About Accuphase Laboratory, Inc.
Accuphase Laboratory, Inc. is the best Japanese high-end audio equipment manufacturer founded by former Kenwood engineer Jiro Kasuga in 1972 and is based in Yokohama.
The name Accuphase was adapted by taking the prefix ACCU from the word “accurate” and combining it with PHASE, which is a most important factor in audio technology. We feel it is a very fitting brand name to describe the products produced and encompasses this and other important characteristics, which penetrate the innermost depth of audio technology. The endless pursuit of quality requires a very high degree of processing which persuades Accuphase to avoid the use of mass production systems. Consequently, production volume is limited and Accuphase products are available only at a restricted number of specialized sales points around the world.
Accuphase’s philosophy has gravitated around the slogan “Enrich Life through Technology,” which was also the common thread that brought together the group of very highly skilled audio experts who are producing the successful Accuphase audio equipment. It is the guiding principle behind all Accuphase components whose high construction grade can be considered extravagant. However, just as there are exquisite musical instruments that are especially highly prized, Accuphase believes that the same applies to audio components. It is the reason why Accuphase strives to build extra value into each of the units so that they will display fully the merits of hand craftsmanship.
Accuphase products are well regarded by high-end audio enthusiasts worldwide, but the brand is not widespread in the US. They have a characteristic champagne color faceplates and large analog power meters.
Finally, Accuphase equipment is not subject to the whims of market fashion since they are made, above all, to achieve true high fidelity sound reproduction. This is the foremost reason why their products have enjoyed long-run production and enjoyed by many customers around the world for long time.
Equally interesting are the business principles that guided Accuphase over the years of operation:
- Avoid undue company expansion, in keeping with the principle of “small numbers ‒ exceptional talent”.
- Avoid drastic changes in design.
- Make products that last a long time.
- Design products to be sturdy, but easy to fix, if necessary. This means a clean and aesthetically pleasing look internally, as well.
- High quality, long-term reliability, and safety are paramount.
- Give priority to quality over quantity, producing an ample number of models in small quantities.
- Keep capital within the company.
- Aim for improved capital adequacy ratio.
- Strongly adhere to debt-free management.
- Fulfill all tax liabilities and maintain in-house reserves.
Over the course of one year until the introduction of the first products, the private home of Jiro Kasuga in the Ota district of Tokyo actually served as an office and the location where design work was going on. At the time, stereo reproduction of music had just become widespread in Japan, and the audio industry was flourishing, but its output was limited to mass-produced general-appeal products. There was practically no manufacturer specializing in high-end audio. Accuphase was born with the dream doing just that, aiming to create high-end audio components that would be best-in-class worldwide.
Locrian Audio is an authorized dealer for Accuphase products. We have several units on display and available to listen in our studio. Specifically, we have the AC-6 MC cartridge, the C-47 phono, the A-80 power amplifier and multiple cables available for demo.
Key Products
Accuphase MC Phono Cartridge AC-6
The AC-6 is a new addition to the highly acclaimed Accuphase lineup of phono cartridges. This MC cartridge features latest technology in terms of materials and construction. The semi line contact stylus extracts minute vibrations that are transmitted instantaneously to the magnetic circuit by the boron
cantilever with high propagation speed. The magnetic circuit is mounted on a strong titanium base, ensuring accurate conversion into a music signal. Every single aspect of the cartridge has been finely honed to deliver optimum performance, ushering the listener into the wonderful world of analog records.
Output voltage: 0.4mV
Stylus: Semi line contact type (3 μm × 30 μm)
Weight: 13.5 gram
Tracking force: 1.9 to 2.2 g (centered on 2.0 g)
MSRP: $6,950
Accuphase C-47 Stereo Phono Amplifier
The C-47 is the first phono amplifier from Accuphase which realizes a fully balanced configuration from input to output. Therefore, it is impervious to external noise, it also features a dedicated head amplifier optimized for the characteristics of MC and MM phono cartridges, and a high-accuracy equalizer amplifier, thereby ensuring precise equalization with a minimum of noise. A set of newly added dedicated balanced MC phono inputs enables balanced connection to the analog record player. By bringing out the full performance potential of each phono cartridge, the C-47 delivers a rich and deeply satisfying musical experience.
One dedicated balanced MC phono input and three sets of regular phono inputs, with separate memory settings for each input. It features balanced and line level output connectors; Separate toroidal power transformers for left and right channel; High-accuracy phono equalizer with RIAA deviation of only ±0.3 dB; Load impedance settings for six MC and three MM phono cartridge types and 7-segment LED indicator shows load impedance; Gain selector for low-output phono cartridges; Gold-plated printed circuit boards; Elegant side panels with natural wood grain finish.
