SERVICE MANUAL

2 CHANNEL
POWER AMPLIFIER

GFA-5500
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Test Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Parts List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Schematic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

10 Timber Lane
Marlboro, NJ 07746
USA
Tel: 732-683-2356
Fax: 732-683-9790

Web: http://www.adcom.com
 INTRODUCTION

This service manual is intended to assist trained and qualified technical personnel in verifying the
performance of, adjusting, and repairing the ADCOM GFA-5500 amplifier. The procedures described here are
not intended for persons unfamiliar with the appropriate safety and test procedures.

WARNING
THERE ARE POTENTIALLY LETHAL VOLTAGES WITHIN THE GFA-5500 AMPLIFIER WHICH WILL BE
ACCESSIBLE ONCE ITS TOP COVER IS REMOVED. DO NOT ATTEMPT FAMILIARIZATION,
INSPECTION, OR ANY PROCEDURE WHATSOEVER UNLESS YOU HAVE DISCONNECTED THE GFA-
5500 FROM THE WALL AC OUTLET OR OTHER SOURCE OF AC POWER AND THE POWER-SUPPLY
CAPACITORS ARE COMPLETELY DISCHARGED. THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE PROVIDED FOR USE
ONLY BY COMPETENT TECHNICAL PERSONNEL. DO NOT UNDERTAKE ANY SERVICE
PROCEDURES IN THE GFA-5500 UNLESS YOU ARE TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED TO DO SO.

TEST PROCEDURES
• All tests are performed with a 115V, low-distortion (less than 2% THD), AC-power source, 8-ohm
resistive load (except slew rate), and a signal source of not more than 600 ohms.
• An 80kHz low-pass filter is employed during THD distortion measurements.
• Signal-to-noise measurements are “A” weighted.
• Damping factor is measured by comparing the 1 watt output voltage with and without an 8 ohm load.
• Slew rate is measured with an inductive load, and is derived with a dual-time-based oscilloscope reading
the slope of a full power 5kHz square wave. DO NOT OPERATE THE AMPLIFIER AT FULL-POWER
SINE WAVE ABOVE 22kHz OR FULL-POWER SQUARE WAVE ABOVE 5kHz.

IMPORTANT
BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ADJUSTMENTS, MAKE SURE AMPLIFIER IS AT ROOM
TEMPERATURE.

CORRECT BIAS ADJUSTMENT IS CRITICAL TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS AMPLIFIER.

MAXIMUM OUTPUT POWER, MINIMUM THD AND HEAT DISSIPATION ARE AFFECTED BY THE BIAS
SETTING AND MUST BE CORRECT TO MAINTAIN THE SONIC QUALITY AND LONGEVITY OF THE
AMPLIFIER.

BIAS ALIGNMENT

Prior to performing BIAS ALIGNMENT turn unit on and allow to idle for approximately 5 MINUTES before
attempting adjustments.

1. Connect millivoltmeter across emitter resistor R52 for left channel (R51 for right channel)
2. Adjust bias pot P2 until meter reads 50mV +/- 5mV

DC OFFSET ADJUSTMENT
1. Connect millivoltmeter across speaker output
2. Adjust DC offset pot P1 until meter reads 0mV +/- 10mV

