Accuphase E-202 Integrated Amplifier with Meters - WOW!

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Freshly serviced and working right up to original specs, this high-end Japanese brand is uncommon in the US, so if you're not familiar we've posted details below to bring you up to speed.

This E-202 was also one of their very first products and is not something you'll see very often in the wild.  It's design and construction was serious - this weighs in at 43 pounds!

We especially love the large meters and large control knob combination on this vintage integrated - there are a total of nine knobs not counting the input selector knob/switch!  Knobs for bass and treble control are most welcome and sadly missing from most modern HiFi.  

We like the meter range knob so you can adjust how much the meters "move" to your music, meaning you don't have to blast your volume just to see them dance.

Around back you'll see the inputs, outputs, and speaker terminal connectors are pretty serious looking.  And thankfully the speaker terminals don't require any weird or hard to find widget adapters to connect to your speakers, as several brands around this time period required.  

Note the dual Disc inputs?  This wasn't from the future 1980's when the CD was introduced - they're referencing turntables!

Here's some background on Accuphase courtesy of Wikipedia:

"Accuphase Laboratory, Inc. (originally known as Kensonic Laboratory, Inc.) is a Japanese, Yokohama-based high-end audio equipment manufacturer founded by former Kenwood engineer Jiro Kasuga in late 1972.

Kasuga was not happy with the views of Kenwood relating to the follower of their High-End Supreme 1 unit (1967). He hired some engineers from other prominent brands (Marantz, Luxman) and started Kensonic, with Kenwood as a part owner. Some other connections in the early years of Accuphase exist as well. If you compare the parts used by Kenwood and Kensonic throughout the latter's early years, the familiarities show quite easy: knobs, buttons, tuner dials and the general direction of the design. Accuphase's early PCBs are tagged KENSONIC, too, and the early units bore KENSONIC on their frontplates as well. Until the mid-1990s, Kenwood still owned part of Kensonic. It appears that Accuphase engineers may have had a hand in the engineering of Kenwood's last high-end series (L-A1, L-D1 and LVD-Z1). For example, the Accuphase E-405 and Kenwood L-A1 have very similar volume knobs, side panels, and remotes.

Kensonic's first products were the P-300 amp(lifier), the C-200 preamp, and the T-100 tuner. The E-202 integrated amp and an up-versioned tuner (the T-101) were added soon after. All received very positive reviews in 1973 and 1974. While Kenwood has now abandoned all high-end audio activities, Kensonic carries on with the Accuphase series.

Accuphase products are well regarded by high-end audio enthusiasts, but the brand is uncommon in the USA. Accuphase products are readily identified by their large Champagne-colored faceplates and large dual analog power meters – which are similar to the respected McIntosh Laboratory brand (McIntosh is famous for its unique faceplates, which are made of silk-screened glass and use large blue analog power meters).

Accuphase explains the brand name as follows:

The name ACCUPHASE was adapted by taking the prefix ACCU from the word "accurate", and combining it with PHASE which is a most important factor in audio technology.....it is a very fitting brand name to describe our products that fully portray this and other important characteristics, which penetrate the innermost depth of audio technology.

Click here for a PDF of the original E-202 Sales Brochure

Click here for a PDF of the original E-202 Owner's Manual 

Specifications:
Power output:  100 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)
Frequency response:  20Hz to 20kHz
Total harmonic distortion:  0.15%
Damping factor:  50
Input sensitivity:  2.5mV (MM), 160mV (line)
Signal to noise ratio:  74 dB (MM), 80 dB (line)
Speaker load impedance: 4Ω to 16Ω
Semiconductors:  53 x transistors, 4 x FET, 44 x diodes, 2 x thermistors
Dimensions:  17.9" x 5.9" x 13.9"  (455 x 152 x 355mm)
Weight:  43 lbs.  (19.5kg)

Our Testing Process for Solid State Integrated Amplifiers:

We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure there are no signs of stress or aging. Capacitors are checked for telltale sings of bulging or leaking, resistors are checked for signs of overheating or cracking, and transistors are checked for signs of stress or damage.

We then power up the unit carefully and run a simple 1k sine wave while monitoring the output on an oscilloscope for signs of distortion or noise. Finally, we run the amplifier to its full rated power into the appropriate resistive load provided by our Sencore amplifier tester. If there is an issue, it will usually be noticeable at this point. If everything reads clean, we will often test for THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) measured by our Keithley distortion meter, and compare it against the original manufacturers specifications. The amplifier then remains powered on to "burn in" on our test bench for a few hours to make sure there are no heat related issues. If there are balanced inputs available they will be also be tested.

Final testing involves pushing actual music thorough the amplifier. We've learned over time that some issues are only noticeable to a trained ear while listening to familiar source material. Our test bench has reference vintage Kef speakers that we're very familiar with which quickly reveal any discrepancies. Some amplifiers will then move into our listening room where they are tested with our in-house reference speakers of choice.

Please click here for detailed specifics regarding our specialized packing process that separates us from the rest.