I was not shopping for amps; I was shopping for speakers. But this amp made such a negative impression on me, that I had to add this post. Initially, the dealer had this running as part of an all top-dollar Adcom setup -- GFP750 preamp, GCD 750 CD player. Interconnects and speaker cables were transparent reference. This combination was running B&W 801s, which the dealer was demonstrating for someone else. I've never heard 801s sound this bad -- flat soundstage, lifeless sound. While their appearance is totally impossible to tolerate outside of a dedicated sound room, I like the 801s. I've heard them throw a wonderful 3-d soundstage that is very impressive. But not with this amp.The dealer then connected the speakers I wanted to hear -- B&W 805s. Using my own test CDs, the 805s revealed a surprising amount of grit and a flat soundstage. After I complained about the amp, the dealer connected the 805s to a lower-priced Adcom combination, which actually sounded pretty good, although still 2-D.
If you're considering this gear, think about whether you really need all those watts or all the bells and whistles of a pre-amp power amp combination. For about the same dollars, you can get the Krell 150wpch integrated, which is incomparably better sounding than this (I own one)or any one of several pre/power combinations from Rotel or NAD that sound better. And there's some pretty good tube equipment available, too, but you'll have to settle for 40-80 wpch.
I told the dealer I just couldn't rate the 805 because the amp was so bad. He said I could take the speakers home for an audition . . . but that's a lot of trouble when there are so many good monitors out there in the $1.5K to $2K price range.

I heard this amp along with Adcom's top of the line matching pre-amp and CD player. They were connected to NHT 2.9s and Nordost Blue Heavens. (I'm very familiar with the speakers and cables.) For $1750 list, I felt the 5802 was an incredible value. I have never been an Adcom fan: good value for the money, but not for me. This system changed my view about Adcom. The amp was attractive looking and warm sounding, however the highs seemed a bit "scratchy."In a modest system, (under $10,000) I feel that this amp is definately worth a listen. It also has very high power output (300 watts@ 8 ohms) which is good for demanding speakers. The matching pre-amp is also a good combo with this. However, I found several negative factors with this. 1.) it got too hot to touch in just several minutes. 2.) out of 5 amps the dealer got in, only two worked properly. Also, he had several customers send theirs back to Adcom for repair. Quality control problems it seems. In review, a good sounding amp and terrific for the money, but there could be potential problems, so be prepared to exercise that warranty.

Performance: 4 speakers.
Price: 5 speakers
Reliability: 2 speakers

Adcom has produced a very affordable audiophile quality amplifier that has enourmous power reserves. This budget-priced amplifier also sports a high
build quality. The 5802 dosen't sound perfect but what amplifier does. The
5802 has a 'sweet' character and dosen't sound edgy and grainy. However I wouldn't say that it sounds like tubes, it just sounds less like solid-state.
Overall the Adcom has a good sense of pace and rhythm, and it is relatively inexpensive compared to other Hi-end amplifiers. If you need lots of power and a musically satifying sound, look no further.

I owned a pair of Adcom 5300's and I just purchased a 5802. I like the amp, but I'm still getting used to it because it definitely sounds different than any other amp Adcom has made in the past. The bass is just killer, and the highs have a laid-back kind of quality to them which is not fatiguing on the ears. I guess I was used to the trebly "sparkle" I got from the two 5300's. The extra highs could have been from the extra bit of energy that lower-end amps add to the treble. I read some very bad reviews of the 5800 and was reluctant to buy the 5802. I have not had the thing smoking, but the amp definitely needs good heat dissipation;it will get hot!! The amp has good details and the clean power makes for hearing those details very clearly. I would recommend this amp to anyone who needs an abundance of clean power and wants to spend around 2,000 dollars. P.S. I don't think spending up to 10,000 dollars on a system should be considered "modest", and I don't think most people would agree with that statement either. I don't know the occupation of the gentleman so said spending under 10,000 dollars on a system makes for a modest system, but not everyone in the world is made of money, especially the kind of money in which more than 10,000 dollars can be spent on a stereo system!!

