Adcom GCD-600 CD Players
Adcom GCD-600 CD Players
USER REVIEWS
[Jan 11, 1999]
Chad Lewis
an Audio Enthusiast
I have had my Adcom GCD-600 for about four years and have been fairly happy with the sonic performance. My Carver integrated amp doesn't seem to like the line level output but that may not be the Adcom's fault. Going to the adjustable preouts allowed me to use the volume knob on the Carver to it's fullest, not just the first quarter turn. Just made a major upgrade in speakers and the CD player seems to sound as good as the more expensive unit used to audition the speakers, but no A/B comparo done. I have the usual mouse-begging-for-cheese-squeak when the door opens and closes and the player won't open sometimes until the stop button is pressed. Also, getting it to play the freakin' disc can sometimes try your patience, with a bit of button pressing and on/off switching together with creative language to get things going. But these episodes are few, and have actually seemed to mellow with age. Overall I think a solid performer sonically with a couple of not so endearing personality quirks. |
[May 21, 1999]
Alex
an Audio Enthusiast
I live in a fraternity and the house owns an Adcom GCD-600. I don't see why a fraternity would choose to buy such an expensive CD player instead of some cheaper $200 disc changer. Now, the CD player doesn't even work right. All the buttons on the front panel, with the exception of the power button, do not respond at all. When the unit is turned on and the carousel spins around to check if there are any CD's in it, it makes a rattling/grinding noise like the bearings aren't aligned properly. Needless to say, this unit has seen a lot of use and abuse. I can't say I'd recommend it for someone who doesn't take great care for their equipment. Not that Adcom didn't build it well, probably other CD players wouldn't last near as long as this one has. But in a place like this, where stuff gets damaged very frequently, equipment that is less expensive to repair or replace would be a smarter choice. |
[Sep 05, 1999]
timball
an Audio Enthusiast
I bought my GCD-600 from a pawn shop for $25 bucks. It has been a real diamond in the rough ever since I've owned it. Yes as everyone says it squeaks when the carosel opens, but other than that I'm pleased as punch. I've compaired it to a phillips single disk cd-player my friend had and still think the adcom is better. The buttons have really beautiful red led's (green in the case of the power button) and the internal circuitry kickith much ass... Overall I give it a 5 because I found it so darn cheap. |
[Sep 04, 1997]
Pete S.
an Audio Enthusiast
Okay, so the 600 has been superseded by the 700, but there are still plentyof them out there, and if you get a chance to pick one up used you wanna know |
[May 31, 2001]
David
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Sounds Great! Very reliable.
Weakness:
Tray is a bit noisy when it opens, but doesn't bother me. I have owned this CD changer since 1993 and it has been great. I don't use it every day anymore (mostly because of the digital music channels on DirecTV), but I have never had a problem with it in the 8+ years I've owned it. I find the sound to be excellent. FYI, I have it paired with virtually all Adcom equipment: GTP-550 tuner, GFA-555 II amp, GFA 5503 amp, Klipsch Chorus II and Klipsh KG 4.5 speakers. |
[Mar 27, 2001]
Adji
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
- dual output, variable and fixed
Weakness:
- Rotary tray - They all are great even produced in 1995. (I play 3 hours a day) |
[Nov 26, 2000]
Andrew Blackburn
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Great sound, clean design, polarity switch
Weakness:
reliability, lack of power switch on remote I bought this one for the sound...I'd listened to a bunch of CD players (from Sony, Yamaha, NAD and Denon) before I bought this one, and while it was a little more money, it blew them away. Clean, uncolored sound, excellent channel separation, very good audio detail. That's the good news. The bad news: it's in the shop - again! It died on me for the first time about a month after I bought it - the read head had to be realigned. Then the tray developed a nasty rattle and stopped working altogether a couple years back. Now the tray has stopped working again - and while I can't buy another CD changer that sounds this good for $150 (the estimated repair price), I'm quickly reaching the point where I'll have spent enough on repairs to justify a new one. Similar Products Used: Sony, Fisher, Yamaha |
[Apr 02, 1999]
Larry Anvik
an Audiophile
The comments made by others regarding the build quality of this machine do not match my experience. I'm not disagreeing with them, since I'm sure they had the problems they described and people tend to remember things like that. I've had my '600 for about seven years now and it gets a LOT of use. Very good sound quality for the age (meaning technology at the time) and price. It features 100% Class A circutry and dual 16 bit DACS with 192KHz sampling. Single ended analog outputs only, with your choice of fixed or variable output. Digital out is also included (RCS only). I've had zero mechanical problems with either transport or remote. Re the remote: EXCELLENT cross-room pickup on all functions. Polarity inverse is a remote function (rather ahead ofits time like the rest of the unit). I've "abused" the transport many many times by changing disks (by remote) while a song is playing. (5-CD carousel) CRecommended procedure is to STOP then change. I have occasionally experienced the squeak upon drawer close that others mention. No big deal for me. Finally, I bought a Musical Fidelity X-25 24/96 outboard DAC for Christmas 4 months ago, to hang off the GCD 600. After many experiments, I've decided to sell the X-25 since the original DAC sounds much better. None the less, the GCD-600 is the oldest piece I have and needs replacing. I've decided to buy a high quality player like the Wadia 860, and run the GCD-600's digital out through the new machine. I'm sure the Wadia will sound some better, but not nearly as much as you would think. Like everyone says, this machine SOUNDS VERY VERY GOOD. And I'm not ready to completely give up the convenience of a 5-CD changer. Sound:4, Value:5, reputation:3= 4 in my book. |
[Sep 14, 2000]
Leonard
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Price, Sound Quality, Overall Looks
Weakness:
Lack of power control on remote. Picked the GCD 600 to replace my HK FL8300 that crapped out for the last time. A very clean looking unit that matches well to my HK AVR85 receiver. Yes, the transport system is fairly noisey, but I don't hear the squeaks that others have complained about. Similar Products Used: Harman Kardon, Nakamichi, Kenwood, Yamaha |