Accuphase P-7100 or A-65?


After quite a long quest for attaining audio nirvana I now feel that (with my limited budget) in order to satisfy my musical thirst the Accuphase line of products is the way to go. In a country where there is no option at all for auditioning any high-end audio equipment, it is almost impossible to pin-point merits and demerits of the individual component, let alone trying at home in the familiar environment. I have tried quite a few (in the demo environment), though, during my overseas trips in recent months. Hence, the query is directed towards the Audiogon community around the world, particularly those who won or have experience in Accuphase products. My short-listed products are: Pre-Amp C-2410 or C-2110, Power-Amp A-65 or P-7100 and CDP DP-500 or DP-400.

My current setup is CDP: Audio Aero Capitol MKII, Pre-Amp: Bryston BP25DA, Power-Amp: Bryston 7BssT, Speakers: PMC IB2 (4 Ohms) and Usher BE10 (8 Ohms), Interconnects: Accoustic Zen Silver Reference and Matrix Reference, Speaker Cable: Accoustic Zen Satori Shotgun. Room size: 15’(w) x 12’(d) (with both sides opening from 6’ sidewalls) x 10’ (h). I only listen to CDs.

For Pre-Amp I would probably go for C-2110 due to my budget limitation. Since the Redbook CDs are the only universally accepted format and since I have got quite a good collection of them and also for attaining a total synergy in the chain either of DP-500 or DP-400 is good to go. The dilemma I’m in now is, which Power-Amp to go for. P-7100 or pure Class A A-65? I mostly listen to Jazz and soft rock. My musical preference is sweet mid bands and expanded hi nodes with fully coherent solid bass punch and depth, but it doesn’t have to be granite (crude) solid. I would like both of my speakers to be driven at ease (both of them need a bit of power muscle) and enjoy the music for hours together.

Can any Audiogoner (based on experience) please shade some light on the Amps’ performance in terms of reproduction of music in coherence with the rest of my components and help me decide which way to go?

Thank you in advance.
matinma
The Class A accuphase amps are quite something else.
If the 60w Class A amp can drive your speakers, by all means, go for them.
They impart a certain fluidity, clarity, and midrange ripeness that is hard to ignore.
W/ your PMC, I don't see any problems with the A65 driving them. They are conservatively rated!
Just to give you an idea, their 30w class A integrated amp sounds bigger and louder and more powerful bass compared to their 180w brethen class a/b amp.

good luck.
Thanks Nolitan for your kind suggestion.
How do you think A-65 would behave with my Usher BE10 having Be dome tweeter (not the currently available ones with Diamond DMD dome tweeter), 5" Be Midrange and 11" (ETON) Low-bass Woofer? BE10s' Sensitivity is 89dB and nominal impedance is 8 ohms.

I am aware that both IB2s and BE10s are capable of reproducing extended mid and high frequencies with solid bass. With A-65's 'fluidity, clarity, and midrange ripeness' driven into BE10, shall I have the 'fully coherent solid bass punch and depth'?

I'll definitely value your comments in making my decision.
the A65 will have no problems driving the Usher.
These are very powerful amps & quite understated.
In one of the reviews of the E550 int amp, they mated it to a BW 800 speakers and it drove it fine.
YMMV
I used an A-50V (2 generations before the A-65) on a pair of Eidolons and then Eidolon Diamonds. Was seemingly effortless in a medium sized room.