I am very pleased with the Adcom 5802 that I have owned now for about 6 months. I'm one of you folks that is always searching for satisfaction, with a bit of obsessive audio sickness. I tried compared this amp with various combinations of other gear including MacIntosh, Adcom, Aragon, and Bryston Pre-Amps and against Bryston 4B-ST and Adcom 5500 power amps. I find the amp sounds VERY different after warming for an hour or so, this is more marked than the other solid state amps that I have owned. Before that, the highs are a bit bright for my liking. After warming up, it is very smooth and musical sounding with lots of reserve energy. I am finally content with the fine musicality of my system now to do justice to everything from headbanging rock to subtile accoustics with the 5802 as the foundation.
Associated Equipment - MacIntosh 6200 Integrated amp as pre-amp, Rega Plannar III turntable with Grado Reference Platinum cartridge, Rega Planet CD player, Paradigm Reference 100 loudspeakers, Audioquest interconnects and speaker wire (bi-wired).

I have owned the GFA-5802 for about 18 months now, I just love the sound, very clean and sharp. I am driving a pair of Dahlquist DQ-30 loudspeakers, also using your GFP-750 and GCD-700. I paid $1550.00 and would recommend any of your products to anyone.

I owned this amp for about a month. It is really puts out tremdous power. Excellent sound. Clean, crisp, clear. The only draw back to this amp is the incredible heat it puts off. It will warm up a small room. Overall, highly recommended.

Auditioned the 5802 in an all Adcom gold switch plate series system at Stereophile Show in 97 in SF. The all Adcom system was used with Kimber Kable, a prototype called "retro wire" and Energy speakers($4000 variety). This system kicked serious booty. I spent more time in that room than any other. All connections were made in balanced config with the Kimber mystery cable (huge ugly unwieldy stuff). They were demoing a homemade jazz cd recorded on a Pioneer Elite CDR (1997 mind you) that was awesome. The 5802 rocked, rolled and blew(thats a good thing in jazz terms). I owned the 5800 at the time and was heart sick and more than a little pissed at my Adcom dealer for having sold me the 5800 when the 5802 was just around the corner (only from and absolescence and resale point of view, sound is very, very close). Fans were annoying on the 5800. Sounds like they should have been designed into the 5802 from the reviews below. A lot of bang for the buck. Do not see how you could go wrong in this price point. Highly recommend using an all balanced config in your setup. The resulting sound improvement is amazing.

Power & Richness vs. Lean & Dry & Modifiable

Grunge that will obscure detail and cause other problems.

The VT 200 is truly one of the best amps out there. there is now a mod that will make a 5802 compete with it. NO BULL. I never thought that the 5802 had as much grunge until the mod took it ALL AWAY. CLEAN CLEAR OPEN TRANSPARENT,with the GLOW of the VT 200,LIKE NO OTHER MOD.TRULY A FIRST CLASS AMP. contact Stan @ 1541-3443696

Similar Products Used:

Own most other adcoms

Excellent Sound and Looks nice. Also makes a AWSOME heater for homes paying too high oil heating prices.

Quality control!!! Also not a great sub-Amp in a bi-amp system. Authough it is an Awsome heater, not well suited if you already have electric heat.

Love the sound from this amp. Warm and delicate without the harshness some amps can have (GFA 555 II and others). Was not impressed with amp as a sub amp. I origionally purchased it for this purpose in a bi-amp setup to replace my GFA 555 II and realized the 555 II was plenty good as a sub-amp and didn't need the 5802. So now the 5802 drives my uppers and like I said earlier it has great sound. NOW THE COMPLAINTS, Unit came to me new in box with a loose screw in bottom and missing 2 screws from top-plate. I sent it back to Adcom and in a few weeks it was returned seemingly repaired. Several months later I wanted to remove the top cover to blow out the dust inside the amp and discovered ADCOM used loc-tite where the 2 missing screws were to hold on the top plate. we discovered later the holes in the heat sink that were too large for the standard screws. So instead of replacing the heat sink they figured loc-tite was better. Well thank god I have a friend that is a Machinist and he was able to drill out the 2 screws Adcom permantly placed in their. Well we correctly repaired the unit like new without using loc-tite!!! and my other complaint.... WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH ALL THE HEAT!!!!! Listeng to this unit for long times can raise a roomes tempature enough to make you want to turn it off. Needless to say no matter how good it sounds I will NEVER BUY ADCOM AGAIN. (LOC-TITE??? WHAT A JOKE)and heaters sell cheaper then $1600.oo

Similar Products Used:

Have had much experience with many brands of power amps.