MSRP: $12,900
Accupase E-280 Integrated Stereo Amplifier
This is an entry into high end audio for small spaces, a second or office system. The AAVA volume control builds on Accuphase’s knowledge of high-end equipment to control volume without loss of information. The power amplification section utilizes the instrumentation amplifier principle to create an ideal speaker driver. The low impedance design of the output circuitry brings out the full potential of every speaker. Two option boards can be added for improved expandability. The E-280 sound performance will defy the imagination. Its Power amplification stage is using bipolar transistors in double parallel push-pull configuration and rated 120W@4Ω and 90W@8Ω, with damping factor of 500. It also allows for 2 expansion slots for options.
Price: MSRP $6,950
Accupase E-380 Integrated Stereo Amplifier
This is an entry-level high end integrated amplifier from Accuphase. The E-380 realizes a 20% increase in rated output power over its predecessor thanks to a reinforced power amplification stage and power supply. The further evolved AAVA volume control system allows music enjoyment at any level without even the slightest degradation of signal quality. The power amplifier section utilizes the instrumentation amplifier principle to achieve outstanding S/N ratio. Low impedance design of the output circuitry results in a damping factor of 500, ensuring that the potential of every speaker can be brought out to the fullest. The listener can enjoy a musical performance of amazing transparency and dynamism. Its power rating is 180W@4Ω and 120W@8Ω, with a damping factor of 500.
Price: MSRP $9,950
Accuphase E-5000 Integrated Stereo Amplifier
The E-5000 is the flagship high-power Class AB integrated amplifier developed to mark Accuphase’s 50-year
anniversary. The preamplifier section features Accuphase’s superior Balanced AAVA volume control, while the power
amplifier section includes an instrumentation amp and power transistors in a five-fold push-pull arrangement
driven in Class AB. These circuits create a balanced circuit from input to output. With its precisely balanced circuits and solidly built output stage, the E-5000 integrated amplifier presents every piece of music in exquisite detail. Its power rating is 240W@8Ω. It provides 5 inputs, balance control, loudness compensator, tone controls, dedicated headphone amplifier and 2 expansion slots for DAC and phono.
Price: MSRP $18,950
Accuphase E-800 Class-A Precision Integrated Stereo Amplifier
The E-800 has replaced the acclaimed E-650 as the new flagship model in the integrated amplifier lineup of Accuphase. The preamplifier section features the impeccable Balanced AAVA type volume control, while the power amplifier section is using a six-fold parallel push-pull configuration of power MOS-FETs driven in pure Class A. The resulting quality is at par with high-class separate type amplifiers, in a more efficient space packaging and savings in cabling. In the tradition of what has made Accuphase a standard in the business, is simple to operate, yet provides many elements of finetuning to compensate various room limitations and allows the owner of the E-800 to experience an acoustic excellence that reaches to the very heart of the music. The amplifier is stable at 1 Ohm and its power rating is 50W@8Ω, 100W@4Ω, 200W@2Ω, with an impressive damping factor of 1000. It also comes with a quality headphone amplifier for those moments that exclusive listening is required.
Price: MSRP $19,950
Accuphase C-2300 Precision Control Center
For more than half a century, Accuphase has continued its relentless pursuit of creating the ideal volume control circuitry. The C-2300 preamplifier utilizes Balanced AAVA – the successor of the AAVA system – to control volume without sacrificing vibrancy in the source sound. A newly added 4-band tone control enables fine adjustments to sound tone. Experience the sonic depth from the combined sound quality and superior features the C-2300 provides.
The C-2300 has ample inputs (5 Line and 2 Balanced), independent power supplies and unit amplifiers for left and right, phase setting memory for each input, highly reliable logic-controlled signal switching relays, high-quality headphone amplifier and additional option boards support digital signals and analog records.
Price: MSRP $14,950
Accuphase C-2900 Precision Stereo Preamplifier
The preamplifier’s volume control is a vital component for maintaining vibrancy in the sound source.
Since its founding, Accuphase has spent 50 years in pursuit of creating the ideal volume control circuitry.
The C-2900’s Balanced AAVA system was designed using Accuphase’s original AAVA volume control circuits to significantly improve sonic performance. The faithful reproduction of delicate musical performances
by the C-2900 makes it the perfect preamplifier for passionate audiophiles.
