Accuphase E-305V (1991–1993)
The E-305V is the refined version of Accuphase's E-305 integrated. It came out in November 1991 at ¥280,000 and was built through 1993. It puts out 130 watts per channel (180W into 4Ω, 250W into 2Ω) and it's a MOSFET design, which is the part worth dwelling on. Accuphase's own literature for this model traces the lineage back to 1978 and the E-303, which the company describes as the world's first integrated stereo amplifier to use power MOSFETs. That claim comes from the German-language manual that survives for this model. Accuphase repeats it as house history, so treat it as the company's account and not an independently verified fact.
What the manual does document in detail is the circuit. The output stage runs three N-channel and three P-channel power MOSFETs in parallel per channel, driven by a cascode-connected driver stage. The input uses Accuphase's complementary push-pull topology with cascode-connected FETs. Every analog stage is direct-coupled, with strong DC servo correction to hold drift down. The volume control is the odd bit. Instead of the usual rotating brush over a fixed resistive track, the E-305V rotates the resistor and keeps the brush fixed, which cuts the number of metal contact points from five to three. It's motorized and geared for the supplied RC-8 infrared remote, which also handles input switching and the attenuator. Signal switching is done with nitrogen-sealed, gold-plated crossbar relays. The preamp and power amp each get their own regulated supply, so they don't talk to each other through the rails.
Around back there are eight inputs, two tape loops, and balanced XLR inputs on both CD and Line, which was notable for 1991. The preamp and power amp sections can be split with a rear switch and used independently, so it'll run as a standalone pre or power amp. The phono stage covers both MM and MC. Speaker connections allow A/B switching or A+B for bi-wiring. Finish is the usual Accuphase champagne with date-palm wood side panels. It weighs a substantial 22.7 kg and the chassis measures 475 × 170 × 418 mm.
Documentation on the E-305V is decent by Accuphase standards. A manual survives, and the model appears in period catalogs. There's no bench test from the mainstream English-language press that we've been able to locate, so the numbers here are the manufacturer's own. Surviving information on the sound is limited to owner impressions rather than measured reviews. If you have an original English-language information folder or a magazine test, the Archive would welcome a scan.
Known specifications
- Continuous output: 130W/ch into 8Ω, 180W/ch into 4Ω (both channels, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.02% THD)
- THD: 0.02% (4–16Ω, 0.25W to full output, 20 Hz–20 kHz); IM distortion 0.01%
- Frequency response (main amp in): 20 Hz–20 kHz +0/−0.2 dB at rated output; 0.5 Hz–150 kHz +0/−3.0 dB at 1W
- Damping factor: 100 (8Ω, 50 Hz)
- S/N (main amp input, A-weighted): 124 dB
- Input sensitivity: balanced 125mV/40kΩ; high level 125mV/20kΩ; MM 4.3mV/47kΩ; MC 0.123mV/100Ω
- Tone controls: bass ±10 dB at 50 Hz (300 Hz turnover); treble ±10 dB at 20 kHz (3 kHz turnover)
- Subsonic filter: 17 Hz, −12 dB/oct
- Power consumption: 65W idle, 490W at 8Ω rated output
- Dimensions: 475 × 170 × 418 mm; weight 22.7 kg
- Remote: RC-8 infrared, 2× R6 batteries
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