Test Accuphase E-370 / Stereo 04/2016]

Our Golden Boy
Making excellent things even better, this is the hallmark of Japan’s luxury
brand Accuphase.
Revolutions such as the changeover from the ultra-grade conventional volume
potentiometer to the ”AAVA“ level control with switchable fixed resistors
launched in 2002 do happen, but normally the company from Yokohama rather
trusts in the ongoing evolution of their products.
Certainly it’s been purposeful that the E-360 introduced in 2012 is now
succeeded by the E-370, which – and this is no surprise, either – shows hardly
any visual difference to its forerunner. That’s typically Japanese: always stayin line. However, something’s different at this premiere. the excitement! Threedealers whom I had contacted for other reasons were asking if we had alreadygotten hands on Accuphase’s new one. Because it’s quite a stunner that bears
no comparison to the recently discontinued 360. And on top far it is lessexpensive – in this price category – we don’t want to sue the word “cheap”.
Everything as usual? Sure, but ...
Stimulated in such a way, we wanted to see and hear for ourselves what wasbehind the industry talk. Since I’ve been dealing with hi-fi, that is for 35 years,
I’ve followed the development of Accuphase, personally reviewed countlesscomponents from this brand founded in 1972 by former Kenwood founder Jiro
Kasuga under the highest quality demands, thereby witnessed the ongoing
improvements and subtly uttered more than once the thought: where will all
this lead to in the end?
Well, obviously to devices like the E-370 which at first seems to have nothing
special about it. It’s just the new kid on the block. If it weren’t for the model
name on the slim cover which slides down smoothly upon a soft push andconceals most of the controls for the – according to today’s standards –extensive user comfort, the changing of the guard might just as well have goneunnoticed. Essentially these two can be distinguished by a little switch on theright side of the lid. Moreover, the defeatable digital level indicator between theprominent level meters is now orange rather than red. That’s it!

1Behind the finely brushed front panel, which shows the usual immaculate
workmanship, more novelties can be spotted. For instance, one of thechanges that are gradually implemented in the amps is the changeover fromrelays to FET switches in the speaker output. As customary with Accuphase,the E-370 features connections for two speaker pairs that can be run together
or separately. The contactless switches are supposed to offer both increased
long-term stability and an even better coupling of the solid binding posts to thepower electronics with its strictly dual-channel design. The E-370 is even atrailblazer in that the required circuit board and the speaker terminals are now
firmly connected where they used to be mounted only side by side before.
Apart from that, the new amplifier offers exactly the topology we have known
for decades in Accuphase amps: in the middle of the housing sits the hefty
power supply consisting of an encapsulated transformer and the primary caps,
framed by the power amps including heatsinks. On the back the inputs are
switched, behind the front panel are the control plus AAVA electronics. Of
course, the E-370 also has the detached shaft for the recommended phono
MM/MC, the highbit-capable D/A converter or the line-level modules (AD-30,DAC-40, Line-10 at about 1000, 1185, 160 euros). Even two of them will fit in,expanding the amp to directly wiring a turntable and/or become a digital center.
Taking a straight look at the differences compared to the replaced E-360, weshould also mention the use of even lower noise circuits – Accuphasecomponents have always impressed by their excellent signal-to-noise ratios –for the innovative, ultra precise ”Vari-Gain“ volume control. Furthermore, thedesigners claim to have doubled the damping factor which is vital to acontrolled bass. How fitting that also the transformer was beefed up and thefilter capacitance of the power supply augmented from 22,000 to 30,000
microfarads. As if this weren’t enough, the push-pull power amps are said tohave a more stringent symmetrical circuit layout now.
In order not to get lost completely in the numerous details, the consideration ofwhich is important to a perfect appearance, let me pick here the ”High
Carbon“ feet, which consist of cast iron with a high proportion of carbon and soshall keep off vibrations effectively from the device, as well as the high-grade,because low-Z and strong headphone output, which can drive even top-classheadphones adequately and thus in most cases will supersede the purchaseof an external solution.
Listening room performance
In fact the Accuphase should have gone to the measuring lab first, but we
simply couldn’t wait and wired it to the B&W 803 D3s only just put up in thelistening room. The Accuphase DP-550 SACD player had already done itswarm-up. Quickly dialing the correct input via the left big rotary knob – andthere it was: the cultivated Accuphase sound image, like sorted by delicate
fingers, with details finely dusted like icing sugar, a nimble timing which,2however, never seems agitated or hectic, and a distinct sensitivity for nuancesof any kind.
At that time it was already clear that the E-370 was an excellent amplifier andalso a genuine Accuphase. But how good is it in actual fact, and notably how
far from its forerunner? To find this out we let it run against its predecessor.
We have done such exercises frequently before, and each time – smallwonder! – the relief could outperform the governor. This time it wasn’t any
different, and yet the distance was more dicey than otherwise. One could
easily get the impression to skip not just one, but three or four generations.
Apparently our trading colleagues had not exaggerated.
After replugging the HMS ”Gran Finale Jubilee“ speaker cables into the E-370,
which was connected via an identical power cable, ”More an You Know“ fromthe new, great sounding album ”Interludes“ by Lyn Stanley appeared to have amuch wider stage, thereby sounding more spacious and generally way more
three-dimensional at the same volume level. Miss Stanley’s voice seemed tobe more natural, and the delicately woven mesh of vocals and instrumental
accompaniment with its incredibly authentic timbres was richer in facets.
Thingsgot
prettyhotthenwith
MontyAlexander’shighlydynamic ”Moanin’“ from our review CD VI. No matter what level, the newAccuphase dished out explosive drum kicks with pinpoint precision andchiseled contour while still sounding effortlessly relaxed, although the needles
were flying frighteningly towards the ”0 dB“ mark. No doubt, the E-370 haspower and knows how to use it with consistent accuracy.
The E-370 sets benchmarks
Now the E-360 had to climb down. True, it also impressed with vigour anddiscipline, but couldn’t keep the same relentless grip on the lower floors andwas also a fair way off the naturalness, the tender melliflousness and the selfevidence of its follow-up which stood its ground very well against othercontenders of the premium league of amplifiers, too. As a result the E-370
doesn’t only set benchmarks within the Accuphase range and in its pricecategory. It should be hard to find a better amp for your bucks.
Matthias Böde3