Display and remote

Just had to chime in here. Agree that the display is, well,
useless... unless you're a falcon or are staring at the unit from about one foot away. However, an Adcom rep (whose name escapes me) spoke to this display criticism after one of the audio rags had reviewed the player. He said Adcom knew the display is not especially good (very loose paraphrase), but they opted for this one because it has a very low noise content. Good point. If the unit was designed to provide high performance without a lot of frills, I'd rather have them put the money into DACs, better quality parts, etc. And I've never found it especially illuminating to stare at a display while a disc is playing - I'd rather listen to the music. In other words, annoying but I can live with it.

The remote is barely passable. It works. Not much else you can say about it.

All in all, an excellent player that personifies the "bang for the buck" philosophy. Overall a 4+ product. But the site doesn't allow for such distinctions.

I bought this unit used about 6 months ago. I was not sure if the sound quality would be a significant improvement over my 1st edition pioneer DVD player, but the deal was just too good to pass up, and I already had the other two Gold components from adcom - gfp750 and gfa5802. BOY was I an ignoramous! The difference was night and day. Nuances, detail, and texture just come alive in the music. The output is very smooth and "analog-sounding". The soundstage is very 3d and very deep. Orchestral percussion sections are way at the back. The flutes are right up front. Its truly amazing.
I have some MINOR complaints with this unit, though. The display is impossible to see if you are standing and look down at this unit. There is no "time remaining" feature on the counter. There is no FF or REW on the remote - only |>|. This I miss a lot. Cheapo stuff from Walmart has this - I don't understand. Also, if you forget to power down correctly and turn this unit off first, it sometimes gives a loud high pitched pop.

All in all, the music matters most of all, and this unit really excels in this respect.

Sound, Price I paid, looks

I don't really care about the backlit LCD display being no good. Maybe not a true weakness, but I hate those gold switches on all the Adcom lone.

Just checking the system hookup prior to doing any listening, I heard good things from this CD player. I sat down to listen, and noticed this CD player really brings out detail. I think maybe too much detail. I don't think this is a harsh sounding player, it has a high resolution factor. I think on really good soloist type sessions, solo singers, soft passages, solo horns or saxophones, this thing sounds great! But busy rock or contemporary jazz recordings, it brings out too much junk in the recording. I like this player, and am eager to get my reference speakers
I purchased home and listening with this player. I like it compared to what I have heard.

Some caveats about this unit, I don't like those stupid gold switches. Why not a big solid rocker switch in the corner? Seems lacking. When I was unpacking mine, I pulled the little plastic protective cover off the Gold plate, the plate came off with it! Wow, not to good for a $1500 retail CD player! I spent my first day of ownership gluing it back on.

Overall, I am glad I got this CD player. It ain't bad.

Similar Products Used:

All adcom amplifiers, GFP-750, GFA-5800, GFA-5802 Onkyo DX-708 CD player was replaced by the Adcom GCD-750

A solid player! I believe that point of diminishing returns starts just after this until. Was using a modified
sony 20 es. This crushes it. The music is solid, weighted
and has slam. Yet, it is clear, refined, and smooth, and above all, musical. It's expensive, but you can pay more for less. Frankly, this should hold me over until most likely I win the lotto and can afford that Wadia or until Slayer's "Reign in Blood" arrives on SACD. Take you pick.
Seriously, the slayer f'n' crunches, the Coltrane sounds as breathy and real-horn-like as ever, and voices are very natural. I really believes that about covers it.
Also the dac option is very nice, I tried my modified Toshiba 2300 on it tonight (this Toshiba is the best DVD player I've every seen under 1k, never had a problem; 80%
of those reviews for it are garbage, more below*). Although the hdcd chip on them is similar or the same, the Adcom is much more vibrant and simply more enjoyable.

I would really recommend this player unless your in the 3k+ league-w-a-d-i-a
BTW: the display sucks, we all know this, but you're gonna have your eyes closed anyway.

current set-up:
adcom 750 cdp/kimber silver streak out
arcam 8p
B&W N805
kimber 4tc bi-wired/perhaps 8tc soon...


*Toshiba DVD; I must say this has be sharpest most artifact/noise free picture under 1k yet. I've used kimber pbj as the dig coxial connect to the adcom-works very well;
considering adding a mega changer for background listening times and storage...

I'm giving the Adcom a 5 because it is I believe it's 95% percent near CD perfection, I'd give the wadia another 4 percent, and the 1 isn't for sale anywhere.

Similar Products Used:

sony es; pioneer elite; marantz 67, heard: rotel, and many others including linn and some of the other $$,$$$ BS

Excellent sound stage dynamic range.

Huge voltage differences between balanced and unbalanced ouput levels. Creates problem with subtle incremental volume control adjustment.

I have just received my Adcom GCD-750 to match my 5802 amp and 750 preamp components, also Adcom. I am enjoying some of my music on a matched system of components. Between the preamp and amp I am using MIT 330 Proline balance interconnects. Between the CD player and preamp, I also installed an identical set of MIT interconnects.

Very evident was the difference in sound, mainly the volume of sound coming out of my speakers, a pair of Polk RT3000P's. I also noticed that my preamp volume control was only at the 10:00am position, and my amplifier distortion lights were starting to blink. I am aware of why this happens. I was surprised to hear so much volume, at such a low position. Usually I would see a peaking of amplifier power around the 2:00 - 3:00pm position on the volume control knob, this also depending on other factors of the source material and such. We need not go into that as I understand the many variables affecting sound output.

I began to look for some answers, first looking at the GCD specs. It is here I found a huge difference in output voltages for the different configurations, balanced vs. unbalanced. The specifications indicate 3 volts RMS unbalanced, and 6 volts RMS balanced. In looking at different specs for various CD players from other manufactures, I see a range of 2 - 3 volts RMS output level. In fact my other two players, are at the 2 volt RMS output level.

In listening to the GCD-750 and CD source material in balanced mode, I noticed differences in sound quality, such as dynamic range and acceleration of music content, impact. This sound quality is very similar to the sound of music when I use dbx range expanders, 3bx or 4bx, on the same music selection.

I am now using my CD player in unbalanced mode so I can at least have some moderate control over the volume level vs. speaker volume, with relation to volume knob position. In balanced mode, the slightest movement of the knob would increase the volume level considerably, more than I was comfortable with.

There are noticable differences between operation of the unit when using unbalanced and balanced interconnects. I think the unit is very good however, I do have some questions for the folks at Adcom.

Bass and pitch definition, detail, build quality, smooth sound

Hard to read display

Overall a teriffic CD player. Equals or betters most CD players I've heard at or above its price, and I listened to a lot of players before buying. In all honesty, you would have to have quite an expensive system in which the CD would be used to justify spending many times its price. Even then, based on my listening the improvements are marginal, yet costly. Otherwise, its just boils down to personal preferences.

As an aside, I have read about mechanical breakdowns of the Adcom "gold badge" components and rude Adcom representatives. I must say I have found both to be to the contrary. I have owned both the GCD 750 and GFP 750 preamp since they came out in 1998 (over 2 1/2 years) with no problems and have found the Adcom folks to be helpful and courteous.

Give it a listen.

System context:
Adcom GCD 750
Adcom GFP 750
Classe CA 150
Vandersteen 1C, w/ Audioquest cables

Similar Products Used:

Marantz, Wadia, Arcam, Theta, Rotel, Linn, Audio Research