Accuphase E-380

Accuphase has just introduced an updated version of its popular and long lived E-360/370 integrated amplifier, called naturally enough the E-380. Accuphase is a careful and considered company, making premium audio products of an extremely high quality and industry leading reliability. As such model changes happen at a subdued rate. The principal reason for this is that improvements are difficult to achieve when the product being improved upon is already an exceptional piece of audio equipment.

The E-380 realises a 20% increase in rated output power, over the E-370, thanks to a reinforced power amplification stage and power supply. The further evolved AAVA volume control system allows music enjoyment at any level without even the slightest degradation of signal quality. The power amplifier section utilises the instrumentation amplifier principle to achieve outstanding S/N ratio. Low impedance design of the output circuitry results in a damping factor of 500, ensuring that the potential of every speaker can be brought out to the fullest. Enjoy a musical performance of amazing transparency and dynamism.

The Accuphase E-380 realises a 20% increase in rated output power thanks to a reinforced power amplification stage and power supply. The further evolved AAVA volume control system allows music enjoyment at any level without even the slightest degradation of signal quality. The power amplifier section utilises the instrumentation amplifier principle to achieve outstanding S/N ratio. Low impedance design of the output circuitry results in a damping factor of 500, ensuring that the potential of every speaker can be brought out to the fullest. Enjoy a musical performance of amazing transparency and dynamism.

Features:

• AAVA volume control
• Power amplification stage with bipolar transistors in double parallel push-pull configuration
• Rated for 180 watts into 4 ohms and 120 watts into 8 ohms
• High damping factor of 500
• Power amplification stage configured as instrumentation amplifier
• Current feedback amplification topology in power amplification stage
• Logic-control relays for shortest signal paths
• Strong power supply with massive high-efficiency transformer and large filtering capacitors
• Protection circuitry using MOS-FET switches

AAVA volume control. AAVA is a revolutionary type of volume control that completely does away with any variable resistors in the signal path. Using instead a combination of 16 V-I converter amplifiers with different gain. Unlike in conventional volume controls, the music signal is not being attenuated by a rotary resistor, so that optimum S/N ratio and low distortion can be maintained over the entire volume range. The signal degradation and impedance changes of older designs are now a thing of the past. The Accuphase E-380 uses four maximum-gain V-I converter amplifiers, followed by two amplifier circuits in parallel configuration, which doubles the total output current capability and halves the circuit impedance to further reduce noise.

AAVA Features:

• Purely analogue principle avoids the inherent noise of digital circuitry
• Excellent S/N ratio at any volume level position
• No change in sound quality over the entire range
• Finely graded volume adjustment steps
• No volume differences between left and right channel
• High channel separation
• Left/right balance adjustment and attenuation also realised with AAVA

Power amplification stage with bipolar transistors. The power amplification stage features bipolar transistors in a double parallel push-pull configuration.

25% improved damping factor, Balanced Remote Sensing and MOS-FET switches result in a damping factor of 500, representing a 25% improvement over the predecessor model.

Power supply circuitry designed for optimum stability. The large transformer and massive 33,000 μF filtering capacitors with 10% more capacitance provide rock-stable high-quality power.

20% more rated output power. Two power amplifier units for left and right mounted directly to large heat sinks deliver ample power, rated for 120 watts into 8 ohms or 180 watts into 4 ohms