Accuphase e380 Review...Classic traditional design

Accuphase e-380 review. It has been a while since I have critically listened to their gear. With its incredible build and attention to detail, I'm glad to see that they have continued their tradition. Marcos is definitely in love!
Chapters
0:00 About Accuphase
1:28 Specs, Look and feel
3:31 Overall Performance
5:56 Musical Performance
8:55 Recommendations

[@Anand.Asrani]

Well covered ! definitely end game Amp .

[@Hifyed]

👍👍 It looks like it's Marcos end game amp as well!

[@PaulTurner-iw1qo]

Fabulous sound coupled with my Sonus Faber Olympica Nova II system, great soundscape

[@Hifyed]

👍👍

[@philipciantar4824]

Like what you guys are doing thus far. Keep it going and good luck.

[@Hifyed]

Thank you! we really appreciate the motivation!

[@EENUFFF]

Very good and interesting review..I moved up from my Yamaha A-S2100 to an E480 that I found used (one year old as new)..I am delighted with how it significantly changed my system sound for the better in my room. It is certainly eye candy and very well featured also.I am using both the DAC-50 and AD-50 RIAA in my amp. My speakers are JBL HDI 3800s and I really get the bass thing you described..there are still certain tracks I play that make me double check if I have forgotten to turn off a subwoofer..it's a total powerhouse that is probably my end game integrated amplifier

[@Hifyed]

Thank you for sharing your experience! We definitely enjoyed the 480 glad you did as well. Enjoy your new amp!

[@jamesfarrow6752]

I have had an Accuphase pre and power amp for just over a year and the sound seems to continually improve. I really like the design as well as the excellent sound.

[@Hifyed]

Glad you are enjoying it! 👌

[@larrylai9192]

thanks for the review. I got an e380 last year driving my old ProAc tablet 50s speakers. This Jun, I upgraded the speakers to Spendor D7.2. Totally agreed with you that the bass control is really good. In my living room about 20 sq. metres, luckily there's no booming though I haven't used any acoustic treatment. Actually I'm also using the DAC option card for the e380, the DAC card's performance is not stunning but delivers more than I can expect in this price point.

[@Hifyed]

Your welcome! Thank you for sharing your experience. Two thumbs up on the d7.2 awesome speaker.

[@12rubyrose]

Nice review. I have the E480. Wonderful amplifier.

[@Hifyed]

thank you! you made a great choice.

[@maryvillanueva2075]

Haha love the thumbnail! And Kina Grannis has a beautiful voice, one of my fave artists. Thanks for the awesome review! BTW does Marcos's wife know about this affair?! Lol

[@Hifyed]

😂 I don't she does. It will be a big surprise if he goes home with it!

[@eugeniodinardo3881]

Another great review guys thanks! Would you compare this to Hegel 390? Which one would you choose. Thanks,

[@christianevans4449]

NIce review. thanks I am now pondering between Pass Labs XA25 and Accuphase A-36. Cannot audition them so a detailed description of the Accuphase sound

[@Hifyed]

I myself have not listened to the A-36. I'll ask Kurt!

[@christianevans4449]

@@Hifyed that would be great

[@johnedwards2696]

Seems like a dream now but I've had a few Kensonic Accuphase components over a number of years. C200/P250 then the P300 and finally E202 to save space, should have kept them all!

[@Hifyed]

Awesome! Love all the knobs on the 200. At least you got to own them at one point 😉

[@joeythedime1838]

Any thoughts on the Accuphase E-380 compared to the Luxman L-509X?

[@samt8017]

Great review. That amp looks pretty heavy. What’s the competition for this and are they as big and old school looking?

[@Hifyed]

It is heavy! Yamaha, Luxman, and Technics to name a few to add the list of growing vintage-inspired designs.

[@xtremegaming517]

Nice thumbnail! XD

[@Hifyed]

👍👍

[@billd9667]

What distance was the SPL measured from?

[@diogoserrador]

Hi, really like your reviews! How do you compare bass performance with the Naim Supernait 3? What about midrange, which one is more forward?Thanks

[@Hifyed]

Thank you! It’s as we just did a review on the supernait 3. From what I remember the bass sounds more controlled on the accuphase but not as punchy/dynamic. I would say the Naim is more forward but not in a bad way.

