Accuphase C-280 Review (Preamplifier)

[lewdish]

Rare legacy & halo brands that actually measure really well

 

[NTTY]

About this fabulous C-280 I can say that it work and match perfectly with is cousin the P-500. The conclusion is that this piece of art for me is probably
the end of the game. It's a little bit sad, but I follow testing some gears which have interest for me. In terms of ratio price/quality/performances/pleasure it's for sure
the best investment I've done.

Nah, you’ll buy more of these toys so I can test them, please, pretty please

 

[WilliamfromParis]

Nah, you’ll buy more of these toys so I can test them, please, pretty please

My problem is my addiction for that kind of beautiful gears. I'm weak in front of Accuphase pieces

 

[cay-uwe]

I hope you enjoyed this review as much as me writing it.

Very good job and it correlates with reacent measurements I made on an 50 years old YAMAHA C-2. Also the YAMAHA performed very good considering its age

 

[Xyrium]

This setup would have been my dream setup back in the day. Things are simpler now, but Accuphase was always superlative, and kept things very tidy.

 

[mlloyd1]

@NTTY:
Great review! I bet it really was a lot of fun testing this piece. These results for something this old are indeed impressive. Why don't those crazy cloners go after this one??? But the real question is after 40+ years of technological progress, what is a modern product doing this performance and quality at a price that a normal human can afford?

 

[WilliamfromParis]

@NTTY:
Great review! I bet it really was a lot of fun testing this piece. These results for something this old are indeed impressive. Why don't those crazy cloners go after this one??? But the real question is after 40+ years of technological progress, what is a modern product doing this performance and quality at a price that a normal human can afford?

I think that this device is a statistical anomaly. Impossible to reproduce nowadays even at Accuphase. By referring to it well, I think that Accuphase itself is a statistical anomaly in the field of audio.

 

[Salt]

I think that this device is a statistical anomaly. Impossible to reproduce nowadays even at Accuphase. By referring to it well, I think that Accuphase itself is a statistical anomaly in the field of audio.

Statistical anomaly? Please explaine this.

 

[VientoB]

Interesting fake accuphase amp here:

 

[PristineSound]

Interesting fake accuphase amp here:

Can't really tell the quality of parts used. But at the end of the day, it needs to be measured before anyone gets excited.

 

[EJ3]

Can't really tell the quality of parts used. But at the end of the day, it needs to be measured before anyone gets excited.

I have seen some measurements (not of this particular one [not as extensive as Amirm's, they did not need to be]) that showed that the copies were no better than the worst Rolex copies compared to a real Rolex.
And that would be my expectation here: a vastly inferior product that is a superficial cosmetic facsimile of the real thing.
Basically: if it seems too good to be true, it most likely has a 99.999% chance of not being even close to true.

 

[VientoB]

I have seen some measurements (not of this particular one [not as extensive as Amirm's, they did not need to be]) that showed that the copies were no better than the worst Rolex copies compared to a real Rolex.
And that would be my expectation here: a vastly inferior product that is a superficial cosmetic facsimile of the real thing.
Basically: if it seems too good to be true, it most likely has a 99.999% chance of not being even close to true.

Bear in mind the measurements wouldn't need to be as good to still sound good. You can see some pretty decent parts have been used.

 

[WilliamfromParis]

Statistical anomaly? Please explaine this.

Sorry for my approximate English, I mean by that the C280 was released in 82 so probably developed in 79/80 and the CD was not yet on the market. The fact that the device is already technically capable of processing the signal is already an anomaly even though the need did not exist yet.

 

[EJ3]

Sorry for my approximate English, I mean by that the C280 was released in 82 so probably developed in 79/80 and the CD was not yet on the market. The fact that the device is already technically capable of processing the signal is already an anomaly even though the need did not exist yet.

Not a statistical anomaly at all (I have other stuff from that era that tests a few SINAD better than this): In 1977 my APT/Holman Preamp (as well as many others that could, too) was able to do this:
[IMG alt="amirm"]https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/data/avatars/m/0/2.jpg?1477370459[/IMG]

amirm​

Founder/Admin​

Staff Member
CFO (Chief Fun Officer)
Joined Feb 13, 2016Messages49,234Likes291,249LocationSeattle Area

• Nov 21, 2021

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Apt Holman vintage preamplifier. It is on kind loan from a member and has been refurbished by QuirkAudio.

