Accuphase Laboratories, Inc. (originally known as Kensonic Laboratories, Inc.) is a Japanese high-end audio equipment manufacturer founded by former Kenwood engineer Jiro Kasuga in late 1972. Kasuga was not happy with the views of Kenwood relating to the follower of their High-End Supreme 1 unit (1967). He hired some engineers from other prominent brands (Marantz, Luxman) and started Kensonic. However, Kenwood had a share in Kensonic. Some other connections in the early years of Accuphase exist as well. If you compare the parts used by Kenwood and Kensonic throughout the latter's early years, the familiarities show quite easy: knobs, buttons, tuner dials and the general direction of the design. Accuphase's early PCB's are tagged KENSONIC, too, and the early units bore a proud KENSONIC on their frontplates as well. Until the mid-1990s, Kenwood still owned part of Kensonic. It also seems that Accuphase engineers may have had a hand in the engineering of Kenwood's last high-end series (L-A1, L-D1 and LVD-Z1).
The first Kensonic models were the P-300 amp(lifier), C-200 preamp and T-100 tuner. The E-202 integrated amp and a revised version of the tuner (T-101) were added not much later. All of these received very good reviews in 1973 and 1974 and while Kenwood has now abandoned all high-end audio activities, Kensonic carries on with the Accuphase series.
Accuphase products are well regarded by high-end audio enthusiasts, but the brand is uncommon in the USA. Accuphase products are readily identified by their large Champagne-colored faceplates and large dual analog power meters – which are similar to the respected McIntosh Laboratory brand (McIntosh is famous for its unique faceplates, which are made of silk-screened glass and use large blue analog power meters).
Accuphase explains the brand name as follows:
The name ACCUPHASE was adapted by taking the prefix ACCU from the word "accurate", and combining it with PHASE which is a most important factor in audio technology. We feel it is a very fitting brand name to describe our products that fully portray this and other important characteristics, which penetrate the innermost depth of audio technology. Source: Accuphase website
Accuphase has a good reputation in build quality, units of the first series still exist in good working condition. Models always remain available for several years, sometimes up to a decade.
The history of all Accuphase products is available online on their website.