Finally heard Accuphase

I read where some people say Accuphase is over priced. I just do not see it that way. Or should I say, I do not hear it that way. They compare to the same level of other high end integrated amps in that price point range. Its possible people are using Yahama and maybe others pricing as a baseline. May not be a fair analysis. I’m a super fan of Yahama as a company that puts out high quality products and can produce excellent HIFI equipment. Accuphase business model is purely laser focused on high end audio gear. Also maybe a thought that Japanese HIFI products are mass produced consumer products and are not producers of serious HIFI equipment. Accuphase, Esoteric, TAD, Luxman and others dispels that notion.

My point of reference are Marantz Model 30, Yahama A-S3200, Accuphase E-4000, Pass Labs amps.

I was at the show too and heard the accuphase line as presented by commonwealth Hifi. I will Not say that they sound bad, BUT it did not sound phenomenal. IMO, they sound as same as most of the vendors at the show. YUP, it does have a steep price. I also tend to agree that i also am enamored by the Audio note line. I guess accuphase as a house sound does not capture me by its performance. I heard accuphase electronics at the the Vendors facility early this year as i was auditioning Devore speakers. The Accuphase amps are very very good gear, but in for me, not my liking.  I am a Pass Lab guy, owning a couple of their amps today. For me, the best sounding are the Gryphon room and the Audio Note room. 

Keep in mind most of whats in AN is japanese. Accuphase won't use as high end japanese components inside their gear. I think AN looks amazing with the lid off. 

Solid state with tons of capacitance power tanks will always sound flat and no energy or prat. I also never found Devore speakers to engage me. I wonder how pass labs sounds compared to Accuphase. I never heard it.

Every one likes different equipment per their hearing and preference of sound. None wrong or right.

I enjoy my Accuphase E5000 immensely. I sit back and just enjoy music, too me it’s the most natural sounding amp I’ve had and in 45 years there have been a few.

best, bob

I recently acquired an Accuphase A-80 class A amp, which I’m comparing against my long term stablemate Vitus SS-101 as well as Audio Research REF 250 mono blocks. To my ears, in my system, and given my musical preferences, the A-80 checks all the boxes. Accuphase engineers have voiced this amp in a very specific way where they have focused on harmonics and inner details. This is not an amp that craves for your attention in a crowded audio show. If you’re looking for the ’hey-look-at-me-throw-everything-in your-face-to-get-your-attention’ type of sound, then you should cross this brand off of your list. It is not a forward sounding amp.

Having said that, this is the most musical and engaging amplifier I have owned. The way it creates music and engages you is unlike anything I’ve heard before. For the first time, I don’t miss tubes. I get all the tubey goodness -- the glow from within quality, inner details, holographic imaging (maybe not to the level of the best SET amps though), seductive midrange, and slight warmth. But, at the same time, it has all the strengths of a solid state class A amp -- i.e., sparkling details, hefty yet nuanced bass, and complete control over the woofers thanks to a damping factor of over 1000.