The E-280 is an integrated amplifier by Accuphase that delivers 90 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 120 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms. It was released in 2021. It is a 2-channel design using a Class A/B output stage. Speakers connect via binding posts. A minimum impedance of 4 ohms makes it compatible with a wide range of loudspeakers. The Accuphase E-280 has an MSRP of $6,995.
There are 2 Accuphase amplifiers in our database. Below you can see the main specs of these amps.
Accuphase Integrated Amplifier Series
Performance Specs
One of the most important factors when deciding on an integrated amplifier is its power ratings and compatibility with your speaker's impedance requirements. The Accuphase E-280 is rated at 90 watts RMS into 8-ohms.
Here are the main highlights of its performance specs:
- 90 watts into 8-ohms
- 120 watts into 4-ohms
- 4-ohms Min Impedance (allows compatibility with a wide range of loudspeakers)
How loud will 90 watts actually play in your room? →
Wiring more than one pair of speakers to it? Check the load first →
Which speakers suit the Accuphase E-280?
90 W into 8 ohms, 120 W into 4, rated down to 4 ohms.
We rank every passive speaker we cover against it on power, impedance safety and current
delivery.
Need more power?
Accuphase E-280 is rated at 90 watts into 8 ohms, which puts it in our 61 to 90 watts band. The next band up is 91 to 120 watts, which is worth about 1.5dB more output. That is a real difference in headroom on peaks, and a modest one in how loud the system plays - power and loudness are not the same thing.
Before buying watts, check what your speakers actually need: the amp and speaker matcher works it out from their sensitivity, impedance and your room. Plenty of systems are better served by the Up to 60 watts band and better speakers.
When pairing the Accuphase E-280 with a passive Bookshelf (Stand mount) or Passive Floor Standing (Tower) speaker, you have to check if their Max Power Range is below the max wattage of the amp for the given impedance levels.
Operating your amp outside of this max range may damage the speakers.
What size of room is the Accuphase E-280 Amplifier good for?
An essential deciding factor is the size of the room in which you intend to employ the Accuphase E-280 amplifier. Here, taking into account its maximum power parameters, we analyzed its applicability to various size environments:
| Listening Environment |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Poor |
| Small Room | Average |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Average |
| Very Large Room | Poor |
Inputs and Outputs
Besides the performance specs of the Accuphase E-280, the next important feature set that you have to evaluate is the input and output selections that it offers.
Accuphase E-280 has total of 5 Analog inputs .
Inputs
- Total Number of Analog Inputs: 5
Outputs
- Speaker Outputs
- Yes Headphone Output
Bluetooth Connectivity
Accuphase E-280 doesn't have bluetooth connectivity feature. In order to stream your music via bluetooth, the easiest way is to connect an external bluetooth receiver to your Accuphase E-280. Two bluetooth receivers that we recommend are the
iFi Zen Blue V2 and the
Audioengine B1.
Among the amps in the same price range, these are the 5 amps that have Bluetooth Connectivity:
Phono Input
Accuphase E-280 doesn't have a phono input so in order to play your vinyl albums, Accuphase E-280 has to be paired with a Phono Preamp that is MM (Moving Magnet) or/and MC (Moving COil) depending on your cartridge type.
Balanced connections
Accuphase E-280 has a balanced XLR input. A balanced cable carries the signal twice, on two conductors of opposite polarity. Interference picked up along the way lands on both equally and cancels when the two are recombined at the far end, so the longer the cable run and the noisier the surroundings, the more the connection is worth. Whether a balanced connection also yields more power depends on how the amplifier is built inside - some are balanced end to end, others convert to single-ended internally and deliver the same power either way, so it is worth reading the maker's own wording rather than assuming.
Accuphase E-280 Pros and Cons
Drawn from the published figures on this page, not from listening.
- ✓90 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 120 into 4.
- ✓Damping factor of 500 means a low output impedance and firm control over a woofer.
- ✓5 analogue inputs, enough for a full rack of sources.
- ✓Balanced XLR inputs, worth having on a long cable run.
- ✓Headphone output.
- ✓Has tone controls.
- ✓Made in Japan.
- ✗Analogue inputs only - a TV, computer or CD transport needs an external DAC.
- ✗No Bluetooth and no network streaming - everything arrives over a cable.
Accuphase E-280 External Dimensions and Weight
Accuphase E-280 has external dimensions of (H x W x D) .
- Width: mm (")
- Height: mm (")
- Depth: mm (")
- Weight: —
- Base Surface Area: ~cm2 / 0.0inch2
- Volume: ~0.0 liter / 0.0 gallon
Available colors
Accuphase E-280 is available in Champagne Gold color options.
| General |
| Brand |
Accuphase |
| Full Model Name |
Accuphase E-280 |
| Release Date |
2021 |
| Amplifier Type |
Integrated Amplifier |
| Number of Channels |
2 |
| Amp Class |
Class A/B |
| Amplifier Technology |
Solid State |
| Performance |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 8-ohms |
90 watts |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 6-ohms |
N/A |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 4-ohms |
120 watts |
| Frequency Bandwidth |
|
| Damping Factor |
500 |
| THD |
|
| Minimum Impedance |
4 |
| Signal to Noise Ratio |
N/A |
| Digital Music |
| Built-in DAC |
No |
| Bluetooth |
No |
| WiFi |
No |
| CONNECTIONS |
| Total Analog Inputs |
5 |
| Phono Input |
No |
| Headphone Output |
Yes |
| Removable Power Cord |
|
| Speaker Connectors |
Binding posts |
| PHYSICAL SPECS |
| Height |
mm (") |
| Width |
mm (") |
| Depth |
mm (") |
| Weight |
— |
| Available Colors |
Champagne Gold |
| OTHER |
| Tone Controls |
Yes |
| Parts Warranty |
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
How much power does the Accuphase E-280 have?
The Accuphase E-280 delivers 90 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 120 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms. It increases its output into 4 ohms, so it has some headroom for harder-to-drive speakers.
Does the Accuphase E-280 use vacuum tubes?
No. The Accuphase E-280 is a solid-state amplifier - there are no vacuum tubes in it.
What amplifier class is the Accuphase E-280?
The Accuphase E-280 uses a Class A/B amplifier design. Class A/B is the traditional linear design: it runs warmer and is less efficient than Class D, but it is long valued for its natural, low-distortion sound.
Does the Accuphase E-280 have a built-in DAC?
No. The Accuphase E-280 has no built-in DAC, so a digital source such as a streamer or CD transport needs its own converter, or you connect it over analogue.
Can I connect a turntable to the Accuphase E-280?
No. The Accuphase E-280 has no phono input, so a turntable needs an external phono preamp (or a deck with one built in) before it can be connected.
Does the Accuphase E-280 have Bluetooth?
No. The Accuphase E-280 does not have Bluetooth built in; you would need an external Bluetooth receiver connected to one of its inputs.
Does the Accuphase E-280 have a headphone output?
Yes. The Accuphase E-280 has a Yes-inch headphone output on the front panel for private listening.
How much does the Accuphase E-280 cost?
The Accuphase E-280 has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $6,995.
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