Accuphase A-48: drives any speakers with confidence, lowest background noise ever, airy.
Class A: Accuphase vs Pass Labs house sound?
I have always been fascinated with Accuphase (Japanese audio in general). I've never heard an Accuphase amp in person. I've heard Pass class a/b amps a few times. I own a FirstWatt j2. One thing I really like about the feature set of Accuphase that it includes a gain level control. I would find that handy since I have 101 efficient (measured at 98db) Zu speakers. Since I run a tube pre, tube hiss can be an issue if I do not keep tabs on the gain when choosing components. No worries with the J2 since the gain is super low. However, I may look to upgrade my amp in the future. Pass 30.8 is something that looks like a nice unit. Also the Accuphase A-48 or A-30.
Just curious if anyone has compared both...sound wise and build wise
@lalitk Thanks I could not be happier |
We are talking the difference things. You talk the sound quality, the strong strength of the sound to the speaker. I am talking about you like the house sound or you do not like the house sound.. Besides, I am not talking the specific model, I am talking this brand in general. And in fact, I am not talking you or me,I am talking a lot people. If you still do not understand, forget the sound. Let see a building, when you see the building, you do not like, but the guy beside you talk a lot of the good of that building. The build quality, the location, the rent rate,the traffic,and maintenance job. After you listen,you still do not like that building. That’s it. Do not make it complicated. It is a matter of like or dislike. |
@runwell trying to understand your points: "build quality, accuphase is amongst the top one”; "the sound, accuphase is not the top one” Accuphase has many SKUs, “cheaper” ones are not top performer comparing to other brands reference designs. Wondering which Accuphase model number you are referring your post to? Having 30+ years behind checking/testing sound of different products I found Accuphase is the best comparing to other brands on combined metric: build+reliability+amortization+esthetics. Also, Accuphase amps are able to drive very "difficult” speakers without sound quality impact, which technically can be explained by higher phase margins at realistic load impedance, in very wide frequency range (5Hz..200kHz). |
A30 or A48 are just little door to real big sound Accuphase ladder . You just paying for logo only and you will be only satisfied that you own Accuphase brand. Because Accuphase good sound starts from at least A50V and up power amps and c2800 up line in pre amps . This is very reliable brand. Personally I have owned a lot of equipment. My journey ended up with whole set an Accuphase , and will never go with any thing else. Best wishes on your journey |
“The top 3 brand on this forum are pass lab, luxman, audio research.” Could it be because they are easily accessible new and old? Accuphase is out of reach for many due to US Distributor unfair pricing. I bet most posters here who are quick to posts their biases never even heard Accuphase in their system 😂 I realize appearance (aesthetics) of a gear is subjective but Accuphase build quality is simply exquisite. That is not to say Pass Labs is slacking in build quality but it’s appearance to me lean towards industrial. |
My understanding is that Accuphase prices in the US are much higher than ROW, because the distributor is Lord Voldemort, or something like that (Accuphase gear in Canada seem to be priced like Luxman). I wonder (a) if the distributor thing is true - any insight is appreciated; and b) if they’d be better received at a different price point and, therefore, comparison level |
Go Pass it will Last great in every respect may deal with a little more distortion I`m not listening to specs its the music at 75 yrs young I can care less about .005% distortion. For the last 30 yrs. its been tubes on the high end trannies on the bottom; Audio Research Preamps on top Pass power amps on the bottom just lately I decided to go all transistor Pass XP30 Pre - Pass X350 Power the synergy is just outrageous. GO PASS IT WILL LAST!! |
I have compared the E800 against the Pass int250. I thought the Pass sounded a bit more open with a more powerful bass compared to the more laid back and darker sounding Accuphase. Build wise they are both top notch but personally I preferred the appearance of the Pass. |