AVID Accent
Integrated amplifiers
Avid finally made the step and equipped the Accent integrated with a remote control option. Although I understand that vinyl lovers do not need to adjust the volume too often as they play the whole A side or B side, with digital and with several signal sources it is rather impractical to stand up and do everything manually. The remote controller is a minimalistic (yet perfectly made) aluminium piece that features only three buttons: UP, DOWN, and MUTE. Thumbs up for it.
Function and form
Other than that, the Accent is a direct descendent of the two larger integrated amplifiers that Avid makes – Integra, and Sigsum that we have reviewed earlier this year. The design is based on good old principles – plenty of power in Class AB (617VA transformer and 40,000uF of storage capacity, 2x70W into 8 Ω), the ALPS potentiometer, and - of course - an excellent built-in phono stage. The Pellar Phonostage is compatible with all pickup cartridges, which is adjustable by the switches to the right
of the phono input sockets with a pen tip. A ground post is provided too. The Accent also features a headphone amplifier that operates in pure Class A and provides output 9V RMS, 20- 600Ω). There are 4x RCA inputs on the rear panel; no balanced connections available. The front panel is a thick milled aluminium piece, and the chassis is a heavily (and tastefully) perforated steel.
Bass management
On STS Digital/Siltech sampler there is an improvisation piece called India with jazz from a band that calls itself The Band. Creative. The music is an acoustic number full of traditional Indian drums and strings, spiced with a bit of Western saxophone and acoustic guitar. The colours were vivid through the Accent and exhibited natural tonality, which is quite exceptional in this category. There was neither flavour nor coloration, nor any trace of signature that would turn tabla into steel drums, or steel strings into nylon ones. It was possible to challenge the Accent for its dynamic capabilities, but not for its ability to portray instrumental colours. Despite I could not detect any sound signature as such, the music had a good flow, and a tiny amount of glow that was enough to shift the playback from uninvolving neutrality to enjoyable one. This way I could listen longer with bigger comfort.
Clarity & delicacy
The tonal accuracy is essential to get the voices right, especially those that naturally exhibit beautiful timbres. An example is Elvis Presley (Surrender from Elv1s 30 #1 Hits compilation) and his velvety baritone, that makes goosebumps through the Accent. Another example is Jacintha (Something Cool from Jacintha is Her Name album) with the sensual smokiness that makes you wish that it was you who got the chance to order a cold drink for her. And another good example is Rebecca Pidgeon (Spanish Harlem from The Raven album) – the way the amplifier sent her voice into the room was to die for. To sum it up, the voices are phenomenal through the Avid and there hardly is a competitor that can do better in this price range.
Tonal accuracy
Spanish Harlem kicks off with a double-bass. The Accent’s bass is round and full, rather forgiving, but always in a very good balance with the rest of frequency spectrum. Although I wish it had more punch, more textures, better transients, and better grip, I would not change anything on its weight and proportionality. To be fair, to get those improvements one needs to pay substantially more. From my previous encounter with Avid (the Sigsum review) I know that Avid knows how to make good sounding bass. Still, even through the Accent, the bassline of Bowie’s The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Outside) was delicious, as were the disharmonic keys and the wailing guitar. The Accent made a cocktail of analogue warmth and digital abrasiveness that was easy to enjoy.
The sound of any audio set-up can be further shaped with cables and the Accent is not an exception. The aforementioned mesmerizing effect was achieved with the new AAI Assoluto+ cables. They provided fuller, more musical and more spacious sound than the other cables in the test, the Nordost Tyr2.
Spatial resolution
Is there anything to criticize about the Avid Accent? Oh yes, but it has nothing to do with the sound. I like to listen at night, in the dark. The problem is that the blue LED on the front panel of the amp is apparently designed to illuminate a football stadium and cannot be turned off. Why on earth? So, inevitably, felt markers or a piece of tape must be used to dim it.
With that one exception, I find the Accent to be a remarkable piece of electronics. By the way - not once did I catch it trying to cut off my ears. Even those aforementioned wailing guitars sounded like through a tubed combo, so they were closer to a good old incandescent bulb than a luminescent light source. The Avid Accent is an amp that is easy to get along with and not easy to part with. It is a cool integrated amplifer.
Recommended resellers
Perfect Sound Group, Praha, tel. +420 722 960 690
Manufacturer's website: http://www.avidhifi.com
Associated components
- Sources: Accuphase DP-450
- Amplifiers: Avid Accent, Accuphase E-4000
- Loudspeakers: Fyne Audio F501 SP
- Interconnects and speaker cables: AAI Assoluto+, Nordost Heimdall, Nordost Tyr V2
- Power conditioning: IsoTek GII Optimum, IsoTek V5 Sigmas, Nordost Qb8, Nordost Tyr V2
Gallery
AAVIK I-280
As far as its function is concerned the I-280 is an old-school integrated amplifier for audiophile purists. On the rear panel it has five single-ended RCA inputs, a preamplifier output, and speaker posts. The amplifier can be ...
Recommended resellers
RP Audio, Ostrava, +420 737 366 831
ACCUPHASE E-270
It is one of those rare amplifiers that is designed and built entirely in Japan, with absolute focus on perfection. Accuphase should establish its own university to train the rest of the world in how to design ergonomic devices and ...
Recommended resellers
CZ: Perfect Sound Group, Praha, tel. +420 722 960 690
SK: Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
ACCUPHASE E-4000 + PS-1250
The E-4000 is a successor of E-480 that we have not reviewed, and the E-480 was the successor of E-470 that we have reviewed. Interestingly, the “400” range of Class AB integrated amplifiers of Accuphase can be tracked back to 80’s ...
Recommended resellers
CZ: Perfect Sound Group, Praha, tel. +420 722 960 690
SK: Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
ACCUPHASE E-450
The Accuphase could create the illusion of Diana Krall’s presence in my listening room – it is not only a headless or bodyless voice in the room but the whole person performing just for you. If I should be nitpicking then the E-450 ...
Recommended resellers
Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
ACCUPHASE E-5000
What would you like to know about the all new Accuphase? Clean and sweet treble – ticked. Rich and colorful mids – ticked. Wide and deep soundstage – ticked. But these are not new things, rather a usual Accuphase list of traits. So, ...
Recommended resellers
Perfect Sound Group, Praha, tel. +420 722 960 690
ACCUPHASE E-560
Right after first few minutes of listening a listener forms his opinion on the Accuphase. As listening progresses, this initial opinion usually proves to be wrong. The reason is that there is nothing spectacular in Accuphase's house ...
Recommended resellers
Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
ACCUPHASE E-800
The physical appearance of the E-800 is totally Accuphase: satin gold aluminum panel, controls cleverly hidden behind a flap, sensitive and accurate VU meters, silky operation of knobs and buttons, and legendary fanatical ...
Recommended resellers
Navrátil Audio, Havířov, +420 737 821 360
Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
