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Vintage Onkyo gear vs Adcom

Looking for some help on the budget upgrade path:

I currently have an Adcom GFP-565 and have been searching for a power amp to do it justice.

In the course of my research I have stumbled upon quite a few Onkyo integrateds from the late 80's--early 90's (a-8800, a-890 to name a couple) that look very appealing.  I have heard the Adcom and also some Onkyo stuff from that era and they seem much closer in performance than I would have guessed.

So my question is this: should I continue to pursue a power amp for the 565 or sell it to purchase one of the high end Onkyo/Integra integrated?

Thanks

84miles
mesch
3,410 posts
 
I hit post too fast. What would your budget be if you sold preamp?
loomisjohnson
1,905 posts
 
the b&w 684 are rated at 87db, which makes them relatively hard to drive--the 60w 535 might (or might not) be enough amp (b&w recommends 25-150w, which isn't terribly helpful). i've found adcom to be conservative in its power ratings, but if you're concerned you can try the higher adcom, rotel or something like parasound hca, which is excellent value.
84miles OP
6 posts
 
Mesch,
Thinking I would want to max out at $800-1000 if I ditched the Adcom.

Dr Loomis,
I've also heard good things about the Parasound and Rotel gear. Perhaps snatching an Adcom could be the short term solution while saving for the right integrated.  Do you remember what you didn't like about the 545?  I've only ever heard the 565 mono blocks.
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
The Onkyo A-10 was a great integrated amp. Used to be called "the poor man’s Accuphase" back in the day. I have had two (still have one) and they both amazed me with their neutral, clean, and powerful sound plus a fine phono section to boot.

Dave
loomisjohnson
1,905 posts
 
84, my recollection is that the original 545 was a bit bright and build quality was uncharacteristically unimpressive (the 555ii, otoh, was built like a tank). i do understand that the 545 mkii was an upgrade, though i haven't heard it, so by all means solicit other opinions. i will say that in the same price range, i like  the parasound hca the best (i used one for a long time with an adcom 750 pre,  but i've never heard it with b&w.  any of the foregoing would be easy enough to resell, so it'd be worth experimenting. good luck
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