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Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Adcom GFA-5400 Amplifier (SS) by dudlew

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REVIEW: Adcom GFA-5400 Amplifier (SS)

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Model: GFA-5400
Category: Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price: $300
Description: Stereo amplifier 125 RMS X2@8ohms
Manufacturer URL: Adcom
Manufacturer URL: Adcom

Review by dudlew ( A ) on January 10, 2004 at 19:27:42
IP Address: 205.214.205.137
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for the GFA-5400


The amp in question, the GFA-5400, was purchased used on Audiogon for $390 shipping included. I did alot of research and ended up with not much in my price range. I saw the Audio Source amps, and the AMC 2100, the lower spec'd Adcoms(5200 and 5300) and some pro audio gear and considered maybe the NAD C350, or to stretch to The ATI1502 or the NAD C270. One thing that stuck in my memory was the sound of an Adom amp that was tested with the Hafler pre and I liked the sound remembering it to be ultra clean( my ears were not as well trained as they are now).

I saw this and jumped on it, not really researching it as the price seemed right for the power on offer. I figured that Adcom is a respectable enough brand and the reviews at audioreview.com were not horrible. The amp I had at the time was a Pioneer A35 integrated that I was using as a power amp to the Hafler. by itself the Pioneer sounded brittle and compressed with not much bass weight and a scratchy treble, the Hafler added some body and bass weight and some how made the sound cleaner, and more acceptable. When I got the Adcom and put it in place of the pioneer, the sonic difference was huge. The background was cleaner and almost dead quiet, the bass extended deeper the sound opened up and everything sounded better, cleaner fuller, richer, more realstic. The speakers were much better controlled and my system could play louder and sounded unstrained. The Pioneer was just too weak to properly drive my speakers and to my ears, after listening to the Adcom, was clipping before my speakers bottomed out.

At present after living with it for three months I find myselfenjoying my system.

On a side, I tried this amp in my brother's more 'refined system and I will give the comments here.

My brother's system:

NAD C340 integrated amp

Rotel RCD971 cd player

B&W CDM7NT loudspeakers

Van Den Hul D102MKIII interconnects

Straightwire speaker cable (cant remember model)

Using the NAD as a pre, when the Adcom was inserted into his system his speakers opened up and had better impact in the bass and a more open and expressive treble with a very clean midrange. He himself noted the better bass and treble and the extra control but felt that the midrange was slightly recessed. I found the midrange to be more even than the NAD as I thought that the NAD had a lower midrange to upper bass hump. I let him live with it for a week and it convinced him that adding a power amp to his NAd was a worthwile upgrade path. This coming from an integrated amp man with no real intentions of going the separate route, is a pretty good endorsement to me of the quality of this amp.

It seems to me that Adcom gets put down alot here and this made me a bit skeptical of buying it but in the end I am happy I did. My humble system sounds great to my ears and this amp is a major factor in this. My brother had the NAD C340 , the Rotel RCD971 and the B&W DM601 (I bought the B&W 601s from him), and I cannot remember his system sounding as good as mine does now using the Adcom amplification.

Very few quibbles and good sound for the dollar makes this a good buy in my book especially on the used market.

p.s. that suggested retail price is VERY wrong. It is more in the vein of $600 (at least for the model that I have)


Product Weakness: No detachable power chord, very slightly recessed midrange, small thump in speakers when powered up.
Product Strengths: Clean,Dynamic, and good power. Sound has drive and detail without being harsh or unmusical. Quite even balance.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Adcom GFA 5400
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Adcom GTP-502, Hafler DH-100
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Sony CDP-CE575 and Sony DE-J955 as transports, M-Audio Super DAC 2496 DAC
Speakers: B&W DM-601
Cables/Interconnects: Cable Talk Advanced interconnects, Ixos gamma geometry speaker cable
Music Used (Genre/Selections): various
Room Size (LxWxH): 15 x 15 x 12
Room Comments/Treatments: Bedroom (double bed), leatherette chair, desk with computer, no wall treatments and thin curtains
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): TNT Flexy table and Stubby Speaker stands, Satco surge suppressor
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Adcom GFA-5400 Amplifier (SS) - dudlew 19:27:42 01/10/04 ( 1)