Finally heard Accuphase
I heard it at T.H.E. Show last weekend.
I was pretty shocked at how bad they were. Of course there are many variables at a show, but they were in more than one room. The sound was so wishy-washy and vague and uninvolving I couldn't get past it.
And I was hearing stacks of like $50k ,75k worth. A $3k Sugden sounds about the same, if memory serves. Or even the $8k Yamaha. More or less. But to spend that money on these amps makes no sense. Just build your own tube amp for $1500.
Whats going on with this brand?
To be fair, I also heard a $300k system that sounded more or less like a good PA system at a small concert venue that costs like, IDK $10k or something. This stuff is making no sense anymore.
IMh...It still makes me pause when SOTA gets preferred instead of the studio gear it's recorded with and played on in spaces larger than most have. Yup...certified heretic.... |
Piega and Accuphase at THE Show 2025 I can’t bare to listen this system for a moment. At beginning AJ and people’s voices are great. So, mic works fine. Then AJ went into the room and I hear thick veiled and glare sounds which makes me a headache and blur vision. I admire people staying in the room. This ATC sounds much better to me. Alex/WTA |
All things considered you cannot just something in one system along. What works in one system may not sound as good (or better) in another system. We hear this many times as we repair components. Sometimes were a fooled by how something sounds only to hear it again in another system and it sounds better.
Happy Listening. |
I have the m 1000 monoblocks they have digital and analog meters 2k into 4 ohms and nice wood on sides.classic Japan amps.synergy is the key to any combination.ive amp rolled them on magico q7, kharma grands, focal utopia and others and thie fine.best 4 k used I've spent there is not a better bargain unless it's free.have tried several pre ams as well. Enjoy the search and I tried to go to the California show but couldn't make it what a let down.where is the next big show on the west coast? |
I won't try to argue that the Accuphase didn't sound bad at the show, and maybe Accuphase isn't the sound profile you like, but I bought a pair of A300s 6 months ago after an in home demo with my Rockport Cygnus speakers. My amp ownership journey has been Krell KSA150 to Naim DR300 NAP to Parasound JC1+ to Luxman M900u to ARC 160Ms to Gryphon Antilleon EVO(Home trial of the Westminster REIs) to the A300s. Resolution with the A300s is still there but it's not in your face. I have evolved to a place where I don't want to listen to resolution without musical engagement. I can't easily afford amps that do both extreme resolution and extreme musicality/engagement, as that's where I have found the highest price is paid, but the A300 are as much of that sound as I can afford. I can turn my system up high and not have fatigue. Shure, like Victor S. said in his Stereophile review you can find amps that can do this or that better, but the A300s make you want to listen to "just one more song". Farnsworth Audio provided the home demo of the A300s. Shipping is expensive but there is no substitute for trying components in your own room. I also used to think I could read reviews and put together a winning system. I learned the expensive way that rooms and the rest of the components have a huge effect on the sound. So an amp may be perfect for me but it might be sub-optimal in your system. Try everything you can in your own system/room. Good luck. |
