Accuphase E-280, With what voice!

Clique aqui para a versão portuguesa

One day, at an audio event, someone asked me why I don’t write technical reviews. I believe I found the perfect answer. Where is the explanation—in the very next paragraph—that shows how this amplifier fills my listening room with music? Where does the secret lie that makes the music move me so profoundly from the moment I first powered it on? From the get-go, fresh out of the box and still smelling new.

Technical Specifications

• Balanced Integrated Amplifier
• Power: 90 W at 8 Ω and 120 W at 4 Ω
• Frequency Response: 3 Hz – 150 kHz
• Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): 0.05% (from 4 to 16 Ω)
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (S/N Ratio): up to 122 dB
• Volume Control: AAVA (Accuphase Analog Vari-Gain Amplifier)
• Amplification Stage: 2 bipolar transistors in a dual parallel push-pull configuration per channel
• Output Stage: Low-impedance current feedback, ensuring a damping factor of 500
• Power Transformer: Oversized toroidal with high-capacity capacitors
• Input Selection: Via logically controlled relays
• Protection Circuit: Ultra-low resistance MOS-FETs
• Functions: Tone control (with optional bypass), channel balance, phase selection per input, mono mode, loudness compensation, and instant attenuation (-20 dB)
• Dedicated Headphone Amplifier
• Analog Peak Power Meters
• Separate Preamp and Power Sections (RCA inputs, preamp outputs)
• Connectivity:
  • 1 balanced L/R XLR input
  • 5 unbalanced L/R RCA inputs
  • L/R input/output for recorder connection
  • Dual speaker terminals (A/B/A+B)
• Expandable: 2 slots for optional Accuphase boards (phono MC/MM, DAC, or line)
• Dimensions: 465 mm x 151 mm x 420 mm
• Weight: 20.4 kg

Did that answer your question? Now, let’s get to what really matters!

Granite Soul

They say You never get a second chance to make a first impression. My very first documented encounter with Accuphase took place at the Sheraton Hotel during the Ultimate Sessions Extreme in Porto. I was still taking my first steps as a communicator in hi-fi when I entered the room where the Audiovector R8 Arreté shone brilliantly—commanded by a set of monoblocks, preamp, and a CD/SACD player from the Japanese brand.

At first glance, Accuphase’s understated style seemed out of place in an event where every piece of equipment clamored for attention. Yet that room was the second most popular—only surpassed by the larger one, showcasing the impressive synergy between Avantgarde’s top-of-the-line horns and Kondo Ongaku, which some claim are the best amplifiers on Earth.

Some time later, in a system featuring full-range Cube Audio speakers and single-ended Tektron amplifier—fed by an Accuphase CD/SACD player internal DAC—I discovered, this time without distractions, the brand’s musical and emotional side. More recently, I heard the E-380, which, despite replacing the monumental (and much pricier) Gryphon Diablo 333 in the same system, never ceased to impress me.

Accuphase doesn’t shout for attention. It wins you over with consistency and efficiency, much like Cristiano Ronaldo at his peak. But above all, it captivates with its musicality. Gradually, without fanfare, it grew within me.

Accuphase’s legacy is like granite: solid, resilient, and dependable. Those who invest in Accuphase rarely switch gear—and when they do, it’s usually to climb further up the Accuphase hierarchy. It’s etched in stone… and in my soul.

In My Listening Room

The E-280 is Accuphase’s most accessible integrated amplifier—but accessible does not mean cheap. €5,750 might seem steep, but it is the gateway into the high-end universe.

Aesthetically, it upholds the brand’s visual identity: a golden front panel, central VU meters in a black background, and two circular side buttons. And the usability? Buttery smooth!! Every button and selector gratifies me with Japanese precision.

Since its arrival in Moustache’s Tower, I’ve compared it with various solutions:

• NAD C658 + C298 (preamp and power) review here soon
• Marantz M1 (all-in-one) review here soon
• TEAC UD-701N + AP-701 (preamp and power) review here soon
• Pier Audio MS-480SE (hybrid) check out the review here
• Pier Audio MS-84SE (tube-based) review here soon

When the Accuphase arrived, the refined sonic aroma of the Audio Note Cobra still lingered around. I used the Accuphase-supplied interconnects along with Chord C-Line and ClearwayX cables.

