Oh yes, and this one is also for sale!
Welcome once again folks to the fourth article in as many days. This time we’re looking at the overhaul of my gorgeous Accuphase P-360 power amplifier and what must be my last post in this seven-day posting epic. Writing these articles is involved and time-consuming but very rewarding. I’d forgotten how much I love to write once I get on a roll!
UPDATE: Offers received, thank you for the overwhelming interest in this piece. She is now SOLD!
As you might have noticed if you’ve been following along, I’ve just purchased something a bit silly, though long overdue. For that reason, I have to move some pieces on and this time it’s my current amplifier reference, my just overhauled Accuphase P-360 power amplifier.
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 3 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_1211.jpg)
Background
As some may know, Liquid Audio has become known for a couple of areas of work in particular – turntables, amplifiers, CD players, and a few key brands including Accuphase, Japan’s premier serious hi-fi equipment manufacturer. If you didn’t know which country/culture is the most serious about hi-fi gear, it’s Japan. Of all the Japanese manufacturers making commercial volumes of equipment, they make the best of it, in my opinion, having worked on and listened to thousands of pieces of hi-fi equipment.
Over the years, I’ve become somewhat of an independent Accuphase specialist. By this I mean that the factory gives me nothing, and I don’t tackle any warranty work, but I can and do work on a wide range of imported Accuphase products that the official repairers are not allowed to, and a bunch of other Accuphase gear that is out of warranty for example, typically a little older.
This gives me the flexibility to import, repair and service Accuphase equipment, offering added value to my customer base. The importer is happy that I’m caring for legacy Accuphase equipment, even though I’m not an ‘official’ repairer, so it all seems to work well and hopefully I’m not treading on any toes.
Actually, without wanting to sound anything other than proud of my endeavours, I know I’ve helped build the profile of the brand here and especially the popularity of their legacy products. Given how much I appreciate this company and their philosophy, and what a pleasure their equipment is to own and operate, this arrangement suits me well. You’ll be seeing many more Accuphase articles that I’ve been sitting on over the coming months.
This article is about the overhaul and sale of my P-360. I’ll add some review elements later, but to retain my reputation for impartial reviews, these are omitted for now. Suffice it to say that this Accuphase P-360 sounds as beautiful and muscular as she looks.
Features
The Accuphase P-30 is a classic class AB bipolar output device power amplifier, conservatively rated at 200 Watts per channel and boasting some nice features not often seen in premium equipment like this. These include a dedicated headphone amplifier, stepped attenuators, balanced and single-ended operation and of course those big, beautiful moving coil power meters.
The P-360 is a more recent design than the P-500 and P-300 series models you see quite a lot of here in Aus, and better too in my opinion. She features the coveted gold power button, indicating that it was part of Accuphase’s then newer, higher-quality tier of equipment. She also features the classic, classy persimmon wood side panels, and they’re perfect by the way!
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 4 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_6951.jpg)
A top tip for those wanting to build a super-system: You can bridge these amplifiers so that, with a second one, you’ll have 600 Watts RMS per channel and even more authority and grip over any speaker you can connect to them. Madness! Pairs of these are quite popular in Japan for example.
I imported this P-360 last year and have been using and enjoying it immensely since deeply overhauling her immediately after purchase. This thing is a powerhouse, packing a punch and if you read Accuphase’s datasheets, you’ll see that the 200-Watt rating is very conservative. She’ll crank out around 250 Watts per channel before any significant distortion creeps in, but that’s Accuphase for you. They guarantee 200 Watts. Cool. I love this approach.
You can read more about the Accuphase P-360 in the product brochure.
Accuphase P-360 Specifications
Courtesy of HiFi Engine
Power output: 200 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo), 600 watts into 8Ω (mono)
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz
Total harmonic distortion: 0.02%
Damping factor: 300
Gain: 28 dB
Input sensitivity: 1.59V
Signal-to-noise ratio: 120dB
Speaker load impedance: 2Ω to 16Ω
Semiconductors: 10 x IC, 32 x FET, 63 x transistors, 77 x diodes
Dimensions: 475 x 180 x 413mm
Weight: 27.4kg
Year: 1991
Overhaul
I should note that this completely factory-original Accuphase P-360 worked perfectly but sounded dull. She was very dusty and needed a deep clean and some TLC at 30+ years of age. As it turned out and based on some of the parts I tested upon removal, this was a timely overhaul too, because some of the smaller electrolytic capacitors were totally dead.