1
GFA-5500 SERVICE PARTS LIST

AMPLIFIER MODULE PCB

SCHEMATIC ADCOM PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION

LOCATION
C01 12001535 CAPACITOR MICA 390pF 100V
C02 12001080 CAPACITOR MYLAR 2.2uF 100V
C03 12005280 CAPACITOR ELEC 47Uf 50V
C04 12001085 CAPACITOR MYLAR 0.22uF 100V
C05 12001480 CAPACITOR SILVER MICA 15pF 500V
C06 12001470 CAPACITOR SILVER MICA 20pF 500V
C07 12005325 CAPACITOR ELEC 4.7uF 50V
C09 12005380 CAPACITOR ELEC 47uF 25V
LED1 16001204 THERMAL LED LTL1204 (RED)
LED2 16001254 DISTORTION LED LTL1254 (YELLOW)
P01 35001550 DC OFFSET POT 5K MULTI TURN
P02 35001550 BIAS POT 5K MULTI TURN
Q01,Q02 33002100 TRANSISTOR IRFD210
Q03,Q04 33000092 TRANSISTOR MPSA92
Q05 33000092 TRANSISTOR MPSA92
Q06 33009210 TRANSISTOR IRFD9210
Q07 33009610 TRANSISTOR IRF9610
Q08 33002100 TRANSISTOR IRFD210
Q09 33000042 TRANSISTOR MPSA42
Q10,Q11 33000610 TRANSISTOR IRF610
Q12 33000042 TRANSISTOR MPSA42
Q13 33000042 TRANSISTOR MPSA42

Q14 33000092 TRANSISTOR MPSA92

Q15 33002400 TRANSISTOR IRFP240
Q16 33000924 TRANSISTOR IRFP9240
Q17 33002400 TRANSISTOR IRFP240
Q18 33000924 TRANSISTOR IRFP9240
Q19 33002400 TRANSISTOR IRFP240
Q20 33000924 TRANSISTOR IRFP9240
Q21 33002400 TRANSISTOR IRFP240
Q22 33000924 TRANSISTOR IRFP9240
Q23 33002400 TRANSISTOR IRFP240
Q24 33000924 TRANSISTOR IRFP9240
R01 27001565 RESISTOR ROED 221R (1/4W 1%)
R02 27002480 RESISTOR ROED 1.82K (1/4W 1%)
R03 27002365 RESISTOR ROED 49.9K (1/4W 1%)
R04 27002480 RESISTOR ROED 1.82K (1/4W 1%)
R05 27002030 RESISTOR ROED 10K (1/4W 1%)
R06 27002280 RESISTOR ROED 15K (1/4W 1%)
R07 27002170 RESISTOR ROED 475R (1/4W 1%)
R08 27001565 RESISTOR ROED 221R (1/4W 1%)
R09 27001565 RESISTOR ROED 221R (1/4W 1%)
R10 27002010 RESISTOR ROED 100R (1/4W 1%)
R11 27002030 RESISTOR ROED 10K (1/4W 1%)
R12 27002365 RESISTOR ROED 49.9K (1/4W 1%)
R13 27002240 RESISTOR ROED 7.5K (1/4W 1%)
R14 27002025 RESISTOR ROED 1.5K (1/4W 1%)

SCHEMATIC ADCOM PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION

2
LOCATION
R15 27002030 RESISTOR ROED 10K (1/4W 1%)
R16 27002500 RESISTOR ROED 33.2K (1/4W 1%)
R16A 27002500 RESISTOR ROED 33.2K (1/4W 1%)
R17 27001565 RESISTOR ROED 221R (1/4W 1%)
R18 27001565 RESISTOR ROED 221R (1/4W 1%)
R19 27001515 RESISTOR ROED 4.75R (1/4W 1%)
R20 27002010 RESISTOR ROED 100R (1/4W 1%)
R21 27002030 RESISTOR ROED 10K (1/4W 1%)
R22 27002200 RESISTOR ROED 4.99K (1/4W 1%)
R23 27001530 RESISTOR ROED 2.74K (1/4W 1%)
R24 27003035 RESISTOR 5.1K (1W 5% MOD)
R25,R26 27002410 RESISTOR ROED 4.75K (1/4W 1%)
R27,R28 27003390 RESISTOR 220R (1/2W 5% MOF)
R29,R30 27003090 RESISTOR 47R (1/2W 5% MOF)
R32 27002365 RESISTOR ROED 49.9K (1/4W 1%)
R33-R42 27003390 RESISTOR 220R (1/2W 5% MOF)
R43-R52 27006045 RESISTOR 0.68R (5W 5% W.W.)
R53 27002030 RESISTOR ROED 10K (1/4W 1%)
TB101 32006000 THERMAL BREAKER
Z01-Z08 16000082 DIODE ZENER 8.2V (1/2W)

