Accuphase vs.Pioneer

edman

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
I am thinking about buying a Accuphase P-300 amplifier. I have owned a Pioneer SX-1980 receiver and really enjoyed the sound quality. Can I except to get the same quality or better from the Accuphase P-300? I know the wattage will be lower. Thanks,
 
I am thinking about buying a Accuphase P-300 amplifier. I have owned a Pioneer SX-1980 receiver and really enjoyed the sound quality. Can I except to get the same quality or better from the Accuphase P-300? I know the wattage will be lower. Thanks,

At normal listening levels using the exact same speakers, I seriously doubt one would hear much of a difference. The 1980 is superb unit and is not lightly dismissed.
 
I think you will like the sound of the Accuphase. The 1980 is more a collector item for being Pioneer's biggest. Many have said the smaller Pioneers sound better. But it is up to you and your situation to determine which you prefer.
 
I am very grateful for the comments. I have the chance to buy the Accuphase P-300 for $1000. The gentleman said it was serviced in 2017 (can't find receipt) but the right channel circuit board was replaced, all caps that needed replacing were as well and the original meter lights were replaced with LED's.
 
I am very grateful for the comments. I have the chance to buy the Accuphase P-300 for $1000. The gentleman said it was serviced in 2017 (can't find receipt) but the right channel circuit board was replaced, all caps that needed replacing were as well and the original meter lights were replaced with LED's.


Unless he finds the paperwork, dont believe it. Of course if you open it up and it looks like those parts have been replaced then that is different. Buyer beware.
 
A friend owns a very High End store featuring great sounding current gear with very high price tags. He took a P300 in on trade, and called me to see if I wanted it. I already had one, so No. But he said something you'll appreciate, Edman — "We hooked it up in the main music room just to make sure it worked. We thought it would sound "decent" — but damn, it's as good as the 20K monos we were using before! I called all the guys in they were amazed. One of them said, "I'm glad nobody knows about these — why would they buy amps from us?"

But we know. Viva AK.
 
Bimasta it sounded that good? I started out with a Sansui G-901 and then a pioneer sx-1980 and then went to a sansui au-111. I never knew a 40 watt tube amp could sound so good. It was 6 years ago when I sold them. To buy some ham radio gear. Now I Wonder what I Was thinking. So now I Want to start collecting stereo gear again. And have around $1,100.00 to start with. I know my opinions are few. Was hoping to find a concept 16.5 but even they are getting to be expensive.
 
Bimasta it sounded that good? I started out with a Sansui G-901 and then a pioneer sx-1980 and then went to a sansui au-111. I never knew a 40 watt tube amp could sound so good. It was 6 years ago when I sold them. To buy some ham radio gear. Now I Wonder what I Was thinking. So now I Want to start collecting stereo gear again. And have around $1,100.00 to start with. I know my opinions are few. Was hoping to find a concept 16.5 but even they are getting to be expensive.


What speakers are you going to be using?
 
I really have not gave it much thought. I was thinking about a pair of OHM walsh 2 speakers. My time is almost up on buying the Accuphase p-300. Just want to make sure it has good sound quality and plenty of headroom?
 
I really have not gave it much thought. I was thinking about a pair of OHM walsh 2 speakers. My time is almost up on buying the Accuphase p-300. Just want to make sure it has good sound quality and plenty of headroom?


How big of a room? How loud do you like to listen to music? If you thought a 40 watt tube amp sounded great, the Accphase may be way more than you need.
 
My room size. I would say is a 10 ft long by 9 ft wide. I like my music loud and clear. If I may ask Bodyblue do you think the Accuphase will sound better and play louder then the other amps I Listed above. if so I better jump on the Accuphase before it's gone. Thank you for your help.
 
...Unless he finds the paperwork, dont believe it...

Unlike most manufacturers, Accuphase can replace almost every part from every product since day one. There are a few exceptions, but I've even had replacement knobs, pots and PCBs sent from Japan for some of their earliest products.

The attention to detail even on the spare parts boxes had to be seen to be believed. I've kept one in particular for a C-11 preamplifier where they packed the motorised alps blue pot and the 200g (or so) solid aluminium volume knob in bags, foam, internal boxes, nestled in very soft spaghetti-like foam and then topped off like a box of chocolates.

The address, customs and postage labels were perfectly placed and the packaging tape was like gift wrapping. I felt bad opening the box! :)
 
My room size. I would say is a 10 ft long by 9 ft wide. I like my music loud and clear. If I may ask Bodyblue do you think the Accuphase will sound better and play louder then the other amps I Listed above. if so I better jump on the Accuphase before it's gone. Thank you for your help.


Will it be louder than the 1980? No. Will it sound better, some think so but at normal levels I doubt it.

That size of room is pretty small and IMO anything like the Accuphase or the 1980 is way overkill. It is your money of course but some decently sensitive speakers and that 40 wpc tube amp will blow your hair back quite nicely.

I consider my living room pretty small at 12x16. I am using a 30wpc Marantz 1060 and Imperial 6 speakers and they fill the room with sound without strain, from ac/dc to jazz, I have never felt 30 watts was not enough.
 
Unlike most manufacturers, Accuphase can replace almost every part from every product since day one. There are a few exceptions, but I've even had replacement knobs, pots and PCBs sent from Japan for some of their earliest products.

The attention to detail even on the spare parts boxes had to be seen to be believed. I've kept one in particular for a C-11 preamplifier where they packed the motorised alps blue pot and the 200g (or so) solid aluminium volume knob in bags, foam, internal boxes, nestled in very soft spaghetti-like foam and then topped off like a box of chocolates.

The address, customs and postage labels were perfectly placed and the packaging tape was like gift wrapping. I felt bad opening the box! :)

John,
Do you have a picture of that?
I have a C200. Very impressively made. I think the P300 was the matching PA. If i could find one for that price I'd buy it. 'nuf said!
 
Accuphase all day long. There are a lot of fanatical receiver lovers that will pick that 1980 over anything, but for me personally, separates are where its at. The build quality of the Accuphase alone is worth the price of admission. Just my .02
 
Bimasta it sounded that good?
I wasn't there for that demo, of that P300. As mentioned, I had my own. Perhaps I should have added that I admired mine but never loved it — but I thought the unanimous opinion of a specialist, and his entire staff (about 8 at the time) in a dedicated music room, was worth more than the single opinion of an amateur in his home. And if your budget is $1,100, spending $1K on an amp leaves you rather short if you need other components — but I may misunderstand your finances.

I think the P300, their first amp, inherits some of its cachet from Accuphase's later far more costly units, cachet it may not deserve. I sold mine, and replaced it with a Cary 2A3 (opposite end of the spectrum) and Tandberg 3006 for SS. I preferred the T'berg to the P300 by quite a bit (among other qualities it has more soul, to get poetic) and 150W gives you all the headroom you'll need. It has 2 LEDS that warn if it's clipping — mine have never flashed and sometimes I really crank it. They're far less expensive as well, and half the size.
 
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