The sources:

• On the analog side, I relied on the turntable that was my reference for the past two years—the MoFi StudioDeck—as well as the Avid Ingenium (review here soon), tested with two different platters (one made of MDF, the other of aluminum).
• Digitally, I explored three modes:

The speakers? The Revival Atalante 3 (review here soon), which created magical synergy with the E-280 in my 25 m² room. I also tried the omnidirectional Duevel Planets and Enterprise, as well as full-range speakers from Azoric Audio, the Corvo (hand-built in the island of Faial, in the Azores, and with a review here soon). The speaker cables were Ansuz Speakz X2.

No shortage of scenarios to test this integrated, no?

One of my difficulties as a part-time communicator is having listening hours that are incompatible with my neighbors’ resting times. The E-280 plus Revival 3 combo was a delightful surprise. I found myself listening to music at night at -60dB and below, with the same clarity and insight that other systems who have been here have only offered at volumes prohibited by law after 10pm, in a building with thirteen apartments. The secret? I suspect the Accuphase’s AAVA volume control.

The Sound of the E-280

Listening to music need not be a technical exercise; it is, above all, a human experience. The width and depth of the soundstage, the focus of individual instruments, texture, and speed—each element matters. But ultimately, listening is an act that enriches and defines us as human beings.

Every time I tried to jot down notes about the E-280, I found myself simply lost in the music, forgetting all my duties as a reviewer. There is no greater compliment for an amplifier than that—it distracts you from everything but the musical experience.

“Vítor, focus!”

It’s time to work. Breathe. And I can hear him breathe: Carlos Paredes, his “Guitarra com Gente Dentro” (portuguese guitar with people inside) delivering a “Movimento Perpétuo” (perpetual movement) of notes. Paredes’ music moved me deeply. I won’t claim that it was my first time with Accuphase—no, it wasn’t. But this time, it resonated even more, as if the master of the portuguese guitar had materialized and been resurrected in my living room, revitalized and eager to carry us on “Asas Sobre o Mundo” (wings around the world).

The organic character of the E-280’s sound fits vinyl perfectly, as if it were tailor-made for it.

The mystery of the voices of the Bulgarian State Radio and Television Female Choir remains indecipherable, even to Accuphase’s analytical prowess. Their voices float through the room like sonic specters, materialized by the E-280, transporting us to a parallel dimension where time and space dissolve. “Yulunga,” from Dead Can Dance—with percussive rhythms and Lisa Gerrard’s hypnotic voice—leads the listening room into a tribal rite.

I recall a legendary session with the this amplifier “bigger brother”, the E-380, accompanied by the Galle DAC, seasoned with a hint of cinnamon. It was in that session that “Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones captivated me, prompting me to revisit the same track in my own room, this time with the E-280. Despite my personal rule of never rehashing moments when I was happy, I did it anyway. And if the Stones initially dismissed this song, I couldn’t bring myself to discard it. Once again, the experience provided a strange yet deeply comforting solace.

A Journey Through Sound

Portuguese 1980s and ’90s rock and pop anthems like “Porto Sentido,” “Aquele Inverno,” “Num Filme Sempre Pop,” “Sol da Caparica,” “Noutro Lugar,” “Remar Remar,” and “O Elevador da Glória”—many recorded without much concern for audiophiles—gain new life with this Accuphase, which embraces its imperfections like a grandfather with his grandchildren. The musicality of this amplifier allows us to forgive imperfect recordings because what truly matters is the music.

In jazz, iconic voices such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday transcend the technological limitations of their era to present themselves with elegance and a warm presence. In classical music, works of great complexity—like Shostakovich’s 4th Symphony—emerge with logic and organization, never losing composure even in the most challenging passages. Vincent Bélanger’s cello in J. S. Bach’s Suite No. 1 follows the composer’s and performer’s intentions faithfully, providing an immersive and emotional listening experience. It’s all about the music, and for music’s sake—a part of us, and a reflection of who we are.

This amplifier does more than just reproduce music. It transports us through sonic landscapes—from “Sol da Caparica” (Caparica’s Sun) from Peste & SIDA to Delibes’ “Lakmé.” Duet. Just as “Com Que Voz” (With what Voice) carries us through the melancholy and inevitability of sorrow, whether interpreted by Amália Rodrigues, Camané, or Maja Milinković, the Accuphase E-280 is not merely an amplifier. It is a storyteller of sound, a catalyst of emotions, and a faithful companion on our musical journey. And I am coming to the conclusion that this one, indeed, is here to stay!