Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player

It is the result of 35 years of development and represents the best possible tool for playing audio CDs, the new Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player, which now succeeds the Accuphase DP-430 MDS Compact Disc Player.

Even though the new Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player bears its primary task, namely the playback of audio CDs, in its title, there is much more to it than meets the eye. What could be more obvious than to use an outstanding signal conversion circuit not only for this one task, but rather to make it available to external sources as well?

The new Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player is not only an outstanding audio CD player, it is also a flexible D/A converter and thus a solution that is completely in line with the current trend in Hi-Fi.

The Successor to the Accuphase DP-430 MDS Compact Disc Player

But before we look at the new Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player in detail, it should be mentioned that this is the chosen successor to the Accuphase DP-430 MDS Compact Disc Player.

According to Accuphase Laboratory Inc., they have been working on the optimal playback of CDs for 35 years, and with the new Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player they have come even closer to this goal.

Heart of the Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player – A Sophisticated Turntable

Of course, the turntable is one of the crucial components of the new Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player, with the emphasis on keeping the centre of gravity as low as possible.

The drive is installed not only in the middle of the front, but also very low down in the lower half of the chassis, directly on the solid base plate. This actually quite mundane measure alone should contribute significantly to a high degree of running smoothness and thus ultimately to an exact, interference-free reading of the data.

But that’s not all: the drive of the Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player has an immensely complex structure, whereby the solid basic construction consisting of several components, which all contribute to a rigid, solid construction, stands out.

The actual housing of the drive is made of aluminium, as is the equally solid tray and the guides of the tray are made of robust stainless steel.

The entire drive is equipped with elastic dampers, so that vibrations are prevented right from the start.

Since the actual sound carrier is virtually fixed during playback by means of a puck equipped with eight neodymium magnets, this also contributes to a high degree of running smoothness and thus ultimately to a low operating noise.

Accuphase MDS+ D/A Converter

The core component for the signal conversion is, of course, the D/A converter, whereby once again a very special solution is used. The MDS+ conversion principle, which Accuphase Laboratory Inc. has been optimising for many years, uses several Delta Sigma D/A converters in parallel to drastically improve performance. The ESS ES9026PRO DAC from the specialist ESS Technologies Inc. is used, four of them of course.

This is followed by so-called Direct Balanced Filters with separate line and balanced signal paths to prevent mutual interference between connected devices and to ensure clean signal transmission at all times.

The Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player as D/A Converter

As already described, the Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player can do more than just play back audio CDs. Its sophisticated signal processing is also open to external sources.

On the one hand, via optical and coaxial S/PDIF interfaces, and on the other hand, via a USB port, which is available for direct integration of a PC or Mac and uses the full potential of the converter.

Via the USB 2.0 port, the new Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player is able to process signals in Linear PCM with up to 32 bits and 384 kHz, and it also supports DSD signal processing including DSD256.

The corresponding drivers, above all ASIO drivers, are of course always available in the latest version on the manufacturer’s website.

The coaxial S/PDIF interface can process data in Linear PCM format with up to 24 bits and 192 kHz, and the optical S/PDIF interface can process data in Linear PCM format with up to 24 bits and 96 kHz.

Analogue signals leave the Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player balanced as well as unbalanced, as already described, one pair of XLR and one pair of RCA connectors are available for this purpose.

If you want to use the Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player solely as a CD transport, this mode of operation is also available, via an optical as well as coaxial S/PDIF interface as outputs.

What else there is to say…

Of course, the new Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player also features a solidly constructed power supply based on a toroidal transformer, with separate windings used for the analogue and digital circuits.

Convenience is provided by features such as programmable playback, all relevant buttons for direct control on the unit and, of course, a matching Accuphase Remote Commander RC-140 infrared remote control.

Price and availability

All those who have been eagerly awaiting the successor to the Accuphase DP-430 MDS Compact Disc Player and are now excited about the presentation of the new Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player are now being asked to be patient. Due to the high demand, the first tranche of the Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player is already sold out, so it is not expected to be available in specialist shops until the second quarter of 2022. The company’s recommended retail price is € 5.600,-.

Getting to the point

It is gratifying that high-end hi-fi manufacturers such as the renowned Japanese company Accuphase Laboratory Inc. continue to rely on the audio CD as a proven medium that is still highly valued by many audiophile hi-fi enthusiasts, and that they provide solutions such as the new Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player. Equally pleasing, however, is the fact that solutions such as the Accuphase DP-450 MDS Compact Disc Player also make their outstanding converters available to other source devices, such as a PC or streaming device, so that they are also open to this type of play.