Adcom GFA-4404 clips pretty easily

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Dr Zeus

Dr Zeus

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Joined 2010
#1
I thought this amp would have more oomph than its data sheet. Its rated at 40x4 which is pretty low, but I figure its classic power right?

So I wired channels A and B to two pairs of door speakers - so thats Four x 6.5" door speakers paired in parallel per side. Each channel A and B is seeing about 2-ohms this way.

Channels C and D I bridged, and am running a single 12" woofer wired at 2-ohms (DVC in Parallel) - and the amp is seeing about 1-Ohm per channel on C & D.

With the sub not running, I can get the up to about 90% volume capacity on the head-unit and it sounds great. When I introduce the sub, I can only hit about 75% volume capacity before channel B clips. Channel A is not clipping. I don't know if the sub channels are clipping - its hard to tell and I don't have my equipment anymore. Why is channel B clipping?

Is there something wrong with this amp or has it just not the guts?
 
#2
Dr Zeus said:
I thought this amp would have more oomph than its data sheet. Its rated at 40x4 which is pretty low, but I figure its classic power right?

So I wired channels A and B to two pairs of door speakers - so thats Four x 6.5" door speakers paired in parallel per side. Each channel A and B is seeing about 2-ohms this way.

Channels C and D I bridged, and am running a single 12" woofer wired at 2-ohms (DVC in Parallel) - and the amp is seeing about 1-Ohm per channel on C & D.

With the sub not running, I can get the up to about 90% volume capacity on the head-unit and it sounds great. When I introduce the sub, I can only hit about 75% volume capacity before channel B clips. Channel A is not clipping. I don't know if the sub channels are clipping - its hard to tell and I don't have my equipment anymore. Why is channel B clipping?

Is there something wrong with this amp or has it just not the guts?
Click to expand...



Are you sure it's 2 ohms stable as well as 2ohm stable bridged?


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#3
Well, that's a thought. I actually have the box for this ancient thing which proclaims <1 ohm stable. Picture attached. The manual also seems to indicate it's stable down that low also.
 

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#5
As well as it outputs 40watts per channel is that enough for your power hungry bass speaker? As well as trying running the 6.5" speakers in parallel even tho that would mean the power would be cut to half and run the dvc in parallel


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#8
Yes, those amps were more about fidelity than pounding.

I have a Nakamichi system that is a keeper. Minimum 4R per channel and it sounds great. Pounding? Why would I do that? It was bought for sound quality. The McIntosh amplifiers are along those same lines.

I have yet to hear an amp designed for pounding that sounded good in a music quality way, so that is your choice. You're just asking it to do things it wasn't designed to do.

-Chris
 
#9
Fidelity - this amp has. Its a very clean sound indeed. Its not 100% what I am looking for though.

Does anyone have an old HiFonics Goliath X or Neptune X they would want to trade? Or anything else power-heavy (Zed) or good. I also love SoundStream Reference and older series - but not sure if those come with 4-channels (The MC140x is too small), but I'm looking for classic at about 100x4 channel. I might consider some options. for trade

Trade your Power for Fidelity. Please PM me. I have with this AdCom 4404; the original box with foam, a couple manuals, original owner's name on some of the paperwork. I'd rate this amp cosmetically a 9.5/10. I have 2x XLR to RCA adapters. This amp is like it was only ever used for total of a month in the last 24 years. No scratches on top. maybe 1~2 on the bottom. Minimal to no markings on the mounting tabs. All allen screws works; fan and all. Works as designed.

Thankyou
 
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