Adcom pre amp versus Van Alstine

i've never heard the VA, so can't opine on it. however, i have owned the adcom 750  and it was  excellent--it's a nelson pass design which is on a completely different level than adcom's cheaper gtp (preamp w/tuner) models. it had a passive mode which was really transparent and sounded even better than the active mode. that said, other posters make a valid point about the reliability of older gear--i think the models you're looking at are 25+ yrs old--but the 750 is a serious piece.

At the prices these units command, buy both and evaluate on your own time. Report back here with the winner. Everyone loves a shootout. 

I have decided to buy them both! I will circle back with my review of both.

I had the GFP 750 in my system for about 6 months.I thought it was a pretty good.

Fairly Transparent with a leaning toward a dry presentation.

Amp at the time was a Aleph 30.

Nelson Pass designed the preamp  and probably one of the better products that Adcom released.

Buy them both! That's the spirit. Comparing them at home is the best answer.

It will be great to read your findings.