Accuphase C-270V (1992)

A high-level, line-only preamplifier released in April 1992. It fully replaced the original C-270 and took design elements from the C-280V.

Overview

The Accuphase C-270V is a stereo control amplifier and preamplifier made by Accuphase Laboratory, Inc. in Japan. It came out in April 1992 as a line-only preamp for sources like CDs and tuners, and it is a complete redesign of the original C-270. It takes key design principles from the C-280V, with an emphasis on balanced circuitry and high-fidelity signal handling. It has independent left and right power supplies, DC-servo amplification with no coupling capacitors, and a dedicated direct-coupled headphone amplifier.

Specifications

Production Year	1992 (released April 1992)
Original Price	￥580,000
Frequency Response	1.0 Hz to 300 kHz (+0, -3.0 dB); 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz (+0, -0.2 dB)
Total Harmonic Distortion	0.005% at all input terminals
Signal-to-Noise Ratio	110 dB (balanced and unbalanced inputs)
Inputs	6 unbalanced (RCA), 3 balanced (XLR)
Outputs	2 unbalanced (RCA), 2 balanced (XLR), tape record (2 RCA)
Power Consumption	18W
Dimensions	468 mm (W) × 149 mm (H) × 403 mm (D)
Weight	22.0 kg
Amplifier Class	AB
Power Supply Voltage	100 VAC / 117 V / 220 V / 240 V, 50Hz/60Hz

Design

The C-270V uses a fully balanced transmission method with symmetrical positive and negative signals. The unbalanced and balanced line amplifiers are separate units. Each has DC-servo input and output stages and no DC-blocking capacitors. The unbalanced input stage is an all-FET constant-current load cascode bootstrap source follower. After it comes a symmetrical differential push-pull emitter-grounded circuit, then a cascode push-pull + emitter-follower output. The balanced output comes from bridge feedback. The power supply is monophonic, with independent transformers and filter capacitors for the left and right channels. The volume control is a 4-linked CP (conductive plastic) regulator with gold-plated multi-contact brushes. It rotates the resistor, not the wiper, and tracking accuracy stays under 0.5 dB at -60 dB. Input switching uses nitrogen-filled sealed relays with gold and silver-palladium alloy contacts. There is a dedicated headphone amplifier, a phase switch, a 3-step attenuator, and independent left/right level adjustment. The side panels are natural persimmon wood, and all audio jacks are rhodium-plated.

Context

The C-270V replaces the original C-270 and inherits design elements from the C-280V. It is a high-level, line-only control amplifier tuned for CD and tuner sources.

Market

A refurbished unit was listed for $2,631.50 USD. Other listings include A$4,174 (Jun - Jul 2025) and €5,200 (Jul 26, 2025). The manufacturer is Accuphase Laboratory, Inc. of Japan. The accessory included in one listing was a copy of the instruction manual.

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Service Manuals, Schematics & Catalogs

Catalog (1991) — archive.org
Catalog (1992) — archive.org