Power, Power and Power! Very clear with good transperency, after couple of hours becoming tube like. Never goes out control.This amp is awesome. I have it for two and half years as well the other Adcom products. Use with Energy speakers. I think it's a good combination.

I suffered through a number of inadequate solutions to power my BOSE 901's, until I found the ADCOM 5500. Not only does this unit product clean and dependable power it (along with the preamp and separate power filter, protector) are handsome additions to my audio rack. I have found that all music, whether it be classical, to jazz to my 60's greatest hits collection, everything is produced with the clarity and vitality needed. The speaker require supreme support and ADCOM delivers time and again. And the price (about a third of what I was going to spend for less power in a McIntosh set up makes it that much more appealing. Future growth in the family room will include ADCOM as the building blocks for a serious home theater system.

We use Adcoms and Brystons in a commercial recording facility. It's a really good amp for the money, but in my view, nowhere near as good as the model before it, GFA-555 (I believe is the model #).
To my ears the 555 is quicker and tighter. The 555 is much closer to the Bryston then the 5500. AND at the price of a used one. . . . in my mind, a better buy.

Adcom GFA 5500. This unit was a factory replacement for the 555 II power amp because it was breaking down to much. Unfortunately it was a step down in sound quality. It is hard sounding and musically uninvolving. The price in Canada is to high compared to the U.S. price. Overall it is an amplifier that does not live up to its reputation. Compared to the Classe CA200 - well there is no comparison. The Classe is that much better.

I didn't have much left in my budget after the purchase of a Stereophile Class BCD player, Speakers and Sub. So, I decided to go with the GFA-5500 as an interim step until I can afford what I really want. Boy was I surprised at how good the Adcom is performing. After 2 months, I have no problems with keeping it around for a while. It's very smooooooth and effortless. Nice imaging that results in a soundstage with width, height and depth. Most importantly, with the mix of components I have, it does not have the SS edginess or grain that is so hard to listen to for very long. Discounted at $879, it is a great deal for value, performance vs. dollar spent. Before I bought, I compared it to one BIG name in the Amplifier business on some very well known electrostatic speakers that are known for being ruthlessly revealing and couldn't hear any differences.
That is what convinced me that this budget amp just might be ok.

I have utilized the GFA-5503 (the three-channel version of the 5500) in a home-theater/music system for two years. I preferred its sound quality to equivalent units from B&K, Parasound, and Carver, in that order. My critical music listening is via an all-tube system (in another room) because my ears are usually not compatible with most solid-state power amps and preamps. But the 5503 is unusually smooth and liquid, not hard, edgy, or grainy like so many transistor components. It also has excellent inner detail and soundstaging. The bass is tight and quick; the midrange is open and clear (but never overly bright or "in your face"); and the treble is extended, detailed, and airy. Overall, I would characterize the sound as very slightly warm.
It has been completely reliable. Whether playing music CDs or DVDs in Dolby Digital at theater-like levels, it has remained dynamic, never running out of power reserves. Its overload lights have never even flickered.

I am very pleased with this Adcom power amp. To surpass it would cost considerably more money. It is a terrific value.

Soundstage, imaging, smooth tube-like sound

At the price, none. If ADCOM went with a bridgable design and added features like variable gain, and auto-on, I doubt they could sell at this price and make a profit.

A wonderful sounding amp for the money. Very smooth sound with tight bass, broad and deep soundstage, and stable imaging. I would characterize the overall sound of this amp as a bit on the warm side, with a slight tilt toward the lower mid to bass frequencies and very good(though not superlative)inner detail. The upper treble is very smooth and lacking the "hardness" usually associated with solid state amps, though perhaps just a little "soft" for those who prefer a "hot" treble region.
Though very good, the 5500 can't quite match my Mac MC7300 in either soundstaging, imaging, or overall "sweetness" and musicality; but the Mac was $3500 in 1994, so the comparison is not really fair.
More to the point is the fact that I can leave the living room system which has the Mac driving Magnepan MG 1.6s and go to the entertainment room system which has the 5500 driving MG 1.6s and not feel as though I am giving up TOO much in listening enjoyment(even though the ADCOM was $2500 less than the Mac was when new.
As with all user reviews, remember that system synergy is the most important factor in obtaining audio nirvana. All comments must be tempered by the realization that the reviewers taste may well differ from your own. After all, thats what hi-end is all about - the immeasurable factors of equipment performance that provide YOU the listener with maximum listening enjoyment.

