NormB
Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2020
- Messages
- 61
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- 44
So far I haven't seen a single review on this NEW offering from ADCOM.
I got on a waiting list back in January for one of these and finally got the "they're coming" email from the seller (a well-known high-end stereo shop just outside of Miami I won't mention directly because his service, communication, and overal process was flawless and I don't want in any way to disparage him), paid, and two weeks later had one in my hands first week of May.
Unit looks nice, like all ADCOM products and I've had more than a handful over the years, from GTP 350 to 450, 500-II, 555-II, 565 (two) and have repaired several FM sections, rebuilt, recapped many preamps (latest 565's I have done all the usual Nichicon FG in audio path in one, fixing the power supply, changing out gain section opamps, but went with Nichicon UKA audio caps in the second unit I use in my basement audio room and I'm amazed at how much better they sound, especially the UKA modded one), I've done similar things to some amps (535,-II 545-II, 555-II including power supply, recapping, input section transistor matching, and more) - all by way of saying I do have some familiarity with the brand.
So imagine my surprise, when turned on, all panel lights came on, but wouldn't go off.
I couldn't put unit into standby. While playing audio, there was NO mute, even with volume turned all the way down to ZERO, sound STILL came out of speakers. There was no "on" led on one selection button.
On the PLUS side, to MY 65 year old ears, the sound was at least as good as my 565 with the UKA and Burr-Brown OPA604 op amp upgrades. Headphone output was stellar (but only as good as my 565 with a BB OPA2604 op-amp).
It just wouldn't turn off. And the remote ONLY affected volume, but again, no mute or zero volume.
MAN!!!!!!!
Quick call to seller who had a return label within the hour to send back to ADCOM in Phoenix, AZ who sent another back which took a week with delays, and....
It doesn't work either. Standby light comes on, nothing else works.
What is the statistical chance that TWO out of the first 546 units built (#Vxxx546 and Vxxx502) would be broken, non-functional?
Emailed seller (This was Saturday) call to seller yesterday (Monday), label in hand in ten minutes, dropped off with FEDEX, I'm done.
This has been a major disappointment, BUT, this second one is on it's way back to ADCOM, seller assures me I'll have a refund upon its arrival.
No, I won't risk playing "third time's the charm" with $1,000 and trust, based on experience that another unit will work out of the box or even LAST through the 2 year warranty period.
Meanwhile, I've had a chance to compare 30 year old ADCOM preamps I've taken very good care of, updating/modding to take advantage of improvements in technology in that time, and
I have to say I'm good with what I've got.
Maybe that's the lesson for me.
FWIW, YMMV.
Thanks for letting me vent.
I got on a waiting list back in January for one of these and finally got the "they're coming" email from the seller (a well-known high-end stereo shop just outside of Miami I won't mention directly because his service, communication, and overal process was flawless and I don't want in any way to disparage him), paid, and two weeks later had one in my hands first week of May.
Unit looks nice, like all ADCOM products and I've had more than a handful over the years, from GTP 350 to 450, 500-II, 555-II, 565 (two) and have repaired several FM sections, rebuilt, recapped many preamps (latest 565's I have done all the usual Nichicon FG in audio path in one, fixing the power supply, changing out gain section opamps, but went with Nichicon UKA audio caps in the second unit I use in my basement audio room and I'm amazed at how much better they sound, especially the UKA modded one), I've done similar things to some amps (535,-II 545-II, 555-II including power supply, recapping, input section transistor matching, and more) - all by way of saying I do have some familiarity with the brand.
So imagine my surprise, when turned on, all panel lights came on, but wouldn't go off.
I couldn't put unit into standby. While playing audio, there was NO mute, even with volume turned all the way down to ZERO, sound STILL came out of speakers. There was no "on" led on one selection button.
On the PLUS side, to MY 65 year old ears, the sound was at least as good as my 565 with the UKA and Burr-Brown OPA604 op amp upgrades. Headphone output was stellar (but only as good as my 565 with a BB OPA2604 op-amp).
It just wouldn't turn off. And the remote ONLY affected volume, but again, no mute or zero volume.
MAN!!!!!!!
Quick call to seller who had a return label within the hour to send back to ADCOM in Phoenix, AZ who sent another back which took a week with delays, and....
It doesn't work either. Standby light comes on, nothing else works.
What is the statistical chance that TWO out of the first 546 units built (#Vxxx546 and Vxxx502) would be broken, non-functional?
Emailed seller (This was Saturday) call to seller yesterday (Monday), label in hand in ten minutes, dropped off with FEDEX, I'm done.
This has been a major disappointment, BUT, this second one is on it's way back to ADCOM, seller assures me I'll have a refund upon its arrival.
No, I won't risk playing "third time's the charm" with $1,000 and trust, based on experience that another unit will work out of the box or even LAST through the 2 year warranty period.
Meanwhile, I've had a chance to compare 30 year old ADCOM preamps I've taken very good care of, updating/modding to take advantage of improvements in technology in that time, and
I have to say I'm good with what I've got.
Maybe that's the lesson for me.
FWIW, YMMV.
Thanks for letting me vent.