Accuphase amplifier choice

Not sure if this will be of any help because of the differences in gear, room, listening volume preferences etc. but since you asked... On my Accuphase E470 integrated (180W/8 ohms, AB class) with "Compensation" button engaged (="loudness" tone correction, necessary because my room mysteriously eats up a lot of bass), at my normal listening level the power needles peak at about -18 or -20dB. The volume knob is at 8:40 (if it were a clock) and the volume displayed by the amplifier is -47dB. Speakers are the relatively easy to drive Spendor SP2/3R2, 90 dB sensitivity and 8 ohms nominal. Room is about 23 sq. meters, speakers are almost 1m away from the (long) front wall, listening position about 2.2m away from the speakers.

As for the previous topic, I also found other power cables to better the original Accuphase ones. I’m using a Lessloss C-marc for the DP550 SACD player and a Clearer Audio (relatively inexpensive boutique brand using OCC copper and Furutech connectorr) Copper Line power cord for the amplifier.  

Very interesting @donquichotte 

at my normal listening level the power needles peak at about -18 or -20dB. The volume knob is at 8:40 (if it were a clock)

Looks like you hardly have any room for moving up that knob. But maybe because the E470 is a integrated amplifier, it is alright. Last night I was playing a SACD and my volume was at almost 12 o'clock position. This SACD I would deem as a "medium" SACD. But SACDs that are quieter (lots of DR), then my volume knob is at 1 or 1:30 position. It was actually a Mapleshade CD - "Mojo" Big Joe Maher, which has this nice DR, and for this CD, the volume knob was at almost 2 o'clock position.

Honestly I was surprised that even with the gain set to -12 dB on the power amp, the Accuphase is not running out of steam and can drive the speakers with only a few watts. Not that I am complaining - just that I am surprised, because I had really planned of getting a Class D (GaN) amplifier with at least 300 Watts power to experience the "headroom". 

Going to eat my own words.

After about 75 hours of burn-in, this amplifier simply began singing crazy good. Honestly, the previous amp does not really come close. I simply should have waited a bit to compare. But who knew that this beast transforms in such a way. In my books BURN-IN is a REAL thing.

While I am very happy currently, folks have assured me there is quite a bit more of burn-in still remains for this amp to come on a song!

milpai

Nice score on the Accuphase A-48S.  Their CD/SACD players are works of art as well!  Yes, burn-in is real! Enjoy The Music.

Happy Listening!

"After about 75 hours of burn-in, this amplifier simply began singing crazy good."

LOL - it wasn’t amp burn-in/ed, it was You!