New Adcom GFA-555 se - Special Edition

Sounds like there was a voltage adjustment off the recommended spec. I had a vintage HK amp where one channel was very hot. After I adjusted the internal pots it was normal.

Bdgregory,
Lighten up on Power_Hungry. He likes Adcom porducts and is excited about this new prospect from them. We all have our preferences.

I hope Adcom is really making an effort to come out with a new improved product with great sound for the dollars. This is what got them noticed at first. And I did enjoyed my 500/545 combo I had many years ago. I kept it for a long time until I got sucked into the audiophile round-about.

Power_Hungry,
Let us know if you get the new amp.

Stonedeaf,
Sounds like a nice system.
I had the Benchmark DAC and used it as a preamp directly into a tube poweramp. Wonderful!
Have you considered feeding your CDP into the Benchmark's coaxial input and the Sony tuner into the Benchmark's optical input. Then the Benchmarks output into your 555SE's to your B&Ws.
Minimizing the lower-end gear and having a better sound.

Is every one aware that the new Adcom is not the same company it was in the '80-'90s company. It was bought out about 8 years ago and they moved from the east coast to Arizona. The new company was a digital company offered better HT processing in there products. I'm not sure how the new amps compare to the original company, but know they are made in China now.

I looked up the 555se on their sight. It states the 555 is class A. Is this correct? It may be class A, but only to a few watts before it switches to AB, I think. Does experience Adcom owners the facts?

I think the SE version adds balanced input and higher filter capacitance. They may have upper the quality on internal parts and added a toriodal transformer. All in all it may be smoother, more musical and less harsh than the original.

Stonedeaf,
Let us know what you think when you get it. What is the rest of your system that these amps will integrate into?

B&W mate exceptionally well with Classe and Mac. No need to necessarily go with tubes w/ Mac power amps (unless you want to) as they use output transformers like tube amps do. I've heard the B&W/Mac SS combo and it floored me. Many swear by this combo or w/ Classe. Incidentally Classe uses B&W speakers to voice their amps so you have upped the ante w/ the B&W/Classe combo.

Stonedeaf,
As you know amps characteristics change many times through the breaking in process as the electronics settle in. I'd like your impression w/ balanced and RCAs after many weeks have gone by. During the night time hours and while at work use the various inputs (including balanced) playing a tuner through it at low volume. Do this for many weeks and change to dynamic cds later on. Do this with all the inputs and let us know after 3 wks of non stop running in. You will hear a noticeable sound improvement. Looking to hear your results.

Jim,
Good to read about you positive assessment of the SE version. Keep us informed as it breaks in.
Thinking about the Class A rating, the amp could also have a Class A input stage then AB after that.

Stonedeaf,
I'm curious, what does the rest of your system consist of?

Chrisr,

Heat generated from a power amp is not necessarily an indication that there is something wrong with an amp. Your amp may have been biased toward class "A", though I don't remember if my 5400 II ran hot or not. You have not experienced a SS amp running hot unless you run pure class "A" amplification from the likes of Pass Labs or others. You can't touch it for more than a second or so.

I actually liked my Adcom 5400 II very much and it was not bright in my system.

To Adcom 555 SE owners (power_hungry, stonedeaf, others),

Now that you have had your new SE version for a year or more can your comment on your impression of the sound on this amp as it has settled in your system. I've rekindled my interest in purchasing this amp.

Thanks,
Mike