Accuphase C-2300 Preamplifier

Accuphase C-2300 Preamplifier with 4 Band Equaliser

For more than half a century, Accuphase has continued its relentless pursuit of creating the ideal volume control circuitry. The C-2300 preamplifier utilizes Balanced AAVA – the successor of the AAVA system – to control volume without sacrificing vibrancy in the source sound. A newly added 4-band tone control enables fine adjustments to sound tone. Experience the sonic depth from the combined sound quality and superior features the C-2300 provides.

Balanced Volume Control, Balanced AAVA

Conventional preamplifiers use variable resistors to adjust volume, which causes contacts to deteriorate and creates grit while increasing noise at normal volume levels. AAVA, however, produces multiple, widely varying signals from the input signal and controls volume by changing the combination of those signals. This achieves minimum noise at all volume levels without any grit. The C-2300 incorporates “Balanced AAVA” consisting of balanced “AAVA” circuits, which further reduces the noise level by approximately 10% over conventional preamplifiers.

Quiet and Smooth Volume Sensor Design

AAVA uses a volume sensor design to detect the position of the volume knob and changes the combination of signals to adjust volume. Machined from an aluminium block in an ultra-precise extrusion process, the C-2300 uses a volume sensor design developed in-house with hefty, rigid materials to achieve an utterly smooth and solid operation feel when rotating the knob for extremely accurate position detection. Operational sounds are subdued even when using the Remote Commander, resulting in quiet and gratifying volume adjustment.

Separate Unit Amplifiers for Left and Right Channels

Music signal circuits like the AAVA contain five unit amplifiers. By separating the left and right channels, the attention to detail in the unit amplifiers works to suppress electrical interference and prevent any negative impacts on sound quality.

Independent Power Supplies for Left and Right Channels

The power source driving the circuits can greatly affect sound quality. Each side of this preamplifier features a high-quality transformer housed inside its own case. The two 10,000 μF high-capacity, high-quality custom-made filtering capacitors mounted on each side supply power with margins and are highly impervious to load fluctuations.

Our Review

The Accuphase C-2300 is one of those preamplifiers that immediately feels special, blending decades of engineering finesse with a wonderfully tactile, quietly confident user experience. Its Balanced AAVA volume control - an evolution of Accuphase’s long-time pursuit of the ideal circuit - keeps the music vibrant and free from the grit and noise that plague traditional variable resistors, while the smooth, weighty volume sensor feels downright luxurious to use. With separate left and right channel amplifiers and power supplies, plus a newly added 4-band tone control for fine tailoring your sound, the C-2300 delivers a sense of depth and composure that invites long listening sessions. Add in its generous connectivity, flexible gain settings, refined headphone stage, and those rock-solid vibration-damping insulators, and you’ve got a preamp that’s as much about the joy of the experience as it is about the beautifully executed technology behind it.