Irrational Accuphase Lust

[Ilkless]

I have a Marantz PM16, Nice solid amplifier. Love to get some measurements. A German audio magazine did some on it an compared it to the Accuphase competition...which it crushed. But it's mid 1990 so not really SOTA anymore haha.


Still think Accuphase makes some pretty gear.

The PM14/5/6/7 series is my all-time vintage Japanese favourite. I adore the curved cases and build quality... they are timeless and up till 2-3 years back, undervalued. Prices now are much higher than when I bought and sold my PM17.

 

[Phorize]

I had been eyeing accuphase integrated amps for years but couldn’t bring myself to spend small car money on an amplifier. Finally broke 2 weeks ago and bought went affordable classic with a legitimately mint, unmodified e202. 20kgs of perfect aluminium, a transformer positioned like a blower on a hotrod, a potentiometer action to die for, the warm glow from pre led vus and the word ‘tape’ written on it in perfect etched script. Who cares if it sounds any good

 

[digicidal]

Thank bud, I did some searching and found a lot more pictures but not that description of the install.
If I hit the mega lotto this week I'll know who to call.

You could do something slightly more mundane for a bit less. I remember following along with this build-log when he was doing it originally... blows all of my builds away completely. Derick has several beautiful builds, but this is definitely the top of the top. Plus it's a monster in other ways with dual 12 core xeons and four GPUs. He discusses a bit in this video.

Now back to your regularly programmed schedule...

 

[Koeitje]

The PM14/5/6/7 series is my all-time vintage Japanese favourite. I adore the curved cases and build quality... they are timeless and up till 2-3 years back, undervalued. Prices now are much higher than when I bought and sold my PM17.

Build quality is ok, the tone control on mine is broken en had to be bypassed

 

[Sal1950]

You could do something slightly more mundane for a bit less. I remember following along with this build-log when he was doing it originally... blows all of my builds away completely. Derick has several beautiful builds, but this is definitely the top of the top. Plus it's a monster in other ways with dual 12 core xeons and four GPUs. He discusses a bit in this video.
View attachment 41721
Now back to your regularly programmed schedule...

What an incredible box in all ways possible. It should be able to handle some realtime room correction don't ya think.

 

[digicidal]

What an incredible box in all ways possible. It should be able to handle some realtime room correction don't ya think.

One would certainly hope so. I'm pretty sure you could run hundreds of filters on every endpoint in the house if you installed roon on it.

 

[Wes]

What is the least expensive Accuphase integrated amp with VU meters on it?

 

[Ilkless]

What is the least expensive Accuphase integrated amp with VU meters on it?

Current generation, the E-270. Previous stuff, probably the 1995 E-210, the first entry-level Accuphase to have the VU stuff. Old VU Accuphase still hovers around 2k though - reflects how strong the brand is to defy depreciation.

 

[Canuck57]

retorer-john - "Just start with a piece of 2nd hand Accuphase at a reasonable price, say something from the late 80s/early 90s and see what you think. It will either cure your problem, or send you on the path to financial ruin. "

ha ha love it!

 

[Canuck57]

I want it!

https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649641724-accuphase-e-470-us-model-120v/

 

[Canuck57]

https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649640306-accuphase-e202-integrated-amplifier/

 

[Balle Clorin]

I had the same lust. My entry was by having efficient loudspeakers that allowed me to by a second hand low power amp, A-36 to months old, for about 50% of the new price . Felt quite lucky as I snatched it just minutes after it was posted for sale

Measures well too..

 

[anmpr1]

What is the least expensive Accuphase integrated amp with VU meters on it?

E-270 retails for about five large. For comparison, the Lux 505ux runs about $4500.00 USD. Both have that 'classic' Japanese integrated look.

By historical comparison, a top of the line circa 1977 Pioneer SA-9900 could be bought through mail order discounters for about $500.00, which would be two thousand three hundred dollars in today's funny money. The Pioneer didn't have meters, but otherwise had similar power/features.

Try finding a modern integrated amp for two grand with similar features and build quality. The closest would probably be one of the Yamaha's--they have more or less retained the look but don't offer the feature set.

 

[Sal1950]

Felt quite lucky as I snatched it just minutes after it was posted for sale

Thats a real beauty, congrats on that buy!

 

[Pernas]

The topic for this thread made me smile a bit since I have colleague at work who constantly tries to convince me into Accuphase but I'm still into Sony and preferable the ES-line...even if mistakes are made...

Btw, this is my first post here since being a lurker for a while - couldn't resist to join in

/Per

 

[watchnerd]

The topic for this thread made me smile a bit since I have colleague at work who constantly tries to convince me into Accuphase but I'm still into Sony and preferable the ES-line...even if mistakes are made...

Btw, this is my first post here since being a lurker for a while - couldn't resist to join in

/Per

Welcome!

I applaud your courage.

Brave to admit you prefer Sony ES to Accuphase.

 

[Wes]

I had been eyeing accuphase integrated amps for years but couldn’t bring myself to spend small car money on an amplifier. Finally broke 2 weeks ago and bought went affordable classic with a legitimately mint, unmodified e202. 20kgs of perfect aluminium, a transformer positioned like a blower on a hotrod, a potentiometer action to die for, the warm glow from pre led vus and the word ‘tape’ written on it in perfect etched script. Who cares if it sounds any good

Can you describe how the knobs feel?

 

[Phorize]

Can you describe how the knobs feel?

Mechanically they had no play whatsoever. Turns out I did care what it sounded like as it was sold to make way for class d.

 

[restorer-john]

Brave to admit you prefer Sony ES to Accuphase.

There's no doubt in my mind that Sony, when at the peak of their audio, in the late 1980s/early 90s produced gear that was as good or better than Accuphase. They simply had the raw budget and the huge numbers of engineers, along with dedicated factories for whatever they wanted.

Consider their TOTL CD players were built by the pro broadcast division and they sold the parts to Accuphase to build their own players.

As a complete ecosystem from sources right through to loudspeakers, there was no-one to touch them. Only Yamaha came close IMO.

Accuphase didn't make loudspeakers, cassette decks, turntables, open reel decks, digital audio recorders. Sony did all that and more. But as a specialist and small company focusing on their strengths for the long term, they are a standout for sure.

 

[watchnerd]

There's no doubt in my mind that Sony, when at the peak of their audio, in the late 1980s/early 90s produced gear that was as good or better than Accuphase. They simply had the raw budget and the huge numbers of engineers, along with dedicated factories for whatever they wanted.

Late 90s / early 2000s was the last time I owned a Sony ES set up, an SACD player and an AVR.

But these days....?