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A reader of my site sent me interesting information. It looks like Accuphase came up with a new model: T1100.

http://www.accuphase.com/cat/t-1100_e.pdf

In this new model more functionality went to DSP, but the most important the output become not 16 bit as in T1000 but 24 bit. I guess the Accuphase people read my site and felt shamed for the fact that the previous T1000 output 16 bit.

http://www.romythecat.com/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?postID=9988#9988

Now, there are two questions about the new Accuphase tuner.

The first one: Why the former model with similar DSP multiplexer output 16 bit? The possessing is done at 192K and the ¼ of the output, the 48K, is perfectly understandable. With bit resolution it is more complicated. The initial depth is 24 bit and there is a LOT of DSP on board of T1100. The DSP eats bits depth, you want it or not but it is. This is a reasoned why some DSP gear run internal 32 bit. So, would it be possible that the former Accuphase T1000 run 24 bit and output the honest 16 bit left from DSP processing nut the new unit juts adds  extra 8 bogus bits over the 16 bit signs to keel the people like me, who want to see 24 bit,  to be “happy”? I do not think anybody will answer the question until a user with brain and true interest would test it.

The second question: how the hell the US person who has an interest in this tuner can approach it. I have contacted an Accuphase dealer that I know and he told me that it is not problem to get it. But the problem is not to get it but to be able to learn if it worth to get it. The definition of “worth” for me is to learn how the reception specifics and sonic character of this new tuner (on digital and analog outputs) relates to the identical performing aspects of the best analog tuners that I already have. No one would tell it besides me, so I need to hear the thing before I buy.

Some of the Accuphase T1100 functionally are impressive but absolutely irrelevant to my need. The 6 ranges of IF bandwidth is a joke, I am sure I would need just 500Hz and I would like it to have the best reception without narrowing the IF bandwidth. The tuner has 60dB of stereo separation. This is phenomenal number but it is done by stages crosstalk cancelation circuits, or by active back-phase insertion. BTW, Sansui has 55db of separation and Rohde & Schwarz I personally measured 65dB   (all on analog level!!!). Still the numbers have little relevance as they are crosstalk WAY higher than any FM station able to output. The relevance is HOW the sound was affected while those numbers were archived. I am not saying that Accuphase crosstalk cancelation is bad idea. It might be anything – from absolutely perfect performance to a complete distraction of Sound. Unfortunately no one will tell it.

The dealers obviously would not know how anything about new Accuphase sounds nether in relative terms to other tuners nor in absolute terms of own Sound.  The US Accuphase distributer with whom I spoke last time when I was interested in T1000 model is also very clueless and I do not think he ever used FM. So, what I would like to do is to announce my agreement to perform an act a human kindness toward to Accuphase, sort of commit my audio mitzvah, and agree to examine the T1100’s Sound. If somebody gets me T1100 tuner, along with $20.000K check from Accuphase, then I will return the tuner in approximately 3 months along with a well-written 3000 words of analyses about the Accuphase T1100 performance, accompanied with my permission to Accuphase to use my analyses in a whole, non-edited format, at their digression.

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