rotelfan

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $2200.00

Summary:
When it comes to preamps/amps, I prefer neutrality, with just a touch of smoothness. I don't like my amp to add its own coloration to the music, over-emphasize or under-emphasize certain frequency ranges. Colorations may make listening more enjoyable in the short run. But in the long run, it ultimatley ruins everything for me. I found exactly what I am looking in this Accuphase. The best I have ever heard. It does exactly what it is supposed to do, amplify the music it is being fed, faithfully, better than any other that I have heard. For this I am giving it 5 stars. I also have to mention that the headphone out on this Accuphase integrated is superb.

Strengths:
Neutrality with a touch of smoothness, non-fatiguing.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha, HK, Rotel, Krell, Cary, etc.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Atlas

Summary:
This amp will sound bright at first, give it some time to settle down, 6 mths at least. I've used it for almost 2 years and now it just sings with the SF concertinos via the Cardas Hexlink spk cables and Golden Cross XLR I/C. Power cord plays an important part too. If yours sounded bright, try the JPS power AC. Avoid those that tend to make the sound "thin" and "bright". I did'nt like it with the HT AC. The ESP I am using now was acceptable. With the unit sitting on the DH cones/square which added some warmth and liquidity, the overall sonic character was one that I would live with for quite some time. I would not hesitate to upgrade to the higher model such as the E407 or the E530.

Strengths:
Build quality.

Weaknesses:
None for the price I am paying here, USD $1,600.

Similar Products Used:
Krell Kav 300i, Classe CAP 80

Price Paid:  $2500.00 from Stassen venlo

Summary:
First of all I like everything Accuphase makes, the components are build to last. The only disadvantage is the price, 550 dollar for a phono module is just outagious (I purchased a second hand phono module thank god). After the money is spend one owns a piece of craftmanship ,thats for sure. My E-211 just looks and sounds great. When I listen the E-211 via my Nautilus 805 speakers the quality amazes me everytime. The purity, atmosphere of the sound I don''t have words for it. Accuphase would have helped me if it would also be possible to use the preamplifier and the amplifier seperately, like the bigger models. If I want to move to some seperate accuphase amplifier I have to buy a new preamplifier and amplifier both at the same time, which would mean less stress for my wallet if the previous option was possible. Also the cinch connectors are too close to each other, if you use quality cinch connectors the seperation beween the cinch plugs is about 1mm.

Strengths:
Quality Quality Quality

Weaknesses:
No seperate use of components. Cinch connectors too close to each other. A little bit too pricy, I think $2000 would be more than enough.

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $12000.00 from HKSAR

Summary:
Having 211 for more than 1 year, I find that at this price, the performance and the outlook of this amp is really outstanding. Listen and you will be amazed

Strengths:
Excellent treble resolution Charming vocal tight bass very suitable for classical and jazz music

Weaknesses:
may be limited bass if wrong choice of speaker

Price Paid:  $900.00 from Fujiya - Tokyo

Summary:
Well, I was spent quite lots of time to think of, and compared with it's older brother E-210 (1994, around 800USD in the nearby
AV shop in Shinjuku, a most crowded district in the city of Tokyo) before decided to bought this solid amps.

I saw several reviews posted in this page, and I am totally surprised with many different, even opposite opinion/evaluation of other reviewers related to E-211, until now I am not felt guilty at all for sure, happy and pound enough to introduce it with others friends of mine.

I spent almost half of the first day to examine this amp with all kind of music, started with Hotel California of Eagles (Thank you all) both two versions (in origin album named Hotel California and the new one, which reperfomanced in 1995), then with Hurricane of Bob Dylan, later with Songbird of Kenny G, numerous albums of AC/DC, Metallica and Kiss. From those day till now, the E-211 still giving me a lots of wonderful and amazing time, too many details that I ever reorganized before with the same tracks with my old Denon PMA-1500R (cost only 600USD as a brand-new). After few weeks, I also realised that the sound quality offers by amp is equivalent to many audio makers whose trying to introduce their too expensive systems with pre/power separated amps.

In fact, this amp is one of the cheapest Accuphase products (190,000JPY - 1,700USD in Japan's domestic market) but it's doesn't meant anything related to the quality. Actually you can find out thousands other amps in this price range, the problem is how it adapts with the rests of your system. For me, this amps work very well with my B&W CDM1-NT speakers. To who's currently using B&W, SonusFaber or Celestion products, just strong recommended! (Bi-wiring available)

Last one: Guys, please don't public you own opinion unless you're fully well understood the equipment.
Obviously, an amp is a most important in our stereo system, but all of us known that the sound quality is also depends on many other things such as: the CD/Tape players, speakers system, cables, position, room space,etc...and your ears as well.

My system:
CD player: SONY CDP-XA5ES (will be soon upgraded to SONY CDP-555ES)
MD player/recorder: KENWOOD - DM9090 (1997 version, one of the most high-end MD recorder)
Integrated Amp: ACCUPHASE E-211 (90w/channel duet with 8ohm impedance speakers)
Interconnect Cables: Harmonix CI-230
Speaker Cables: COBRA 4S silver bi-wiring
Banana Plugs: AudioTechnica

Thank you for your time, and have a wonderful day!
KT. Dam (dkt@altavista.net)

Strengths:
Very detail, excellent treble and mid-range, good bass, solid and perhaps very durable, nice looking and convenient remote control.

Weaknesses:
Restricted place for speaker cables with banana plugs. Heavy to carry as a typical Japanese amps.

Similar Products Used:
Denon PMAs, AuraDesign British Stingray, Accuphase's integrate amps old model.