I will agree the GFP750 is a great value. I compared it to my Melos 333? several years ago. It was impressively close to a $3000 preamp for only, if I remember correctly, $750 or so. But the Melos was slightly better in all areas, with more neutrality, but also mainly more fully fleshed out tone and imaging. Nowadays, compared to current well regarded preamps, I am sure it holds its own, but the differences would be even greater. A Ref 3, for example, has a MUCH more transparent sound, and will show the GFP as sounding too thin, and not that neutral. Neutral only sounds "neutral" until you hear something even more "neutral". But hey, the GFP is still a great value. It is just not close to the best out there anymore.
Adcom GFP 750: why spend more?
After reading all the rave reviews since the late 90's I finally caved in and bought a second hand unit...no need to say more, it is quite an amazingly transparent gear and smoked my VTL 5.5 in the area of transparency, neutrality and bass control....and with my tube DAC, I do not need more tube magic in my system.
I am wondering what can be gained by spending more all the way to 20 times more to buy an active SS or tube preamp that will induce some coloration at best. In other words, when the almost ideal absence of coloration is available with balanced in-out, remote, balance control, HT by-pass and pre-out, when is more needed, really? Please educate me on the benefits of "more" when less is likely more in the world of preamps..am I missing something?
I am wondering what can be gained by spending more all the way to 20 times more to buy an active SS or tube preamp that will induce some coloration at best. In other words, when the almost ideal absence of coloration is available with balanced in-out, remote, balance control, HT by-pass and pre-out, when is more needed, really? Please educate me on the benefits of "more" when less is likely more in the world of preamps..am I missing something?