Complete review in STEREO magazine (Germany), Issue 3/2011
Stereo Power Amplifier Accuphase P-6100

A Journey to Elysiumby Matthias Böde
The new amplifier set C-3800 and P-6100 from Accuphase is promising a trip to theland of Hi-Fi bliss. We were on this trip – and tested the power amplifier.
It's always the same questioning myself when I'm to test components fromAccuphase: can this noble maker – famous for first-rate craftsmanship and sound quality –further enhance all this? As a general rule – yes, but it needs effort as well as someframework requirements in order to achieve this. P.I.A., the Accuphase distributor [inGermany] leaves nothing to chance. After all, they've just recently been awarded with thetreasured trophy “Distributor of the Year” from STEREO and our PREMIUM PARTNERS[selected Hi-Fi dealers in Germany].
“With our new amplifiers we are to conjure up an Accuphase experience like neverbefore”, was the P.I.A.-team wholeheartedly announcing, whereupon they also came up
with the following preconditions: the reviewers of STEREO are to audition the super preamplifier C-3800 together with the stereo power amp P-6100 not only with their tried andtested in-house equipment but moreover in a complete Accuphase chain. To whichbelongs the big SACD player DP-700 as well as the power station Accuphase PS-1210.
The latter was called for protecting the entire chain against corruptive interferences fromthe mains. Taking the energy from the wall socket, it can be loaded up to 1,200
Volt/Ampère whereby it configures a new current supply in form of stable 230 Volt/50 Hz
which is practically free of any interferences or distortions in and from the mains power
supply. Well, we had no objections and – fortunately – there was still Finite Elemente's
active rack “Emperor”, tested for the previous issue, standing around in the large listening
room. For highest performance in sound there is arguably no better component platform
around these days.
Accuphase spare no efforts
Until the installation has warmed up – at least a bit – we can have a closer look onto theamps. The C-3800 is reflecting the ultimate ambition of the Japanese which however is not
merely assigned to the typically champagne-coloured, painstakingly crafted front panel andthe silkily polished cabinet made of persimmon wood. Those who have become aware of
the very high price for this preamp of entirely dual-monophonic construction are likely to be
awestruck whereupon they would hardly dare to touch the high-precision switches andcontrol dials which convey the feeling of stirring the spoon in a honey pot.
When compared to the hitherto top pre-amplifier C-2810, which, by the way, is goingto stay in Accuphase's portfolio, the C-3800 not only comes with a fully balanced circuitry
layout from input to output, but also with a fully balanced AAVA circuitry for the left andright channel. The “Accuphase Analog Varigain Amplifier” is a proprietary development
and speciality of the Japanese. This laborious design yields a very fine graduation of thevolume range in altogether 65,536 steps. The AAVA circuitry in fact converts the musicsignal from a voltage into a current, alters gain by means of current switches andreconverts the current into a voltage. Thus, the amp itself becomes an integral part of the1volume control.
This processing, carried out in the analogue domain, is said to reduce noise anddistortions to an absolute minimum. In the meantime Accuphase employs AAVA in all preand integrated amplifiers, even in the entry-level model E-250, yet nowhere as elaborate
and consistent as in the C-3800.
The new P-6100 is entirely in the tradition of the big power amplifiers fromAccuphase. A distinguishing feature are the two large power meters, which by means of arotary knob can be switched to “Off”, “Normal”, “Peak Hold” for 3 seconds or infinite. Thenthere are those really solid handles on the massive front panel. Certainly not meant fordecoration only, they can be pretty useful when it comes to carry the amp's 45.5 kg about,preferably with the help of a good (audiophile) friend. The opulent heat sinks at each side
are distinct ingredients for the power amplifiers from Yokohama, as well as the hefty
speaker terminals at the rear panel, which some time ago have fortunately been madecompatible for banana plugs also.
Once again High-End business as usual with this new amplifier? Not quite, because
there is an important modification when compared to its brothers P-4100 and P-7100. With
this modification the Japanese are getting the P-6100 closer to their big monophonicpower amp M-6000 and at the same time are building a bridge between their Class-AB
and Class-A amplifiers. Like the latter and the M-6000, the P-6100 employs MOS-FETs
instead of bipolar transistors. MOS-FETs are known for their high linearity, thermal stability
and input impedance, thus unloading the preceding driver stage. Altogether 16 MOS-FETs
are working in each channel, whereby 8 are arranged in pairs and switched in parallelpush-pull configuration in order to get a tight grip onto the speaker drivers, in particular thewoofers. A reference point for this is the damping factor. Lo and behold, the P-6100 has
indeed set a new record in our testing lab!
There are so many good things in the new Accuphase amp that one can almost feelthe long time experience in every detail: from the gold-plated signal paths on GFK circuitboards up to the complex “Multiple Circuit Summing” technology - in brief MCS+ - in which
several identical circuitries are sharing the work in terms of precision and reliability.
For testing in the listening room the rear selector switch for operation mode was set to“Normal” which makes it a customary stereo amplifier. Switched to “Dual Mono” the leftchannel is linked to both power stages in order to facilitate bi-amping. Of course, a second
P-6100 is then needed for the other side. The same applies as soon as the left and right
power stages are “Bridge”d and thus forming a fully monophonic amplifier.
We made the C-3800 work at medium gain (18 dB) in which it played very relaxedand delicate, while the P-6100 was likewise set to a relatively insensitive position. Because
it wouldn't make much sense to first dampen the rich output voltage of the DP-700 in thepreamp in order to have it then augmented again in the power amp – including all
drawbacks like distortions and noise inherent in high amplification factors. The adequate“transmission ratio” ought to be the goal here, whereby approaching things from the lower
gain means a more coherent coupling followed by a gorgeous sound. No matter which top
speaker we employed, this Accuphase chain had them all playing at optimum performance,
although it seems that from a certain class on the sphere behind the notes is virtually more
important than the comprehensible parameters.
The meaning of this was brilliantly demonstrated by the Accuphase trio and theP-1210 when we played the ocean sequence in Rachmaninow's “Études-tableaux”(Reference Recordings): quietly and with three-dimensional rendition, the orchestra was2

