I've heard both of these amps, and I'd give the edge to the Parasound 3500. The Adcom 5802 is still a good amp (and a great value at used prices), but it's a bit warmer and darker than I like in my system. Both have good dynamics, good soundstaging, and accurate timbral presentation of instruments, but I think the Parasound is more transparent and neutral than the Adcom 5802. When I auditioned these amps in my system about 2 years ago, and A-B'd the amps, I found the Parasound "disappeared" better than the Adcom.
Brian's comment about the two salesmen who preferred the Adcom 5800 over the 5802 is interesting -- the sales folks that I know have had the opposite reaction. I think that Adcom had repair problems with the 5800 (also true of the GFP-840, their first true pre/pro), and made some subsequent circuit and parts changes in the 5802.
Brian's comment about the two salesmen who preferred the Adcom 5800 over the 5802 is interesting -- the sales folks that I know have had the opposite reaction. I think that Adcom had repair problems with the 5800 (also true of the GFP-840, their first true pre/pro), and made some subsequent circuit and parts changes in the 5802.