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Can someone explain to me why : Accupahse Equipment is that expensive ?

…….I was recently looking into their Power Conditioners as well as their Amplifiers and for a company where there is very little reviews done on their products, along with a small ( here in the US anyway )  almost a cult following if someone could tell me why is their prices the way they are. I just don't understand it. I have listened to their equipment and is nice and the build quality is very good but ; I always said to myself ; '' Not for that price ". I do not mean to be in an any way inflammatory with this statement but is :  Accuphase the McIntosh of the East ?  McIntosh makes some nice stuff but is no way priced like Accuphase, however it seems to operate very much with the same business model ; you are paying for the name and the pride of ownership and the sound is very much dated. Maybe I am missing something here and the sound is very good and like Rolex you buy a piece and you are set for a lifetime. FM Acoustics is also another one of the those companies......Just looking for a really good amp and these companies come up in my search but I am just sitting here scratching my head ?           
garebear
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I think you really have to buy used and let someone else take the hit on depreciation.
Considering an e-360 myself right now but used.
I don’t think you would go far wrong on used as the type of owner who buys one is not likely to abuse it in any way.
Just my thoughts.....
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,385 posts
 
@uberwaltz...……………………

I agree with going used.  I replaced almost all of my 2 systems with McIntosh which I bought used.  I could never have afforded them brand new.  I dropped over 18K on McIntosh and had I bought them new it would have been over 40K.  To tell you the truth, they do all look new as Audio Classics does a great job with them.
russellstone
2 posts
 
It’s policy from Accuphase Japan and distributors are bound by it. Why buy Accuphase?
I spent 3 years auditioning amps to match my Martin Logan Summit X’s. After listening to 20 minutes of Accuphase class A integrated magic I bought it. 3 years later I have no regrets. Saw a review of my amp where they measured it clipping at _double_ the rated output. It’s specs are rated (both channels driven) down to one ohm. It doesn’t have the resolution of Esoteric or PS Audio, but I never tire of listening to it.
Those are the reasons you buy Accuphase. 
billshenefelt's avatar
billshenefelt
12 posts
 
I have an old Accuphase C-200 preamp.  Anyone have any comments about that unit?  I was debating about sending it to an outfit that rebuilds, (recaps etc) the old unit.  Worth doing?  No defects right now that I am aware of but I do know that some electrical parts do degrade over the years.
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
I'm not quite sure of the relevance here. Couldn't you substitute a dozen or more highend audio names other than "Accuphase" and have the same question?
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