coming in from the depth of space, gently nuanced and with splendid tone colours while itdeveloped the impressionistic picture the composer had in mind, namely of a wide, deep
horizon in the obscure light of a Nordic shoreline with seagull screaming and salty breezes.
When the music came to a crescendo it deemed that one could overlook from a distancethe broad swell rolling in to rest on the shore under dark clouds. Such magic moments
come into being only when everything is right on the spot. This Accuphase team canindeed evoke them, yet a the same time appears like being uninvolved in this vividly
breathing world of magic - entirely detached from the speakers.
Beyond established benchmarks
And this has nothing to do with any musical preferences, as one is to perceive intimate
moments whilst listening to “Audiophile Voices” from the FIM sampler with the same nameand afterwards is overwhelmed by the rendition of “Rage Hard” from Frankie Goes To
Hollywood. The P-6100, of which the measured power is considerably exceeding therather conservative specification published by the manufacturer, reveals a sensitive love
for details as well as genuine punch. In each situation, it fills the well arranged andconfidently organised musical spectrum with lots of energy, yet at the same time remains
oh so airy and smooth and, yes, almost gracious. Hence, it is more obvious to compare
the P-6100 with its Class-A colleagues than with the rather granite-like and rigidly
performing P-7100. Without any loss of resolution, the new MOS-FET power amplifier
conveys a dash more loveliness and musical understanding during the recital.
Those who are going to tear this Accuphase dream set apart for separate evaluationof these perfectly complementary components will have nothing to cut back from theabove statements. Nonetheless, one is soon to become aware of the exceptional sonicstatus of the C-3800, which in these days is causing tizzy and enthusiasm not only among
the bunch of Accuphase fans out there. In case of a rating it would have effortlessly ousted
our current top-reference pre-amplifier and put itself on top, far ahead of the rest, that is.
It’s because the C-3800 plays so relaxed, natural and thus puts itself in a terrific manner
far beyond any comprehensible benchmark. However, its price tag is also beyond thedomain in which sonic points and percentages and also the competition are playing acertain role. They simply do not have a meaning anymore.
The same could be said about the wonderfully musical and technically fascinating
P-6100, which is in no way vulnerable from whatever side one is looking at it. Already aftera few cross-checks with the amps from Accustic Arts and Soulution, it was clear enoughthat the P-6100 deserves to be positioned among the very best. And of course it was in full
cry with the MBL-Pre 5011 which, although trying hard to catch up with the C-3800 in
many aspects, could eventually not reach it in terms of consolidation and magnificence.
For the ancient Greeks, the ulterior Elysium was once the venue for uppermost
blessedness. Well, we know of such a miracle place in the here and now: it's the listening
room of STEREO with the Accuphase chain inside.
P-6100 Features
Switchable output meters (selective peak hold mode), RCA and XLR inputs, 4-stepped
gain selector, bi-amping and monophonic operation possible, two pairs of speakerterminals for single or common operation. Selectable PIN-assignment of XLR input.
VERDICT STEREO TEST
Sonic Rating:Price/Performance Ratio:

100%
Very Good3