POWER SUPPLY PCB

SCHEMATIC ADCOM PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION

LOCATION
BR1,BR2 16003506 BRIDGE RECTIFIER 600V 35A DB3506/T
C1 12001235 CAPACITOR MYLAR 0.1uF 250V
C10,C11 12005525 CAPACITOR ELEC 18,000uF 100V
C12,C13 12001235 CAPACITOR MYLAR 0.1uF 250V
C14 12005525 CAPACITOR ELEC 18,000uF 100V
C15 12001235 CAPACITOR MYLAR 0.1uF 250V
C16-C19 12005265 CAPACITOR ELEC 1000uF 100V
C20 12001235 CAPACITOR MYLAR 0.1uF 250V
C2-C5 12005265 CAPACITOR ELEC 1000uF 100V
C6 12001235 CAPACITOR MYLAR 0.1uF 250V
C7 12005525 CAPACITOR ELEC 18,000uF 100V
C8,C9 12001235 CAPACITOR MYLAR 0.1uF 250V
D1-D8 16004004 DIODE 1N4004
F1-F4 19000800 RAIL FUSE 8A 250V 3AG
R01 27003365 RESISTOR 22R (2W 5% MOF)
R02,R03 27003355 RESISTOR 15K (2W 5% MOF)
R04 27003365 RESISTOR 22R (2W 5% MOF)
R05,R06 27003300 RESISTOR 10R (2W 5% MOF)
R07-R10 27003280 RESISTOR 8.2K (2W 5% MOF)
R11,R12 27003300 RESISTOR 10R (2W 5% MOF)
R13 27003365 RESISTOR 22R (2W 5% MOF)
R14,R15 27003355 RESISTOR 15K (2W 5% MOF)
R16 27003365 RESISTOR 22R (2W 5% MOF)
R17 27003335 RESISTOR 6.8K (1W 5% MOF)
TH1,TH2 31005500 THERMISTOR CL40

OUTPUT PCB

3
SCHEMATIC ADCOM PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION
LOCATION
30005800 BINDING POST RED/BLACK
C8 12001235 CAPACITOR MYLAR 0.1uF 250V
R31 27001000 RESISTOR 4.7R (2W 5% MOF)

OTHERS

SCHEMATIC ADCOM PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION

LOCATION
C21 12001510 SPARK KILLER 0.01uF 400V
F5 19001200 MAIN FUSE 12A 250V
TH3 33005800 THERMISTOR CL101
13005500 FRONT PANEL
13005504 HEATSINK LEFT
13005505 HEATSINK RIGHT
37001325 POWER SWITCH
22001170 RCA INPUT JACK
13005501 TOP COVER
13005805 FOOT

4
a GFA-5500 Voltage Conversion

The GFA-5500 amplifier is produced in both a 120VAC only version and a multivoltage (120VAC or 230VAC
convertible) version. The version can usually be distinguished by external inspection. The 120VAC only
version has a fixed AC line cord. The convertible version has a detachable line cord. Internally, their are two
differences. The toroid transformer in the convertible version has 2 primaries; the first primary has a black
and brown lead, the second primary has a black and brown lead with white stripe. The toroid transformer in
the 120VAC only version has only the brown and black lead (1 primary winding). Additionally, the
connecting block mounted next to the power switch is different in both versions. In the multivoltage unit,
this connecting block has 6 pair of mounting leads (as is shown in the figures below). In the 120VAC only
version, the connecting block has only 4 pairs of mounts.

The conversion procedure for the multivoltage GFA-5500 unit is listed below.

Conversion of Multivoltage Units

120V to 230V
1. Unplug the amplifier and remove the top cover.
2. Locate the connecting block mounted next to the power switch.
3. Move the transformer leads so they are configured as shown in figure 1.
4. Change the rear panel AC fuse from 12A to 6A, AGC. Place a sticker on the rear panel at the fuse holder
to show the new value fuse (6A) and new value operating voltage (230VAC).
5. Test the unit with a 230VAC source.