[@diogoserrador]

@@Hifyed thanks a lot!

[@chalkie54]

Thanks for the review. Can I ask apart from getting more power with the E-480 - what are the sonic differences between the two. I am using Harbeth speakers and trying to work out if it is worth going to the 480. Cheers

[@Hifyed]

Thank you! I only had a brief listen and never a direct comparison. Sound wise to me it would be close. It never hurts to have extra power even if your goal is not to reach high spls. Which model Harbeth?

[@chalkie54]

@@Hifyed thanks for that...Super HL5 plus 40th anniversary. Tossing up between the accuphase or Luxman 509X

[@Hifyed]

@@chalkie54 really like the HL5s! If you can go with the 480 I would. The more power and current you give the happier they will be. As for the luxman 509x that’s a tuff call. Hopefully you can listen to both. From what I can remember the accuphase can drive more tricky loads due to its higher dampening factor.

[@JohnSmith-zl8rz]

Best place to buy it online in USA at lowest price possible?

[@abhinavdboy]

How would you compare the e-380 to supernait 3 ?

[@willydjomi6888]

Hi guys you think accuphase E 380 match well with bluesound node or better with add on accuphase dac 60

[@Hifyed]

Although the node is really good for the price I would add the dac option. It’s a better match in terms of level of performance.

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

I have a 380 as well

[@Hifyed]

nice!

[@aussie8114]

Good to test at lower volumes. Not all amps perform really well at lower volumes. Tempted to get a E4000 next year but like all Accuphase gear it’s over priced.

[@diogoserrador]

Hi, will it be enough to power big 4ohm speakers?

[@Hifyed]

No problem! Accuphase can drive difficult loads.

[@massimilianozeni1848]

U guys refer to average listening level ? I listen to 82db average but peaks are well in the 100db. Thx

[@Hifyed]

Was that in our volume test? I think we might have made a mistake saying “average listening level” . It was suppose to be the continuous maximum spl from 13 feet away using 86/db sensitivity speaker(baseline test speaker)

[@alainduquenois3812]

C'est une grande marque de renonee la référence absolue

[@janis4847]

Which speakers did you use for your test?

[@Hifyed]

I used PMC FB1is. I usually them as our baseline speaker as it's more studio-like without adding too much coloration.

[@veetour]

Can you compare this to the E-280 and E-480? Given that I don’t play loud, would sound quality be significantly noticeable between the models? Currently have a E-280, but wondering what sound quality improvements you get going up the line, and whether it’s worth the money?

[@Hifyed]

It is pretty close in terms of sound. Someone I know has the 480 and compared it to the e280. To him the difference in sound was close he just wanted the extra power. In my opinion I value the difference in sound, however, I'm pretty fussy.

[@colanitower]

In my experience, going up the line doesn't always give better results. I have a Denon PMA-1060 amplifier and Wharfedale Linton speakers, a very good match. I tried a Denon PMA-QS10 II as an upgrade, but this was simply 'too much' for the Lintons that became too bass heavy with it. In this case the speakers had to be upgraded as well. Of course it's no Accuphase but your E-280 could be just the right amplifier for your speakers just as my smaller Denon is for the Lintons.

[@hclandscapes]

How would this amplifier compare with Hegel?

[@Hifyed]

The Accuphase sounds like a more traditional SS amp. With a low noise floor, articulate with great bass control. The Hegel has a sense of "tube-like" sound. It's very holographic with a sense of space that makes it so great. I'm sure everyone will have a preference between the two. In your case, I have a feeling you would lean more towards Hegel if you listened to them side by side.

[@Smood47]

Guys next time please compare it to another amp

[@Hifyed]

👍👍 very soon we will be adding comparisons to all reviews. We just have a few that we finished already.

[@Smood47]

@@Hifyed k tx

[@Kukkema]

What happened to these guys?

[@frederikjacob1985]

Owning accuphase gear for a year now, don't want anything else as application and CD player or dac.

[@Hifyed]

👍👍

[@dab9742]

I really don't see the point of putting in an amp as powerful as a welding station, to make boomers of not even 8 inches move... It's like giving jam to pigs ! 🙄