Description

Accuphase C-2900 preamplifier is a very rare beast. It launched in 2022 and only a handful have come to the UK.

Priced at £21000, Accuphase C-2900 preamplifier sits between the excellent £10200 C-2300 and the even better £30000 C-3900. As is often the way with audio, it’s the least often one selected but arguably a rather good buy. This one was our demonstration unit until December 2023 when we sold it to a guy who knew the next step would-be the C-3900. Our man keeps his eye on the money markets and came to the conclusion that jumping to a new C-3900 sooner rather than later would make sense, so here it is back in our hands.

When we sold this last year, he also opted for the £3650 AD 2900 option board which provides an excellent MM + MC phono stage. Amusingly, his new DP-450 CD / SACD player (also being listed) proved to be so ‘analogue’ that he never actually used it. Because the AD-2900 was out of stock when he ordered it, he collected it later rather than have us install. It turns out that the AD-2900 just sat on the shelf with his trusty Linn running through another system.

Offered as a package (combined RRP £24650) with the reassurance of a 24 month warranty. Condition is as near as dammit perfect. Sound quality is not unlike the reference C-2900. But just not quite . . . 🙂

Description

The preamplifier’s volume control is a vital component for maintaining vibrancy in the sound source. Since its founding, Accuphase has spent 50 years in pursuit of creating the ideal volume control circuitry.The C-2900’s Balanced AAVA system was designed using Accuphase’s original AAVA volume control circuits to significantly improve sonic performance. The faithful reproduction of delicate musical performancesby the C-2900 makes it the perfect preamplifier for passionate audiophiles.

Balanced AAVA volume control
Logic-controlled relays for signal switching assure high sound quality and long-term reliability
Printed circuit boards for signal transmission use glass cloth fluorocarbon resin with low dielectric constant and minimum loss along with gold-plating on copper foil surfaces
Power supply circuits with separate toroidal transformers and filtering capacitors (10,000 μF × 4 pcs) for the left and right
Newly developed volume sensor construction for a quiet and smooth operation feel
Versatile arrangement of inputs and outputs (five line level inputs, two balanced inputs, two line level outputs, and two balanced outputs)
Line level input and output connectors for a recorder
Line level and balanced EXT PRE inputs for connection of an external preamplifier
Individual phase setting for each input
Switchable overall gain (12 dB / 18 dB / 24 dB)
Left / right balance control through Balanced AAVA
Stereo signal can be switched to monophonic operation
Volume attenuator to instantly reduce sound to as low as –20 dB
Loudness compensator for correcting the perceived spectral balance
Informative and easy to read input and volume level display with on / off switching
Discretely configured, high-quality headphone amplifier with parallel push/pull output stages
Subsonic filter that cuts off ultra-low frequency noise from record warping
Natural grain wood case with a mirror finish crafted by artisans using carefully selected virgin wood
High-carbon cast iron insulator feet with superior damping characteristics
Adding the AD-2900 to the C-2900 allows you to play analog discs.
Front panel switching function for using a phono equalizer expansion unit• MC/MM switching• MC load impedance switching (10 / 30 / 100 / 200 / 300 ohms)• Gain switching (MM: 34 / 40 dB, MC: 64 / 70 dB)