White
(from AC fuse)

KCC
KC103P CL-10

Black/White Brown/White Black Brown

(to xformer) (to xformer) (to xformer) (to xformer)

Figure 1: Transformer lead configuration for 230VAC operation (multivoltage units)

5
230V to 120V
1. Unplug the amplifier and remove the top cover.
2. Locate the connecting block mounted next to the power switch.
3. Move the transformer leads so they are configured as shown in figure 2.
4. Change the rear panel AC fuse from 6A to 12A, AGC. Place a sticker on the rear panel at the fuse holder
to show the new value fuse (12A) and new value operating voltage (120VAC).
5. Test the unit with a 120VAC source.
White
(from AC fuse)

KCC
KC103P CL-10

Black/White Black Brown/White Brown

(to xformer) (to xformer) (to xformer) (to xformer)

Figure 2: Transformer lead configuration for 120VAC operation (multivoltage units)

6
 GFA-5500 SPECIFICATIONS
Power Rating (To FTC Requirements)
200 watts continuous average power per channel into 8 ohms at any frequency between 20Hz to 20kHz
with all channels driven at less than 0.18% THD
350 watts continuous average power per channel into 4 ohms at any frequency between 20Hz to 20kHz
with all channels driven at less than 0.18% THD

IM Distortion (SMPTE)
1 watt to 200 watts into 8 ohms........................................................................................................................................... ≤ 0.05%
1 watt to 350 watts into 4 ohms........................................................................................................................................... ≤ 0.05%

IM Distortion (CCIF, Any Combination from 4kHz to 20kHz)

200 watts into 8 ohms........................................................................................................................................................... ≤ 0.04%
350 watts into 4 ohms........................................................................................................................................................... ≤ 0.04%

THD + Noise at 200 watts into 8 ohms (Typical)

20Hz........................................................................................................................................................................................... 0.018%
1kHz.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 0.02%
10kHz............................................................................................................................................................................................ 0.07%
20kHz............................................................................................................................................................................................ 0.13%

THD + Noise at 350 watts into 4 ohms (Typical)

20Hz........................................................................................................................................................................................... 0.018%
1kHz.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 0.02%
10kHz............................................................................................................................................................................................ 0.08%
20kHz............................................................................................................................................................................................ 0.16%

Frequency Response @ 1 Watt into 8 ohms (10Hz to 20kHz)............................................................................................ +0, -0.25dB

Power Bandwidth (-3dB) ........................................................................................................................................................ 3Hz to 130kHz

Dynamic Headroom into 4 ohms......................................................................................................................................................... 1.7 dB

Signal to Noise Ratio, “A” Weighted (200 watts into 8 ohms) ................................................................................................. ≥ 100dB

Gain............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29dB

Input Sensitivity
for 1 Watt.................................................................................................................................................................................. 0.1 volts
for 200 Watts ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1.4 volts

Input Impedance.................................................................................................................................................................................... 49.9kΩ

Damping Factor (20Hz to 20kHz).......................................................................................................................................................... ≥ 700

Rise Time (5kHz, 90V, peak-to-peak square wave, 20% to 80%) .................................................................................................. 1.5µS

Power Consumption (Continuous, All Channels Driven)

Quiescent .................................................................................................................................................................................... 199VA
Maximum ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 855VA
80 watts into 8 ohms .............................................................................................................................................................. 1440VA
125 watts into 4 ohms............................................................................................................................................................... 720VA

Power (Available in 230VAC on special order)............................................................................................................ 115VAC - 50/60Hz

Chassis Dimensions ...................................................................................................... 7” (178mm) x 17” (432mm) x 13 3/4” (349mm)
Maximum Dimensions ............................................................................................ 7 1/4” (184mm) x 17” (432mm) x 14 3/4” (375mm)
Weight........................................................................................................................................................................................ 44 lb. (25.9 kg)
Weight, Packed....................................................................................................................................................................... 50 lb. (28.6 kg)