It features power supply circuits with separate toroidal transformers and filtering capacitors (10,000 μF × 4 pcs) for the left and right channels, five line level inputs, two balanced inputs, two line level outputs, and two balanced outputs; switchable overall gain (12 dB / 18 dB / 24 dB), discretely configured, high-quality headphone amplifier with parallel push/pull output stages. Adding the AD-2900 to the C-2900 allows you to play records with front panel switching function (MC/MM switching, MC load impedance switching –10 / 30 / 100 / 200 / 300 ohms – and gain switching –MM: 34 / 40 dB, MC: 64 / 70 dB.–
Price: MSRP $26,950
Accuphase C-3900 Precision Stereo Preamplifier
The top of the line Accuphase preamplifier celebrates the 50th anniversary of Accuphase’s founding, incorporating the entire wealth of the company’s experience since its start. Now, after five years of development, the work is complete. The C-3900 represents an uncompromising harmony of technology and sensibility, boasting ultimate performance and sound quality that ushers in a new era of the preamplifier.
It is designed with two balanced AAVA circuits delivers sonic excellence that is transparence itself. Volume adjustment is realized while retaining all the vibrant energy and richness of detail that is the life breath of an artistic performance. The supple elegance of music as reproduced by the top-of-the-line C-3900 is a moving experience that reflects the impressive depth of Accuphase know-how.
It encompasses ANCC technology to minimize noise and distortion, separate toroidal power transformers for left and right channels, newly developed filtering capacitors, separate unit amplifiers for left and right channels, printed circuit boards using glass cloth fluorocarbon resin, wood cabinet with natural grain finish and high-performance headphone amplifier.
Price: $39,950
Accuphase A-48 Stereo Power Amplifier
The A-48 features a six-fold parallel push-pull architecture with power MOS-FETs, as well as ideal gain allocation realized with discrete semiconductors in an instrumentation amplifier configuration. The A-48 harnesses a wealth of advanced technology. Its outstanding performance is exemplified by a signal/noise ratio of 117 dB, output of 360 watts into 1 ohm (music signals), and a damping factor of 800. The continuous average output power (rated output power) is 45W into 8Ω load. However, its actual maximum output power is higher, closer to 102W into 8Ω and 438W into 1Ω load. This power amplifier is the ultimate instrument for immersive music appreciation at the highest level. It supports bi-amping and bridged mode operation.
Price: MSRP $14,950
Accuphase A-80 Stereo Power Amplifier
The A-80 is a Class A power amplifier developed as a stereo amplifier version of our 50th anniversary A-300 model. Optimizing the 10-parallel push-pull power MOS-FETs in the output stage produces an output power of 65 W into 8 ohms, 130 W into 4 ohms, 260 W into 2 ohms, and 520 W into 1 ohm. Rigorous investment into new, cutting-edge noise reduction technologies has achieved a sense of presence and minute expression that rival live performances. The A-80 power amplifier perfectly fuses modern technology with the wealth of knowledge Accuphase has amassed in its pursuit of perfect sonic expression.
Price: MSRP $25,975
Accuphase P-7500 Stereo Power Amplifier
The P-7500 is Accuphase’s flagship model Class AB stereo power amplifier that provides supreme driving performance. The power amplification stage uses a 10-parallel push-pull power transistor architecture, providing a rated output power of 300 W @ 8 ohms and boasts an impressive signal-to-noise ratio of 130 dB and a damping factor of 1,000. It can effortlessly drive demanding speakers and create musical recreations overflowing with energy. The P-7500 brings out the best of any speaker, allowing you to enjoy never-before experienced soundscapes. It supports bi-amping and bridged mode operation.
Price: MSRP $27,950
Accuphase A-300 Class A Monophonic Power Amplifier
Created to celebrate Accuphase’s 50th anniversary, the A-300 redefines the ideal for Class A power amplifiers. Twenty parallel push-pull power MOS-FETs in the output stage with output of 125 W into 8 ohms, 250 W into 4 ohms, 500 W into 2 ohms, and 1,000 W into 1 ohm that set the stage for enviable constant-voltage drive. The fully discrete balanced input amplifier achieves a level of quietness that will make you forget you are using audio equipment for reproduction. The A-300’s unmatched expressiveness lets you enjoy the most exquisite pieces from the world’s greatest composers.
It features a damping factor of 1,000, high capacity 100,000 μF filtering capacitors, large speaker terminals connected directly to protection circuitry, high-carbon cast iron insulator feet with superior damping characteristics, power amplification section on circuit boards using glass cloth fluorocarbon resin, aluminum hairline finish top plate, etc.
Price: $51,900 per pair