Finally heard Accuphase


I heard it at T.H.E. Show last weekend.

I was pretty shocked at how bad they were. Of course there are many variables at a show, but they were in more than one room. The sound was so wishy-washy and vague and uninvolving I couldn't get past it.

And I was hearing stacks of like $50k ,75k worth. A $3k Sugden sounds about the same, if memory serves. Or even the $8k Yamaha. More or less. But to spend that money on these amps makes no sense. Just build your own tube amp for $1500.

Whats going on with this brand?

To be fair, I also heard a $300k system that sounded more or less like a good PA system at a small concert venue that costs like, IDK $10k or something. This stuff is making no sense anymore.

clustrocasual

Most likely it was the speakers—many models of high cost but mediocre performance out there. The room and speakers account for 75%+ of the sound of most systems.

 

 

 I've only ever heard the Class A  Accuphase driving YG Audio speakers & it made me salivate like Pavlovs dog...

im a huge fan of audio note, great gear, the accuphase is as well, all I can suggest is find a dealer that has it set up properly and paired with some nice speakers but its definitely top shelf gear

I've been to lots of shows over the years. Went to the last 4 AXPONA shows. I've learned one brand can sound outstanding one year and the very next sound terrible. It's so dependent on the room, associated equipment and music they are playing. Accuphase makes very fine equipment. Stalk it off to a one time bad experience and listen to them again in the future. 

@freediver I heard Soulnotes driving the big YG. It was just ok to me. Wonder if Accuphase would have been better. (But the sound was much better than the Accuphase rooms).

 

@ckr1969 Well, this was CommonWave setting up one of the rooms...they are pretty picky/"opinionated" about pairings.