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Can someone explain to me why : Accupahse Equipment is that expensive ?

…….I was recently looking into their Power Conditioners as well as their Amplifiers and for a company where there is very little reviews done on their products, along with a small ( here in the US anyway )  almost a cult following if someone could tell me why is their prices the way they are. I just don't understand it. I have listened to their equipment and is nice and the build quality is very good but ; I always said to myself ; '' Not for that price ". I do not mean to be in an any way inflammatory with this statement but is :  Accuphase the McIntosh of the East ?  McIntosh makes some nice stuff but is no way priced like Accuphase, however it seems to operate very much with the same business model ; you are paying for the name and the pride of ownership and the sound is very much dated. Maybe I am missing something here and the sound is very good and like Rolex you buy a piece and you are set for a lifetime. FM Acoustics is also another one of the those companies......Just looking for a really good amp and these companies come up in my search but I am just sitting here scratching my head ?           
garebear
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
stereo53,570 posts06-30-2018 5:41pm@roxy54...……………………………

Experts or not, after 50 years in this hobby, nothing has drawn me in closer to the music than McIntosh. There is a rightness to the sound that I didn't get with other comparatively priced equipment.. For the first time in years, I look forward to listening to my 2 systems and I am now buying new music again. There is also a pride of ownership with the McIntosh that is hard to describe.
stereo5  there may be better, I haven't heard it. As good, a little different,
better, NO. Everytime I hear read or see the Mac Attackers, I just chuckle.

I've owned them forever, VTLs, CJ, Pass (Real Pass fan), First Watt,
Accuphase (only one I regretted selling).
Few people have ever heard a good vintage Mcintosh, built RIGHT and really sweetened, up. They are just breathtaking. I LOVE the C20s, ESPECIALLY when a guy by the name of Mike Samra rebuilds it. I had him do a C11 and a C20. HOLY COW... .5 THD to .05. DEAD quiet.
C2500 wonderful, MX120, MX150, Mx110z (very special sound to) different than ALL the preamps Mac made. Their Valve amps, get out of here... The best. simple .. the best. I have every one x 2 lol.. OCD, really gets to kickin' when it comes to Mac.. LOL NONE of their SS amps, sold them all..

BIG Watts,  VTL Man oh man, make my planar systems sing, with a little TLC..

Regards
greginnh
382 posts
 
I just waited for timing to be right and my dealer came to me with a phenonminal discount on an E-800.  It will be here in two weeks. 
greginnh
382 posts
 
@d2girls - you will get much better treatment and pricing from the Accuphase dealer in Montreal.   See my message to you regarding what I was quoted.  
erik_squires
16,888 posts
 
@d2girls

Sorry I’ve never even SEEN an accuphase at a dealer, so I can’t compare the sound quality.

The normal triad of integrateds I suggest is Ayre, Luxman and Pass.

Have you had a chance to compare these ravishingly expensive Accuphase to any of those?

Best?

Erik
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
mijostyn ...
  • The best CD player I ever owned was an Accuphase. I wish I never sold it.
When I worked for an ultra-high-end dealer, one of the lines we carried was Accuphase. I was allowed to take just about anything home that wasn’t too heavy to carry and get into the car.

Among my favorite products were the Accuphase CD players. I compared them to every CD player in the store in my own home environment. The Accuphase players, even the least expensive in the line, blew away everything else I tried, including the most expensive offerings from Wadia and Goldmund. Plus, as an additional bonus, everything Accuphase makes is built like a tank, not to mention beautiful to look at as well.

And by the way, the main man at the distributor level for Accuphase at the time was a man whose name was Art Manzanas. Art was a great salesman and a true gentleman in every sense of the word. I always looked forward to Art coming into the store for his occasional visits.

Frank
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