My Adcom is dying! What is good enough to replace it with?

[manto]

My adcom amp (which i love) is producing a buzzing/staticy sound from the right side speaker. It plays along with the music - i tried to ignore it, but its too annoying. It seems to be coming from the speaker terminal itself and no amount of fiddling with it has stopped it. It doesnt kick in until i have been playing the amp for a little while. Then it doesnt stop.

Anyone know if its worth taking in to fix?

What Receiver would i have to buy that is AS GOOD for music as my adcom seperates. It should also be able to handle movies but im not picky as to that.

Used mostly for music but i also enjoy the occasional DVD.

Preamp: Adcom GTP-500II
Amp: Adcom GFA-555II
3 CH Surround: Adcom GSP-560
CD player: Marantz CD-67SE
Speakers: Aerial model 5's (Mirage surrounds/center)

[prerich]

Originally Posted by manto

My adcom amp (which i love) is producing a buzzing/staticy sound from the right side speaker. It plays along with the music - i tried to ignore it, but its too annoying. It seems to be coming from the speaker terminal itself and no amount of fiddling with it has stopped it. It doesnt kick in until i have been playing the amp for a little while. Then it doesnt stop.

Anyone know if its worth taking in to fix?

What Receiver would i have to buy that is AS GOOD for music as my adcom seperates. It should also be able to handle movies but im not picky as to that.

Used mostly for music but i also enjoy the occasional DVD.

Preamp: Adcom GTP-500II
Amp: Adcom GFA-555II
3 CH Surround: Adcom GSP-560
CD player: Marantz CD-67SE
Speakers: Aerial model 5's (Mirage surrounds/center)

They don't make'em like that anymore - for that price. It could be as simple as a contact that needs to be cleaned to something more serious. I would take it in (I did that with my Integra that I had many years ago) they told me that it was a loss but it cost me nothing. If you do seek another amp of that caliber - I suggest looking at audiogon !!!

[manto]

Thanks for your quick reply.

One would think that since the amp is 20 yrs old - that technology has improved to the point where a Receiver sounds as good today as my old seperates. But perhaps its the opposite and Adcom made better stuff back then for far less than you can get today.
But i just dont know.
The sound of my CDs is very important to me
Sounded great until the buzzing.

I wonder what a repairmen in Manhattan (where i live) would charge to troubleshoot this.

[D]

Check your messages for a contact. Best of luck.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by manto

Thanks for your quick reply.

One would think that since the amp is 20 yrs old - that technology has improved to the point where a Receiver sounds as good today as my old seperates. But perhaps its the opposite and Adcom made better stuff back then for far less than you can get today.
But i just dont know.
The sound of my CDs is very important to me
Sounded great until the buzzing.

I wonder what a repairmen in Manhattan (where i live) would charge to troubleshoot this.

My amps are that old and are going strong - I have a Yamaha M-80, 2 MX-830's, a Yamaha 6150, a Sony ES TA-N80ES, 2 Sony TA-N220's, and a DBX BX3 (I like having extra amps and speakers around the house !

[D]

Originally Posted by manto

Thanks for your quick reply.

One would think that since the amp is 20 yrs old - that technology has improved to the point where a Receiver sounds as good today as my old seperates. But perhaps its the opposite and Adcom made better stuff back then for far less than you can get today.
But i just dont know.
The sound of my CDs is very important to me
Sounded great until the buzzing.

I wonder what a repairmen in Manhattan (where i live) would charge to troubleshoot this.

manto, Did you get the contact info in your pm? If that person is too far, I'm sure he can recommend someone closer. Best of luck.

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by manto

Thanks for your quick reply.

One would think that since the amp is 20 yrs old - that technology has improved to the point where a Receiver sounds as good today as my old seperates. But perhaps its the opposite and Adcom made better stuff back then for far less than you can get today.
But i just dont know.
The sound of my CDs is very important to me
Sounded great until the buzzing.

I wonder what a repairmen in Manhattan (where i live) would charge to troubleshoot this.

There are many receivers that would be able to put up similar, if not, better reproduction than yours, seeing as how they're 20years old. Check into the Pioneer Elite or higher end Denon, or even Marantz.

The new Pioneer Elites claim to be just as good as seperates from this day and age! (Pioneerelectronics.com) Search for the Pioneer Elite SC-25 or SC-27, which come out in late August.

[Big Daddy]

You can buy a used Adcom real cheap.

http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=adc...&_ipg=&_sop=12

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

There are many receivers that would be able to put up similar, if not, better reproduction than yours, seeing as how they're 20years old. Check into the Pioneer Elite or higher end Denon, or even Marantz.

The new Pioneer Elites claim to be just as good as seperates from this day and age! (Pioneerelectronics.com) Search for the Pioneer Elite SC-25 or SC-27, which come out in late August.

I know of no receiver that will put out what that particular Adcom amp puts out - and will do it as cleanly as the Adcom. For its cost, at that time, the Adcom was truly a reference piece of gear. Claims have to be backed up (and I'm not trying to be rude ). I've compaired newer receivers vs older muscle poweramps such as the Adcom 555, Yamaha M-80, Old HK amps, Dbx BX3 ect. and the receivers just can't hang (until you get into the thousands of dollars - then I would recommend a new power amp over a receiver). This is why a lot of these amps retain their value on the used market - every now and then you can find someone giving one away, when I do - I pounce .

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

You can buy a used Adcom real cheap.

http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=adc...&_ipg=&_sop=12

Good find Big Daddy! If I'm not mistaken - the GFA-555 is a class A amp (or a Class A - A/B switching like the Yamaha M-80). I know of no receivers that are stable to a one ohm load like these amps (and your cinepro ). These amps are just beast!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by manto

My adcom amp (which i love) is producing a buzzing/staticy sound from the right side speaker. It plays along with the music - i tried to ignore it, but its too annoying. It seems to be coming from the speaker terminal itself and no amount of fiddling with it has stopped it. It doesnt kick in until i have been playing the amp for a little while. Then it doesnt stop.

Anyone know if its worth taking in to fix?

What Receiver would i have to buy that is AS GOOD for music as my adcom seperates. It should also be able to handle movies but im not picky as to that.

Used mostly for music but i also enjoy the occasional DVD.

Preamp: Adcom GTP-500II
Amp: Adcom GFA-555II
3 CH Surround: Adcom GSP-560
CD player: Marantz CD-67SE
Speakers: Aerial model 5's (Mirage surrounds/center)

If your Adcom is indeed a Class A amp - your distortion levels are extremely low !!! Since you are a music lover - If you can't get the Adcom fixed - I would recommend a new power amp altogether! Your Aerials present a 4 ohm load, very few receivers are happy with that (by the way - nice system ... pics?). I would definately go with a repair or another amp that can handle loads down to 2 ohms.