[Kevin Shen]

Dear Sir/Madam:

I am in the process of choosing between a used/preowned/second-hand
Hafler DH-200 or Adcom GFA-535ll, which are both comparably priced in
today's market (both of which are used/preowned/second-hand). The
price that I am paying for each of these 2 power amps is in the
$120-$150/each price range. Which of these 2 amps are more musically
pleasing (more musical sounding, better built, better designed, etc.)?
In other words, what are the pro's and con's of the Hafler DH-200
versus the Adcom GFA-535ll and which one gives me the most value for my
money (given that these 2 amps are similarly priced in today's market).

If anyone has knowledge about and experience with owning or listening
to these 2 aforementioned power amps, I would greatly appreciate your
opinion(s), information, guidance, comments, criticisms, etc. regarding
them. Any information from anyone will be welcomed by me.

Thank you in advnace for your help regarding this topic.

Sincerely,

Kevin Shen

[Stuart Krivis]

On 17 Aug 2006 02:48:11 GMT, "Kevin Shen"
wrote:

Dear Sir/Madam:

I am in the process of choosing between a used/preowned/second-hand
Hafler DH-200 or Adcom GFA-535ll, which are both comparably priced in

I would prefer the Hafler.

It has a hefty power transformer and large heat sinks. I've even seen
some spare parts for these for sale within the last year or so.

There are articles on modifying these if that's your cup of tea, or
there are several companies that do the mods for you.

The Adcom you would have to pay me to take. :-)

Honestly though, I don't think I'd buy the DH-200 with the intention
of using it stock. I'd only buy it if I were planning to mod it.

[Norman M. Schwartz]

"Stuart Krivis" wrote in message
...
On 17 Aug 2006 02:48:11 GMT, "Kevin Shen"
wrote:

Dear Sir/Madam:

I am in the process of choosing between a used/preowned/second-hand
Hafler DH-200 or Adcom GFA-535ll, which are both comparably priced in

I would prefer the Hafler.

It has a hefty power transformer and large heat sinks. I've even seen
some spare parts for these for sale within the last year or so.

There are articles on modifying these if that's your cup of tea, or
there are several companies that do the mods for you.

The Adcom you would have to pay me to take. :-)

For a while I ran Tympani IVAs with a pair of the original Adcom GFA-555s
(bridged) and the match worked perfectly.


Honestly though, I don't think I'd buy the DH-200 with the intention
of using it stock. I'd only buy it if I were planning to mod it.

[BEAR]

Kevin Shen wrote:

Dear Sir/Madam:

I am in the process of choosing between a used/preowned/second-hand
Hafler DH-200 or Adcom GFA-535ll, which are both comparably priced in
today's market (both of which are used/preowned/second-hand). The
price that I am paying for each of these 2 power amps is in the
$120-$150/each price range. Which of these 2 amps are more musically
pleasing (more musical sounding, better built, better designed, etc.)?
In other words, what are the pro's and con's of the Hafler DH-200
versus the Adcom GFA-535ll and which one gives me the most value for my
money (given that these 2 amps are similarly priced in today's market).

If anyone has knowledge about and experience with owning or listening
to these 2 aforementioned power amps, I would greatly appreciate your
opinion(s), information, guidance, comments, criticisms, etc. regarding
them. Any information from anyone will be welcomed by me.

Thank you in advnace for your help regarding this topic.

Sincerely,

Kevin Shen

I do not know what is in the GFA-53511 at all.
I think they have improved their designs over the years. The old 555
Adcom was a horrid amplifier, imho. I have never heard this newer amp.

The DH200 is an Erno Borbely design, when he worked for Hafler. It uses
Mosfets in the output. It is pretty decent stock. It neither sounds good
nor bad, imho. Which is better than sounding bad.

One can mod the DH200, or even swap the entire drive board out for a
newer Borbely board and get fairly spectacular performance - but you
have to be able to build up and install the board.

A bit also depends on what you want to do with them and what sort of
other gear will be hooked up... but for sure the Hafler won't rip your
ears off as some solid state amps seem to be able to do... my opinion of
course.

_-_-bear

PS. make sure the Hafler is working properly... no overheating, no
distortions, open it up, look at the boards for toasty resistors... both
heatsinks should be at about the same temperature to the touch after
say 15 minutes or so...