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This is an older Accuphase generation, so timing matters mainly for condition and service history rather than chasing the latest feature set. At US$3,999, it’s a bit above the typical used market here: the median is US$3,682, with the 75th percentile at US$3,840, so this sits just over the upper end of the recent comparison set. That makes it an ambitious ask, though not wildly out of line for a clean, desirable example.
The C-280 is still a respected preamp because it does the core things right: refined line-stage transparency, excellent phono performance, and the sort of build quality that keeps Accuphase gear in demand. If it’s genuinely clean, unmodified, and includes original packaging or documentation, the premium is easier to justify. I’d want confirmation on function, relay noise, and whether it’s had any recent servicing, since age is the main variable here.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Accuphase Laboratory, Inc., founded in 1972 in Tokyo by brothers Nakaichi and Jiro Kasuga, emerged from their departure from Trio-Kenwood, the company they had co-established decades earlier. Dissatisfied with mass-production compromises, the Kasugas formed Kensonic Laboratories—later renamed Accuphase Laboratory—and relocated to Yokohama in 1973. The brand name, blending "accurate" and "phase," reflected their commitment to precision audio reproduction amid the 1970s hi-fi boom. Their debut products, the P-300 power amplifier, C-200 preamplifier, and T-100 tuner, immediately earned acclaim, including Japan's Compo Grand Prix for the P-300.
Accuphase specializes in high-end electronics, renowned for integrated and power amplifiers, preamplifiers, tuners, CD players, and digital sources like DACs. While their core strength lies in meticulously engineered amplifiers celebrated for phase accuracy and reliability, the lineup extends to digital components, mains filters, and room correction units. Hand-assembled in Yokohama with top-tier parts and innovative circuits, these products prioritize sound purity over volume, eschewing speakers, turntables, headphones, or cables.
Positioned firmly in the ultra-premium high-end market, Accuphase commands reverence among audiophiles for its timeless build quality, engineering excellence, and enduring performance. Synonymous with Japanese hi-fi mastery, it stands as a reference benchmark, appealing to discerning buyers seeking components that deliver uncompromised musical fidelity and last for generations.
See all Accuphase listings on RADAR.
