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)
