Looking to Upgrade Amp & Preamp


I'm looking to upgrade my amp and preamp.

Amp: Adcom GFA-555
Preamp: Adcom GTP-400
Speakers: NHT 3.3
CD: Rotel RCD965BX

I listen primarily to rock, jazz, and electronica. The Adcom amp and preamp have been solid workhorses for me since 1990, but if they can be improved upon significantly within my budget, then I'm interested in upgrading.

Preamp requirements: (1) phono section unnecessary but if it's there, it's a bonus; (2) integrated tuner would be a plus, but not necessary; (3) five or more line-level inputs; balanced input/output a plus for future flexibility; (4) this being 2004, a remote would be nice; (5) solid construction; something that will last for decades, ideally; (6) good ergonomics and stylish appearance a plus (prefer black to silver); (7) surround sound is completely unnecessary and undesired. And, it need hardly be said, I want the best sound I can buy within my budget, given the above constraints. I'll spend up to $1500 for the preamp.

Amp requirements: enough muscle to drive the NHT 3.3's at least as capably as the Adcom GFA-555. Substantially better sound than the Adcom (otherwise there's no point to upgrading). [Inasmuch as the Adcom does not have any glaring deficiencies that I can hear, I cannot specify what 'better sound than the Adcom' means, but surely some of you have opinions regarding what specific improvements are achievable at my price level.] Ideally, it should be built like a tank, just as the Adcom is, and should be something that will easily last for decades. I'm willing to go as high as $2000 for the amp, *if* I am convinced that the sound improvement is substantial relative to cheaper equipment.

So, any and all recommendations are welcome. I'm perfectly happy to buy used equipment in order to get more bang for the buck. So far I have been looking into various models by Rotel, Adcom, Classe, Krell, and others, but there must be hundreds of manufacturers out there, and I need to narrow the scope to a handful of choices that are likely to be among the best bets given my requirements.

Thanks in advance for all suggestions.

-jbiii
jbunniii

Showing 1 response by gonzalo

Dear Friend Jbuiii

It is really hard to recommend, based on budget alone, in reality we should know more about your tastes before going into reccommendations.
Nevertheless like you I am an owner (happy )of a HT room comprised of a pair of 3.3's AC-2, and 2 pairs of super Ones along witha Velodyen 18"monster powered by a 1.26 KW didital amp.
I found the 3.3's have enough resolution, detail and space representation to take the best amplifierss and make them shine.
Since i am alittle bit in the industry I have tried several amplifiers thus far, including but not limited to Aragon, ARC, Krell, Plinius, Classée, Sunfire, Belles, Mc Cormack, Threshold Audio, etc. etc.
It is s long list I know.
Inj my opinion the 3.3's make a magical match with 2 of the amplifiers I've tried, first the Aragon, very very controlled, very quick, detail etc.e ct.
the best one so far is the Threshold Audio that currently sits on the botom of my rack is the S-5000e, from the new generation of amplfiers from Threshold.
Though I have to warn you this papa of a 250 watt per side will run HOT! to the touch. once stable in operating temperature.
It also brings the very best of the 3.3's and the 3'3's bring the best of that big amplifier.
Amp retails for $2,500 or so, very well worth it.
Read some reviews in soundtage they won awards etc. not impressed by that, just impressed to what it can do to my 3.3's.
Picks'em up and takes 'em places!!
is that good!!
As a preamp I have tried a few very revealing, but the cheaspest and most revealing and fast of the bunch is the new Adubible Illusions L-2 that came out a little while back uses tubes like underwear (change tubes every 9 to 10 months) but I found me a good source for those tubes, at $15 each and sound killer (ELetro HArmonix Russian Tubes 6922). Shop around you might even find a used one at a good deal.
A.I preamp, Threshold Amp 3.3 speakers, just pour yourself some good single Malt whisky,a couple good CD's or Vinyl if you wish . . . and magic.

In fact I just was listening to a CD I picked up in a pawn shop earlier today while I was waiting for a friend to be picked up from the airport, I killed some time, purchased some great CD's for cheap,came back and listen to the musical score from the movie DOn Juan de MArco, if you like acoustic guitars you'll love this one and the orchestration took me back to SPain, Mexico, and brougt me back here in a few minutes.
I hope this help a bit. take care
My reccomendation n this order
1 - Threshold
2 - Aragon 4004 or 8008, not the newer stuff
3 - Mc Cormack 200 W per side amps, also very good
Gonzalo