Accuphase C-3900S Precision Stereo Preamplifier at Vinyl Sound Buffalo, NY USA

The Accuphase C-3900S is the current flagship precision stereo preamplifier from Accuphase (Yokohama, Japan), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY USA. The successor to the acclaimed C-3900, the C-3900S represents the most advanced iteration of Accuphase's AAVA volume control evolution — from AAVA to Balanced AAVA to Dual Balanced AAVA — with the C-3900S introducing eight AAVA circuits per channel within the Dual Balanced AAVA topology, a significant advance over the C-3900's four AAVA circuits, achieving a 15% reduction in noise compared to its predecessor. Additional advances include eight parallel output amplifiers replacing the C-3900's four, an expanded 5-stage loudness compensator, increased left-right balance adjustment steps, and ANCC active noise and distortion cancellation further refined throughout the circuit, with the same fully dual-mono architecture of separate left and right toroidal transformers, unit amplifiers, and fluorocarbon resin PCBs that distinguished the C-3900. Vumetre, who attended the world premiere at Accuphase's Yokohama headquarters, confirmed that the C-3900S goes even further than the C-3900, achieving even greater purity through optimization of the dual symmetrical AAVA circuit and ANCC noise cancellation, which has been made even more reliable.

Eight AAVA Circuits and Eight Parallel Output Amplifiers

The C-3900S's most significant technical advance over the C-3900 is the expansion from four to eight AAVA circuits per channel within the Dual Balanced AAVA topology, and from four to eight parallel output amplifiers at the balanced and single-ended output stages. The statistical noise reduction principle that governed the C-3900's four-parallel summing amplifier configuration — theoretical noise reduction to 1/2 from the square root of four — now extends to eight parallel circuits, providing theoretical noise reduction to 1/2.83 from the square root of eight relative to a single circuit. Combined with further optimization of the ANCC (Accuphase Noise and Distortion Cancelling Circuit) at each I-V converter stage — detecting and cancelling residual noise and distortion components by inverted-polarity current injection — the C-3900S achieves a 15% reduction in noise compared to the C-3900, which itself had achieved 30% lower output noise than the C-3850. The C-3900S therefore represents the lowest noise performance in Accuphase's entire preamplifier history across more than 50 years of preamplifier development. The eight parallel output amplifiers provide the same noise-averaging benefit at the output stage, ensuring that the reduced noise floor established by the eight-circuit AAVA section is preserved through the output amplifier stage to the balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA connections feeding the power amplifier.

Fully Dual-Mono Architecture and Construction Refinements

The C-3900S inherits the C-3900's completely independent dual-mono internal architecture — separate toroidal power transformers for left and right channels, separate unit amplifiers for left and right channels, and channel-dedicated input connections — while introducing circuit-level refinements throughout to extract the improved performance the eight-circuit AAVA and output amplifier stages enable. Glass cloth fluorocarbon resin printed circuit boards provide the same low dielectric constant and dimensional stability as the C-3900. The newly developed volume sensor provides ultra-smooth and silent operation with increased left-right balance adjustment steps beyond the C-3900's already fine-stepped balance control, allowing more precise channel balance trimming for asymmetric listening rooms or source materials. The expanded 5-stage loudness compensator provides a wider range of frequency-weighted level compensation options compared to the C-3900, accommodating a broader range of listening levels and room acoustic conditions while maintaining the same Accuphase design philosophy that allows all compensation functions to be fully bypassed for purist listening. The natural grain wood cabinet, high-carbon cast iron insulator feet, and Accuphase's signature champagne gold front panel with machined aluminum volume knob are retained from the C-3900 in the same chassis dimensions. For Accuphase separates systems in Buffalo, NY pairing the C-3900S with power amplifiers including the A-48S, P-7500, or A-300 alongside digital sources from the Accuphase DP-770 SACD player or DC-500 processor, the C-3900S provides the definitive Accuphase preamplifier reference.