I replaced all small board-mounted electrolytic capacitors in both amplifier modules and most on the front panel board, added a couple of performance enhancing parts, deep cleaned/washed everything, removed and detailed the front panel and meters, and made all the electronic adjustments. She now looks and sounds a million bucks.
Let’s go!
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 5 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_6946.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 6 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_6947.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 7 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_6948.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 8 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_6949.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 9 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_6950-1.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 10 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7090.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 11 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7091.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 12 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7092.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 13 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7093.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 14 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7095.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 15 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7131.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 16 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7097.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 17 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7098.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 18 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7101.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 19 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7100.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 20 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7105.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 21 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7116.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 22 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7119.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 23 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7120.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 24 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7121.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 25 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7123.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 26 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7126.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 27 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7127.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 28 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7128.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 29 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7129.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 30 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7134.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 31 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7130.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 32 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7136.jpg)
Results
This meticulous and quite involved overhaul includes nearly day of labour, plus parts, a little under $1500 worth of work if I were charging for it. If you followed along, you’ll see why jobs like this usually take the best part of a day. I know that this attention to detail is rare but it’s worth it with equipment of this calibre and where people simply care about those details, and the results.
Owners often neglect to have overhaul work like this done and finding people who will really care for your equipment can be hard. Someone with a clue has to do the work, no escaping that, and that will never cost a couple of hundred bucks, as less diligent folks might suggest. If someone tells you something like this RUN! Mind you, for those scoping around for the cheapest rates on work like this, it’s probably not the sort of gear you should be looking at either.
At least this work doesn’t need to be done again for perhaps another 20 or 30 years!
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 33 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_7138.jpg)
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 34 Sony TA-N77ES](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_1201.jpg)
Sonically, the work transformed this P-360, also noted by friends who heard her before and after. She looks and smells a lot cleaner, too. She sounded much sweeter and more open and lively after the overhaul, and the particularly muscular bass this model displays is now even more pronounced. If you love bass texture and detail, you’ll absolutely love this amplifier. Sound staging, resolution and timbre are also fantastic, as you would expect.
A pre/power amplifier combo is the only way to go if you are looking to seriously improve your system’s performance and currently use an integrated amplifier. This Accuphase P-360, partnered with say a C-270 will obliterate any integrated amplifiers I’ve heard, including Accuphase models. There are simply too many compromises in an integrated, mostly related to space and packaging.
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 3 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_1211.jpg)
She is For Sale!
As mentioned, I reluctantly need to move her on to make way for my next amplifier, arriving in a couple of days. This end-game piece is another Accuphase model, and details are coming, so stay tuned for that. I will acquire more equipment to work on, document and sell as it builds my experience base and makes for great content, so stay tuned for more of this sort of thing.
![Gorgeous Accuphase P-360 Power Amplifier Overhaul 36 Accuphase P-360](https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_1214.jpg)
Accuphase P-360s is a premium, compact power amplifier capable of driving any speaker and sells for around $3,000 – $4,000 AUD, when you can find one, and 3,000 – 4000 Euro in Europe where they are more common. These prices are typically for un-overhauled units. This unit has been converted to 240V operation and comprehensively overhauled and serviced only a few months ago.
I’m offering this Accuphase P-360 for $4,250. That price includes a 3-month warranty, try getting that on another P-360. If you find a better or fairer deal, please let me know. If you’d like it, I’d love to sell it to you, preferably to a Liquid Audio customer so we can keep her in the family!
As often happens with the equipment I sell, I’ve had some interest prior to listing her today, so if you’d like her, let me know as soon as you can. I’ll respect the order in which I receive enquiries, so don’t stress. There is never any pressure to purchase and I always look after people in terms of the order in which they contact me. Local sale preferred.
UPDATE: SOLD, for considerably more than the asking price. Thank you to her generous new owner!