The look is a cross between hifi and pro gear:

Other than some scratches on top, the unit is a very good cosmetic shape. Rear connections are extensive:

Yes, there was a time we had outlets in the back of stereos. The more there was, the higher end the gear was said to be! Wonder what led to their demise.

In case you are wondering as I did when I was first contacted about this unit, Holman is Tomlinson Holman or the T in THX (now works for Apple). Owner sent me the service manual which is not only extensive but has excellent tutorials on the design, instruments to test it with, and pages and pages of detail. It is incredible what used to be available compared to now.

Apt Holman Measurements
Let's start with our dashboard input. I selected Tape 1 as input but oddly front panel selector doesn't have Tape 1. I set it to Aux 1 and then pushed Tape 1 switch:

Wow, this is excellent! I expected SINAD in 60s or 70s and here we have 90 dB. It is dominated by second harmonic at that level. Even more impressive is the signal to noise ratio with same unity gain:

Frequency response was dead flat in audible band:

Crosstalk is better than many devices I test today:

There is essentially no frequency dependency in distortion+noise:

I guess that you were not looking at the good stuff...yet!

 

[WilliamfromParis]

Not a statistical anomaly at all ( have other stuff from that era that tests a few SINA better than this): In 1977 my APT/Holman Preamp (as well as many others that could, too) was able to do this:
[IMG alt="amirm"]https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/data/avatars/m/0/2.jpg?1477370459[/IMG]

amirm​

Founder/Admin​

Staff Member
CFO (Chief Fun Officer)
Joined Feb 13, 2016Messages49,234Likes291,249LocationSeattle Area

• Nov 21, 2021

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Apt Holman vintage preamplifier. It is on kind loan from a member and has been refurbished by QuirkAudio.

The look is a cross between hifi and pro gear:

Other than some scratches on top, the unit is a very good cosmetic shape. Rear connections are extensive:

Yes, there was a time we had outlets in the back of stereos. The more there was, the higher end the gear was said to be! Wonder what led to their demise.

In case you are wondering as I did when I was first contacted about this unit, Holman is Tomlinson Holman or the T in THX (now works for Apple). Owner sent me the service manual which is not only extensive but has excellent tutorials on the design, instruments to test it with, and pages and pages of detail. It is incredible what used to be available compared to now.

Apt Holman Measurements
Let's start with our dashboard input. I selected Tape 1 as input but oddly front panel selector doesn't have Tape 1. I set it to Aux 1 and then pushed Tape 1 switch:

Wow, this is excellent! I expected SINAD in 60s or 70s and here we have 90 dB. It is dominated by second harmonic at that level. Even more impressive is the signal to noise ratio with same unity gain:

Frequency response was dead flat in audible band:

Crosstalk is better than many devices I test today:

There is essentially no frequency dependency in distortion+noise:

I guess that you were not looking at the good stuff...yet!

Thank you for the info I know the designer for the THX but not for the HIFI. So I will clarify my thought, when I was talking about statistical anomaly it meant a whole. The technical performance as I said but also the manufacturing quality very above average, the longevity of the device’s performance, the care given to each detail, a visible non-compromise with marketing, and of course the aura of the brand, still today, in view of its production volume and non-advertising except in Japan and still with the greatest parsimony. If you have such an example to offer me, it would be a joy for me to know it.

 

[bodysurfing child]

Accuphase has some incredible gear that after 40-50 years is still something simply amazing. I think accuphase still repairs all their gear , and the fee for that service is reasonable.

There are currently a bunch of factory tour videos on YouTube that are mostly in English. Impressive to say the least.

Audiogear is still worth spending money on .. does it have to be 15k bucks ? Not really but I’m staying away from the toppings / smsl / fosi and all that stuff that’s gets raving reviews.

I was impressed that one of those videos showed that they store a stock of the original parts, so that if service is needed, the original circuit can be restored as new. I am sensitive to this because I once needed a custom Marantz " golden transistor " that was no longer available , along with a custom cathode ray tube for the same unit that needed replacing. Years later I learned of a guy that had hoarded a stock of the tubes, which didn't help , as I had moved on .
In a world of limited resources and overflowing with trash, I have learned that sustainability is worth paying for. A friend lost a spring from my Michell turntable, and about 25 years after purchase, I simply bought a new set of upgraded springs online. Unsurprisingly, at an outrageous price.