Key Features

• Dual Balanced AAVA with 8 AAVA Circuits per Channel: Doubled from the C-3900's four circuits, applying statistical noise averaging across eight parallel AAVA paths per channel with ANCC at each I-V converter for the lowest noise floor in Accuphase preamplifier history.
• 15% Noise Reduction vs C-3900: Further noise improvement over the C-3900, which had itself achieved 30% lower noise than the C-3850, continuing Accuphase's generational noise floor reduction across the C-3800, C-3850, C-3900, and C-3900S flagship lineage.
• 8 Parallel Output Amplifiers: Doubled from C-3900's four, applying parallel averaging to the output stage for preserved noise floor performance at the output connections to power amplifiers.
• ANCC Further Refined: Accuphase Noise and Distortion Cancelling Circuit optimized throughout, detecting and cancelling residual noise and distortion by inverted-polarity current injection at each I-V converter stage.
• High-Gain Discrete Current Feedback Input Amplifier: Discrete first stage with high gain factor and current feedback topology for maximum signal-to-noise ratio from the input.
• 5-Stage Loudness Compensator: Expanded from C-3900 for wider range of frequency-weighted compensation across listening levels and room conditions.
• Increased Balance Adjustment Steps: More precise left-right channel balance trimming for asymmetric room conditions and source material.
• Separate Toroidal Transformers L/R: Independent left and right power transformers with twelve 10,000μF filter capacitors for zero cross-channel power supply contamination.
• Separate Unit Amplifiers L/R: Completely independent channel boards in full dual-mono configuration for maximum channel separation.
• Glass Cloth Fluorocarbon Resin PCBs: Gold-plated fluorocarbon resin boards for low dielectric constant and superior stability versus standard FR4 material.
• Natural Grain Wood Cabinet: Hand-crafted natural wood side panels with high-carbon cast iron insulator feet in the signature Accuphase flagship aesthetic.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Accuphase C-3900S?

The Accuphase C-3900S is the current flagship precision stereo preamplifier from Accuphase of Japan, available at Vinyl Sound Buffalo. It is the successor to the C-3900 and features eight AAVA circuits per channel within the Dual Balanced AAVA topology — double the C-3900 — achieving 15% lower noise than the C-3900, eight parallel output amplifiers, a 5-stage loudness compensator, further refined ANCC noise cancellation, and the same fully dual-mono architecture with separate left and right toroidal transformers and fluorocarbon resin PCBs as the C-3900.

How does the C-3900S differ from the C-3900?

The Accuphase C-3900S advances over the C-3900 in four key areas. First, it doubles the AAVA circuit count from four to eight per channel, providing a lower statistical noise floor through the larger parallel array. Second, output amplifiers increase from four to eight parallel units per channel for the same noise-averaging benefit at the output stage. Third, ANCC noise cancellation is further refined and made more reliable throughout the circuit. Fourth, the loudness compensator expands to five stages for greater flexibility, and balance adjustment steps are increased for finer channel trimming. Vumetre confirmed the C-3900S achieves even greater purity than the C-3900, while noting that owners of the recent C-3900 need not feel compelled to upgrade unless they are among the purists for whom any measurable improvement represents a meaningful advance.

What is the AAVA volume control and why does more parallel circuits improve it?

Accuphase's AAVA (Accuphase Analog Vari-gain Amplifier) is a resistorless volume control that converts the input signal into 16 differently weighted current signals, then sums the appropriate combination to achieve the desired output level entirely in the current domain without any variable resistor in the signal path. Each AAVA circuit contributes its own noise floor. When multiple AAVA circuits are operated in parallel and their outputs summed, the signal components add coherently while the uncorrelated noise components average out statistically, reducing the combined noise floor by the square root of the number of parallel circuits. The C-3900S with eight parallel AAVA circuits achieves a theoretical noise reduction factor of 1/2.83 relative to a single circuit, compared to 1/2 for the C-3900's four-circuit configuration, producing the 15% additional noise reduction over the C-3900.

What power amplifiers pair best with the C-3900S at Vinyl Sound Buffalo?

The Accuphase C-3900S pairs naturally with Accuphase's Class-A power amplifiers for a complete reference separates system. The A-48S stereo Class-A power amplifier provides 50 watts per channel in pure Class A for most loudspeaker applications. For larger rooms or demanding loudspeakers, the A-80 or A-300 Class-A stereo and monoblock power amplifiers provide higher output current and power within the same Accuphase sonic signature. The balanced XLR connections on the C-3900S connect directly to the balanced inputs of all current Accuphase power amplifiers for the lowest noise and maximum common-mode rejection in the preamplifier-to-power-amplifier interface. Vinyl Sound Buffalo can advise on the optimal C-3900S power amplifier pairing for your specific loudspeakers and listening room.

Can the C-3900S be used with non-Accuphase power amplifiers?

Yes, the Accuphase C-3900S provides both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA main outputs, making it compatible with any power amplifier with standard balanced or single-ended inputs. Its 50-ohm output impedance and 2V rated output voltage are compatible with the input requirements of all standard high-performance power amplifiers. The C-3900S's four balanced XLR inputs and six unbalanced RCA inputs also accommodate any combination of digital and analog source components regardless of brand.

Where can I buy the Accuphase C-3900S in Buffalo, NY?

The Accuphase C-3900S Precision Stereo Preamplifier is available at Vinyl Sound USA Inc. in Buffalo, NY, your authorised Accuphase dealer serving Western New York and the United States. Vinyl Sound carries the complete Accuphase amplification and preamplifier lineup. Visit vinylsound.com or contact the Buffalo store for current availability and expert system matching guidance.