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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

Showing 4 responses by stereo5

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,248 posts
 
Go with McIntosh, its American made and as good as the Japanese boutique brands.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,248 posts
 
In the early80's or perhaps even late 70's, the audio store I worked in was one of the first Accuphase dealers.  At the time, they were manufactured by Kensonic Labs which was an offshoot of Kenwood Electronics (Trio Electronics in other country's).  They were quite industrial looking back then and I kick myself for not purchasing them at 50% off of retail.  I remember selling the E202 Integrated, a 150wpc power amp, a big preamp and a Tuner.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,248 posts
 
@uberwaltz...……………………

I agree with going used.  I replaced almost all of my 2 systems with McIntosh which I bought used.  I could never have afforded them brand new.  I dropped over 18K on McIntosh and had I bought them new it would have been over 40K.  To tell you the truth, they do all look new as Audio Classics does a great job with them.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,248 posts
 
@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.
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