Accuphase amplifier choice


Hello All,

I have decided to upgrade my Parasound A21 amplifier looking for a more refined sound. The following are the amplifiers that I have in my mind:

Accuphase A-48s
Accuphase P-4600
Coda No. 8 (meterless)
Coda 16.0 (meterless)

Currently I am leaning largely to Accuphase. My dealer says that the Class A 48s will sound better with my ProAc D48R. But I am worried that I will lose dynamics since the Accuphase is only 50W into 8 Ohms. But it doubles all the way into 1 ohm.

The P-4600 is a higher wattage amp and I think it should be able to drive the D48R with ease because it doubles down to 2 ohm load. So I am not concerned with it's ability to drive the ProAcs.

I do have some feedback on the P-4600 from another thread here and appreciate it. But now looking for some comparisons.

Has anyone compared/experienced the Accuphase Vs Coda amplifiers? Any feedback is appreciated.

milpai

Eventually I found that a Accuphase Class A integrated with just 30Watts, could drive a ProAc K10. And then I came upon the A-48S driving a big Magico. That cemented my decision that all these guys cannot be wrong.

So, yes we do own quite some pieces of gear that are similar. But I see that you already have 2 Coda Class A amplifiers. 

Yes, but I am currently more excited with my 2a3 amp. It brings a smile to my face when my walls are shaking from 2 watts, like a squad of F-16’s just flew over my roof. There are watts, and then there are watts. After knowing what my 4wpc amp can do 30 watts sounds huge!

 

As far as the "variable" out on the DAC is concerned, I would like to stay between 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock position on the volume control on the Rhumba. I have yet to play with the Accuphase gains, before I settle down permanently.

Andy has assured me the position of the volume of the Backert pre amps has zero affect on the quality of the signal, in his experience. I have not experimented myself, but would be easy to confirm. Is this something you have observed, or just going off of historical potentiometer-bearing pre amp religion? 

Congratulations on the Accuphase.  That 4-position gain switch is a really neat feature.  More source components and/or more amps should feature it.  With relatively low-gain amps (23dB) I mainly run the Rhumba at 10.30 for CDs and 11 for SACD.

“I am currently more excited with my 2a3 amp”
@mclinnguy 

You have a dream setup with Eufrodite and DAA3. 

Hearing Horning’s Aristotle with a 300B amp @gestalt was nothing short of jaw-dropping. The soundstage was deep, wide, and effortless….carrying a sense of scale you’d normally associate with big-watt solid-state power and REL line array. Yet what truly stood out was how it delivered deep, tightly controlled bass without ever stealing focus from the purity of the midrange or the air and ease of the highs. 

Thank You @twoleftears .

It was nice talking to you the other day. Helped me solidify my decision.

I am glad that you are able to achieve the gain that you were looking for. I am sure those monoblocks make your music sound amazing!

Good evening @lalitk 

Thank you. My ears are sending good things to my brain. Just getting used to the 300b vs. 2a3 differences. But the Whammer isn't just any 2a3. 

You know I saw a New Audio Frontiers 211 on US Audio mart from Colin, and I emailed about it, and I was close to pulling the trigger, and then I saw this Whammer. Very happy with the decision, it has the inner resolution and musical insight I have always dreamed of, and I knew "these" 4 watts would be plenty after playing around with my Yamamoto 45 at a whopping 1.5 wpc, so a 211 is not needed. 

But the 300B amp you would have heard at Gestalt's would have been of the same pedigree. NAF or Sw1x? And the crossover-less design of the Eufrodites add to the seamless musical insight. Yeah, you heard it and know it! Tommy Horning is a magician. 

In case anyone is wondering what track I was referring to above, check this one out: London Grammer - Rooting for you. Unique voice, she sounds like she has a cold, yet plenty of emotion, but the last few seconds of the song DEEP rumbling goin' on.