- Accuphase
Accuphase Laboratories, Inc. (originally known as Kensonic Laboratories, Inc.) is a
Japan esehigh-end audio equipment manufacturer founded by former Kenwoodengineer Jiro Kasuga in 1972. Accuphase products are known for their extremely high build quality and distinctive "champagne" colored faceplates.Because of their similar level of craftsmanship, Accuphase is often called the 'Japanese McIntosh.'Kensonic, the factory name behind the Accuphase brand, was founded by a 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.
However, Kenwood had a share in Kensonic. Also some other connections in the early years of Accuphase exist. If you compare at 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 PCB's are tagged KENSONIC, too, and the early units bore a proud KENSONIC on their frontplates as well. Till mid 1990's Kenwood still owned part of Kensonic. It also seems that Accuphase engineers may have had a hand in the engineering of Kenwood's last high-end series (L-A1, LD-1 and LV-Z1).
The 1st Kensonic models were the P-300 amp, C-200 preamp and T-100 tuner. The E-202 integrated amp and a revised version of the tuner (T-101) were added not much later. All of these received very good critics in 1973 and 1974 and. While Kenwood has now abandoned all High End audio activities, Kensonic carries on with the Accuphase series.
Accuphase themselves explain 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. We feel 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.
[http://www.accuphase.com/philosophy.html Source: Accuphase website]
Accuphase has a name in build quality, units of the first series still exist in good working condition. Models always remain available for several years, sometimes up to a decade.
The history of all Accuphase products is available online on their website.
External links
* [http://www.accuphase.com/ Accuphase website]
* [http://www.hifi-museum.com/js/ap/accuindex.htm Accuphase Museum] at The High Fidelity Museum
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