Similar Products Used:

Outlaw 750, McIntosh MC7300

Soundstage, imaging, smooth tube-like sound

At the price, none. If ADCOM went with a bridgable design and added features like variable gain, and auto-on, I doubt they could sell at this price and make a profit.

A wonderful sounding amp for the money. Very smooth sound with tight bass, broad and deep soundstage, and stable imaging. I would characterize the overall sound of this amp as a bit on the warm side, with a slight tilt toward the lower mid to bass frequencies and very good(though not superlative)inner detail. The upper treble is very smooth and lacking the "hardness" usually associated with solid state amps, though perhaps just a little "soft" for those who prefer a "hot" treble region.
Though very good, the 5500 can't quite match my Mac MC7300 in either soundstaging, imaging, or overall "sweetness" and musicality; but the Mac was $3500 in 1994, so the comparison is not really fair.
More to the point is the fact that I can leave the living room system which has the Mac driving Magnepan MG 1.6s and go to the entertainment room system which has the 5500 driving MG 1.6s and not feel as though I am giving up TOO much in listening enjoyment(even though the ADCOM was $2500 less than the Mac was when new.
As with all user reviews, remember that system synergy is the most important factor in obtaining audio nirvana. All comments must be tempered by the realization that the reviewers taste may well differ from your own. After all, thats what hi-end is all about - the immeasurable factors of equipment performance that provide YOU the listener with maximum listening enjoyment.

Similar Products Used:

Outlaw 750, McIntosh MC7300

Soundstage, imaging, smooth tube-like sound

At the price, none. If ADCOM went with a bridgable design and added features like variable gain, and auto-on, I doubt they could sell at this price and make a profit.

A wonderful sounding amp for the money. Very smooth sound with tight bass, broad and deep soundstage, and stable imaging. I would characterize the overall sound of this amp as a bit on the warm side, with a slight tilt toward the lower mid to bass frequencies and very good(though not superlative)inner detail. The upper treble is very smooth and lacking the "hardness" usually associated with solid state amps, though perhaps just a little "soft" for those who prefer a "hot" treble region.
Though very good, the 5500 can't quite match my Mac MC7300 in either soundstaging, imaging, or overall "sweetness" and musicality; but the Mac was $3500 in 1994, so the comparison is not really fair.
More to the point is the fact that I can leave the living room system which has the Mac driving Magnepan MG 1.6s and go to the entertainment room system which has the 5500 driving MG 1.6s and not feel as though I am giving up TOO much in listening enjoyment(even though the ADCOM was $2500 less than the Mac was when new.
As with all user reviews, remember that system synergy is the most important factor in obtaining audio nirvana. All comments must be tempered by the realization that the reviewers taste may well differ from your own. After all, thats what hi-end is all about - the immeasurable factors of equipment performance that provide YOU the listener with maximum listening enjoyment.

Similar Products Used:

Outlaw 750, McIntosh MC7300

I have owned an Adcom 5500 for about a year and I think it is a fine amplifier, I am driving Paradigm Export/BP speakers and it seems to be a good match for these speakers as they are a bit on the soft sounding side. I also have a NAD 214 amp in a second system and compared to the Adcom it is not nearly as detailed or able to deliver the bottom end punch. I would normally rate the 5500 with 4 or 4.5 stars but to counter the reviewers that obviously have a bias against Adcom products I'll give it a 5 based on its price/preformance ratio. I good overall amp that doesn't disappoint.
rest of system:
Yamaha DSP 2070 7 channel integrated amp (used as preamp and center/surround amp)
Toshiba 2109 DVD
Pioneer CLD 505 Laser disc player
Paradigm Export/BP's
Paradigm LCR 350
Paradigm MKII Mini Monitors
Home made subwoofer (next on the chopping block)