80s designs and I’m relieved that they preserved the original look.
Maybe I’m in the minority here, or maybe not, but not everyone needs everything to be redesigned every year and gets tired of a classic design to the point that they get bored with it. There’s a reason why the Porsche 911’s design stayed essentially the same for a few decades.
Other examples of this philosophy are the Rolex Submariner, Swiss Army Knife, Fender Stratocaster, and even the 2021 and newer Macbook Pros – Apple tried to mess with the design and features from 2016-2020 and all they accomplished was to mess up a great thing and irritate their customers with annoying bells and whistles, so they backtracked.
Those who love the spartan industrial design of 80s Adcom, NAD, and Proton, to name just a few examples, are the likely target customer for these tribute models. Not everyone needs blue lights, digital screens, and trendy tech that will be hopelessly dated in 5 years.
JM2C
Sean
January 22, 2024 at 3:04 pm
“Roy Hall showed me some of the new Adcom designs at CAF 2023 but all of the products were on static display. ”
So is Roy Hall part of this Adcom resurgence?
Ian White
January 22, 2024 at 3:07 pm
Sean,
No. He was just in the room that also included Music Hall. It was also only days before the announced sale of Music Hall was announced.
Best,
Ian White
Don
January 28, 2024 at 12:18 am
Round about 1987 I bought a GFA-535. It has been in my system and playing almost every day since without issue. It’s on now
(Can’t say the same for the tuner/preamp which went out for repairs before finally…)
Ian White
January 28, 2024 at 3:52 pm
Don,
What would be a good preamp for the GFA-535 and normal used price?
The new preamp is $995.
Best,
Ian White
Tim Watson
January 23, 2024 at 2:21 am
My system is still powered by the GFA-1. I bought it new. It has been the workhorse for the past 44 years.It now works the front channels of my home theater.Speakers front Synergystics S-71’s rears EPI 250’s. I never found any reason to replace any of it.
joe c.
January 26, 2024 at 5:33 pm
Some bits… Adcom’s 535 is now 40 years old not 30 ( it was survived by the Mk2 which might have made it to 30 years ago..
the famous speakers the GFA 555 were able to drive were the Apogee Scintilla and the Infinity Kappa 9’s at every CES event back then there were multiple rooms with those pairs demo’d.
I’d alo like to point out that you mention NP has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the current lineup and yet you mention Nelson Pass multiple times regarding the new line up, it’s more than confusing.
I know this history as I worked for the first Adcom representative in the USA. I look back fondly on my interactions with the Channon’s.(the original owners fo Adcom)
Ian White
January 27, 2024 at 2:16 pm
Joe,
Read it again. I make it very clear that Nelson Pass has ZERO to do with it. It’s not confusing at all. I only mention his name in regard to specific models that they are relaunching.
I don’t see a new 535 which is disappointing.
Do you think it makes sense to search for an older 535 and have it refurbished?
Best,
Ian White