As always, thank you very much for visiting and please also don’t hesitate to let me know if you’d like me to service, repair, overhaul or restore your lovely Accuphase P-360, P-500, P-800 or any other lovely Accupohase power amplifier, bookings permitting of course.
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As I sit on my comfortable sofa, I enjoy reading Liquidaudio, with a cold beer.
I could, at this very second, turn off my Samsung tablet, but I feel a duty to say
that the world is in a better place with dedicated repairmen like Mike. Everything
in life has it’s time, place, and opportunity. Maybe it’s a question of young ears,
or sadly old ears. If we modify something, will we hear the difference? If we have
our Quad ESL63s overhauled the 2nd time, will it be worth the money? If we live in
Australia, we would be fortunate to have Liquidaudio close for repairs, but what if
we live in the outbacks of the world, like me in France? Is Liquidaudio just a fantasy?
Time, place, opportunity 〰️ I will always remember years ago, the great sound of
Quad, in a livingroom of proper medium size, handed down to me from my father.
To have great sound once before, is similar to once having been to a great college.
After the years of migrating through life after college, the details may be lost, but
the overwhelming benefit of the experience always remains precious in our soul.
Thank you Mike, for showing us how we should appreciate music in our life.
That’s very kind go you Jack, much appreciated. Thanks also for sharing your thoughts on what I know many of us understand. I believe you should have your ESL63s overhauled once again!
Another great article Mike that shows the detail you go to on these jobs. I’m trying so hard not to come over to the dark side as I know it will open a can of worms and lead me down another rabbit hole as Sansui gear did to me many years ago. You know this one is going to give me sleepless nights. Keep up the great work. Cheers, Sansui Rob
Ha ha, thanks Rob! You have an amazing collection of gear, Sansui and Accuphase are both great rabbit holes to go down in terms of vintage hi-fi no doubt about that.
Amazing stuff. I love these articles Mike. Your technically brilliant. But your passion shines through most.
Much appreciated Tony, I’m writing for people like you!
Another fun and passionate article – thanks for your engaging writing and your passion to keep classic gear living well, Mike!
I second the previous comments, especially “the world is in a better place with dedicated repairmen like Mike”, especially dedicated repair folks who write so well!
While East coast Oz is not as distant from Mike as France, I’m not sure I’ll ever get to have something cared for by Mike or to buy from you, but I love the articles. I hope WA folks appreciate the special thing they have with Mike being local.
Thank YOU for reading and enjoying it, Rob, and for your kind words. Lots more articles coming, I’m so pleased there is an audience for them!
Mike, I had never heard of Accuphase before I read about it here on your page, and it is because of your writeup on the C-202 pre-amp that I bought one 2 years ago. As you know, recently I finally imported the matching P-102 Class A power amp from Japan. This gear is truly next level. At the moment my Sansui AU-X11 is sitting there unconnected to anything, because the Accuphase gear has displaced it, and that is really saying something! Thank you for what you do in getting this gear into the hands of people who truly appreciate it.
Hi Stephen, my pleasure, I love helping people in this way and I’m glad to have introduced you my favourite Japanese manufacturer, actually my favourite manufacturer, period. Nice combo the 102/202, lovely little system, needs really high-resolution speakers to extract the most from them of course, but this can be said for any good equipment really. What will become of your AU-X11?
Short term I’ll get an amp switch box so I can choose which amp drives the speakers. Longer term goal is to pick up a pair of NS-1000M.
Sounds good, or NS-2000, or FX-3 if you want to go crazy..!
A1 job on the Accuphase. Very few techs would do what you did to this amp. The other day I brought a P-266 power amp .The interesting thing about it you can run pure Class ‘A ‘ To 30 watt or push the button for Class a/b to 130 watt. Sound better in Class A than AB . Has plenty of punch in Class A
Thank you Stephen, my philosophy/approach are different from many others working in this space and it’s gratifying that people appreciate this and the attention to detail. Well done obtaining a P-266, another classic, not so often found here in Aus. There are two nice features in this modest power amp from Accuphase: class A as you mention, and MOSFET output devices. These combine to give a lovely-sounding result, especially with less demanding speakers. Class A most or even all of the time will be absolutely fine, enjoy!