“BTW Accuphase pricing in Canada is significantly better than in the US”
FYI - US Pricing is now on par with Canadian market. This was rectified as of late last year.
Accuphase class A amps - going up the food chain from an A-48 to an A-80 or A-300?
Earlier this year I acquired Accuphase separates (C-2450 pre-amp, A-48 amp) and have been very happy with them.
We have a decent resale market in Canada for Accuphase products, and I was able to snag a C-2900 pre-amp at a good price this past weekend. We see mostly integrated amps on the resale market here, and current production separates are much harder to find.
The C-2900 sounds noticeably better than the C-2450, and it got me thinking about moving up from the "entry level" A-48 to either the mid-level A-80 or even the top of the line A-300 monoblocks (though size and expense are almost prohibitive).
Does anyone have any experience or advice about moving up from the A-48 to the A-80 or A-300 monoblocks?
BTW Accuphase pricing in Canada is significantly better than in the US - so much so that Canadian Accuphase dealers are not allowed to post prices online for fear of alerting US customers to how unfair pricing is in the US - and Canadian dealers are not allowed to ship to US customers.
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US pricing did go down last year, but it is still NOT on par with Canada. For example take the A-80: US list 26,575 Canadian list 27,999 So if those numbers look on par you have to consider that they are in two different currencies that are NOT on par as 1 CAN $ = 0.72 US $. So CAN $ 27,999 = US $ 20,251 The A-80 costs US $ 6,324 more in the US than in Canada. That is still a big discrepancy! Equivalent Accuphase and Luxman products are similarly priced in Canada and they compete with each other, but not in the US. Accuphase could benefit from following Luxman’s example in the US market. |
chk your PM @toronto416 |
I also own an Accuphase P-4600, their entry level power amp and I can say this amplifier produce a beautiful sound. Part solid state and part tubes. Lots of detail. Comparing with my McIntosh MC1502 and MC611, this P-4600 is as good if not better than my Mcintosh. Unfortunately I still don't have experience going higher on the chain but probably I will move to all Accuphase. |
I’m sure you mean the sound of the P4600 is a combination of sold state and tube and not that it is a hybrid. But I agree it sounded better to me than the MacIntosh SS sound although the M462 which is a fine amp less expensive but more than 50% heavier. Also I would not call the P4600 Entry Level at $14k. Accuphase only offers two A/B amplifiers. The 4600 (150W per channel) and the 7500 (300W per channel). Both of equal quality and performance except per channel watts. |
Entry Level is a subjective term. IME, every model in a brand lineup has that ‘house’ sound. Generally speaking, when you move up in the line, you get more of everything due to more freedom with implementation and parts selection. I own a Accuphase E-650, Class A - 30wpc which has been a game changer for me. When funds permits, I may move up to E-800 or separates like A-80 and C-2900. Only you as an end user can decide whether moving up in a line up at a considerable expense is worth your investment. I know when I am ready to move up within Accuphase line up, I would want to audition those components before committing my $$$$. |
It looks like P-4600 is the class AB 'fraternal twin' of the class A A-48. They are not really entry level as they build on a whole ladder of integrated amps below them, but they are the 'entry level' separates. . In my experience you always get more performance when you move up the food chain with Accuphase as I have experienced with the E-260, E-380, A-48, C-2450, and C-2900. So I am wondering about the A-80 or A-300... |
Accuphase P4500/P4600/A48 are not entry level amps in any sense, rather lower max power brothers of the same family! All above amps use the same fist stage amp circuitry as high power A80/!00/300. As of P4600, it has a bit more class-A-region power range vs P4500, and somewhat higher damping factor. |
@toronto416, any idea what the US Customs rate is for Made in Japan electronics? I've been watching a few used Accuphase items for sale in Canada, but I assume there will be an additional custom cost to bring it into the US, unlike say a Bryston. |
@bluethinker how you figure, the new distributor dropped prices drastically when they bought axiss |
@ckr1969 - My ire was directed at the old distributor who I understood was steadfast in their pricing. Is there a new distributor? That is good news! |