B&K vs Adcom – opinions please

My post was based on my own personal tastes and experience. My ST140 is one of the first few "iron core" transformer amps that put out 70 WPC hence the moniker ST140. Shortly after, B&K went to a toroid and upped the WPC to 105. The original 535 was rated at 60 WPC but well exceeded that rating. The two amps were very similar in output, but each one did some things dfferently. The little 535 was an amazing product in it's finesse. It made my Magnepan SMGa's really bloom in a small room. With a new retail of 395.00 in early 1988 when I bought it, it was a best buy IMO. My only beef with it were the cheesy speaker connectors. The B&K at 495.00 was also a hell of a deal, very well built but a little more forward sounding, for me, as I stated. I still have 2 of them: the original 70 WPC in my son's system, and the later generation 105 WPC in my second system. I wish to hell I had kept BOTH the 535 and those sweet little SMGa's.

Wow- tough choice as far as I'm concerned. I have used both the Adcom GFA 535 and the B&K ST140 amps to drive a pair of Magnepan SMGa speakers in the late 80's. I liked what both could do with these relatively inefficient speakers in the small room I had them in (12X15X8). I no longer have the Adcom, but I still have the ST140 and use it in my second system. Excellent products for the price. I have not used either one of the preamps, but I liked my amps! Not sure how big your room is but I believe the 1400 and the 545 put out about the same WPC. In my situation, I felt the Adcom was a little warmer sounding where the B&K was more forward in it's presentation with the SMGa's. YMMV....