Talk:Accuphase E-205

Accuphase E205

HiFi Line LISTENING TEST

We listen and compare:

Accuphase revised - / - Accuphase unrevised

"... And how does my Accuphase amplifier sound after a revision?" - This question can HiFi-ZEILE staff can now answer this question. Together with three test listeners test listeners, we compared two identical Accuphase E 205 amplifiers (circa 1989). The result of this listening session "Accu rev. - / - Accu unrev." was a pleasant surprise for all involved. surprised.

One E 205 comes from the HiFi collection of a HiFi lover. The amplifier is (no dark discoloured circuit boards in the output stage) that it had only been used for a few hours. hours of use.

The other unit had been used intensively for 20 years. A technician from HiFi-ZEILE has overhauled this E 205 (we call it "reconditioning"). During a HiFi-ZEILE revision all defective and wear-prone elements are replaced by high quality components from current production. components from the current production; each individual switch is cleaned and treated with a special with a special anti-oxidation agent; various capacitors are renewed and the gold-plated surfaces of the high-quality and the gold-plated surfaces of the high-quality LS relays are polished to a high gloss.

Is this effort worthwhile? - The very first CD we put into the player (Mission DAC 5 with external DAD 5 converter) gave us the answer: it's worth it!

Because the revised E 205 has all the good qualities that the Accu lover appreciates. appreciates. During the percussion arrangement of the "Pachelbel-Canon" ("This Is K2 HD Sound", FIM K2 HD 078), the instruments are accurately reproduced and immovably lined up in front of the listener. listener; woods and metals as well as the respective character of drumheads can be perfectly distinguished from each other. perfectly differentiated from each other in terms of sound.

In the intro of Little Feat's live CD "Waiting For Columbus" (Rhino 8122-78274-2) accompanies accompanies the musicians from the dressing room to the stage more attentively than the unprocessed amplifier. from the dressing room to the stage. From there on it's only a question of using the dynamic reserves of the of the loudspeakers (Ecouton LQL 200), both test persons do their job with the same lightheartedness. with the same light-heartedness. The different sounds of the cowbell are not really heard in this sound- However, the revised E 205 was better able to recognise the different strokes of the cowbell in this tangle of drums, guitars and keyboards.

It also plucks each string more sensitively when harpist Catrin Finch plays the "Ave Maria" ("Cross The Stone"). ("Crossing The Stone", Sony SK 87320). The untreated Accu does not look the individual parts so closely, but rather brings out the entire instrument. When countertenor Terrance Barber joins in, it gives it a little more chest girth; the revised E 205 analyzes more precisely the sound of his voice.

The revised E 205 also proves to be an analyst in the "Mozart Piano Quintet" (Vienna Wind Soloists, Telarc 801). Soloists, Telarc 80114). While his competitor is more concerned with the imaging of the room, the the room, the thoroughly reworked E 205 looks more closely at the fingers of the instrumentalists. the fingers of the instrumentalists.

In "Somethin Stupid" ("My Way - The Best of Frank Sinatra", Reprise 9362-46712) the virgin Accu separates the voices of Nancy and Frankie. the virgin Accu separates the voices of Nancy and Frankieboy more carefully. The revised E 205 devotes itself detective-like rather to such apparent supporting actors as the strings; the mixer channel the engineer once assigned to the string ensemble is now locatable. is now locatable.

But even more "accuphasic" than its unrevised brother, the updated E 205 sounds on the country version of "No Woman, No Cry" ("Reggae Around The World", Putumayo 142). The revised version from the HiFi-ZEILE workshop recognizes every single note of slide guitarist Jerry Douglas. -guitarist Jerry Douglas, the untreated Accuphase makes them blur into each other.

The question "Is an E 205 still an Accuphase at all after a revision?" is thus answered: All those analyst virtues that once made this Accuphase amplifier a reference classic. the rank of a reference classic, are not only preserved by a HiFi-ZEILE revision - but in some cases not only preserved - but in some cases even refined.

Pierre Wittig

Advisor no.: 10000000004583791Advisor created on: 10/19/07 (updated 11/08/07)