Accuphase's entry point into pure Class A integrated amplification, built with technology drawn from the brand's 50th anniversary flagship.
A New Generation of Class A
The Accuphase E-700 is the successor to the long-running E-650 and the amplifier that opens the door to pure Class A listening within the Accuphase integrated lineup. It draws directly on engineering developed for the E-800, the model built to mark Accuphase's 50th anniversary, and applies that engineering at a more attainable point in the catalog. The result is 35 watts per channel into 8 ohms in pure Class A operation, rising to 70 watts into 4 ohms, 140 watts into 2 ohms, and a peak of 160 watts into 1 ohm. Those numbers sound modest next to high wattage Class AB amplifiers, and that is by design. Class A operation trades raw output for linearity, keeping every output device biased on and active regardless of signal level, which is what gives Class A amplification its characteristic smoothness and freedom from crossover distortion.
Balanced AAVA and the ANCC Noise Canceling Circuit
At the heart of the E-700's preamplifier section is Accuphase's Balanced AAVA volume control, short for Analog Vari gain Amplifier. Rather than using a conventional variable resistor to set volume, which changes impedance as it's adjusted and can subtly color the signal, AAVA controls gain electronically across more than 65,000 discrete steps, so the signal path itself never changes character regardless of listening level. Working alongside AAVA is ANCC, the Accuphase Noise and Distortion Canceling Circuit. ANCC detects noise and distortion introduced at the earliest stage of the volume control's current to voltage conversion and injects a canceling signal of reversed polarity to eliminate it before it reaches the rest of the circuit. Accuphase states the combination reduces output noise voltage by 11 percent compared to the outgoing E-650, with a guaranteed signal to noise ratio of 103 decibels.
Fourfold Push Pull Power Amplification
The power amplifier stage is where the E-700 makes its clearest step up from its predecessor. Accuphase moved from a three element parallel push pull MOSFET output stage in the E-650 to a four element configuration in the E-700, the same basic architecture used in the Class A power amplifier A-80. Adding a fourth output device per channel increases both current delivery and long term reliability, and it's a meaningful part of why Class A output climbed from 30 watts in the E-650 to 35 watts here. The output stage is fed by a large toroidal transformer and a newly developed 56,000 microfarad filter capacitor bank, giving the amplifier a deep reserve of current for demanding musical peaks even though it never leaves Class A operation.
Fully Balanced From Input to Output and a Damping Factor of 1,000
Signal integrity matters as much as raw power in a component at this level, and the E-700 keeps its signal path fully balanced from the moment it enters the amplifier to the moment it reaches the speaker terminals. That balanced architecture, combined with the low output impedance of the four element output stage, gives the E-700 a guaranteed damping factor of 1,000 into an 8 ohm load, a 25 percent improvement over the E-650 and a figure that matches Accuphase's own A-80 power amplifier. Damping factor describes how tightly an amplifier controls speaker cone movement after a signal stops, and a figure this high means the E-700 can grip low frequency drivers with authority, which matters especially with harder to drive speakers.
Expansion Slots and What They Add
The E-700 ships without a built in DAC or phono stage, and that's intentional. Two expansion slots on the rear panel accept Accuphase's optional DAC-60 digital input board or AD-60 phono equalizer board, and both can be installed at the same time. The DAC-60 adds USB, coaxial, and optical digital inputs with support up to 384kHz PCM and DSD256. The AD-60 adds a moving coil and moving magnet capable phono stage with four selectable MC input impedance settings and fixed gain of 66dB for MC and 40dB for MM cartridges. For vinyl listeners building a system around the E-700.
Where the E-700 Sits in the Accuphase Lineup
Buyers comparing Class A Accuphase integrated amplifiers are usually weighing the E-700 against the E-800S, the true flagship of the line. The E-800S delivers roughly 50 watts per channel in Class A and sits at a meaningfully higher price point, with a more elaborate feature set to match. The E-700 gives up some of that headroom and polish but keeps the core of what makes Accuphase's Class A amplifiers distinct: the Balanced AAVA volume control, ANCC noise cancellation, and a fully balanced signal path, at a price that puts pure Class A ownership within reach of more listeners. For anyone who wants the Accuphase Class A sound without stepping up to flagship pricing, the E-700 is the amplifier built specifically for that decision.
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