Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player

Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player is the latest offspring from Accuphase Laboratory Inc. to prove once again that Audio CD and Super Audio CD playback is by no means obsolete.

Yes, the Japanese hi-fi manufacturer Accuphase Laboratory Inc. can be described as a company with a rather conservative corporate philosophy. In fact, the Japanese company focuses its product range on classic hi-fi solutions, but in doing so, it relies on particularly sophisticated solutions that have been optimised down to the last detail.

Music streaming, for example, has not been an issue at Accuphase Laboratory Inc. so far; instead, the company concentrates on well-established systems that have by no means become obsolete even in times of networked consumer electronics solutions, at least for a number of hi-fi enthusiasts that should not be underestimated, such as CD players.

The Japanese high-end hi-fi manufacturer Accuphase Laboratory Inc. now presents the new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player and makes it unmistakably clear that CD, and even SACD, are far from obsolete in their opinion, but rather still represent media that offer outstanding sound quality and are thus an essential component of a hi-fi chain.

The new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player is a high-quality integrated SACD or CD player created from the synthesis of the latest technologies, according to the Japanese description. What is particularly exciting is that the outstanding signal processing is not only reserved for data from the integrated drive, but can also be used by external digital sources. So even if streaming has not been covered directly, the new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player is open to this application via the integrated D/A converter.

According to the manufacturer, the new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player benefits directly from the development of the current top-of-the-range models, with the latest generation of the drive being mentioned first and foremost. It is said to have a very low centre of gravity and thus to offer a markedly improved smoothness of operation due to its basic design. The drive tray is made of an aluminium block and moves in a very smooth loading mechanism. These may only be details, but they are precisely what distinguish the solutions from Accuphase Laboratory Inc. High-end quality in all areas.

This includes a three-layer base plate with a decoupled bearing of the turntable for optimal vibration damping. Four newly developed elastic butyl dampers connect the crosshead and disc loading mechanism to also contribute to the fact that the reading of the data media can take place free of any external influences. In addition, these design features ultimately contribute to the drive’s extremely quiet operation.

In order to provide the drive with the best conditions for optimal operation, the housing of the new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD player itself is particularly solid and has various reinforcements.

The D/A converter is also of the latest generation, using ES9028PRO components from ESS Technologies. By driving four parallel outputs, the new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD player is said to offer outstanding performance data in terms of distortion, noise and linearity. The manufacturer refers to this as MDS+ D/A converters.

Of course, the right “clock” is essential for accurate signal processing, and here the developers rely on an AK4118A from Asahi Kasei Microdevices. This should drastically reduce phase noise and guarantee highly precise clock reproduction.

Downstream of the D/A converter is a Direct Balanced Filter circuit, in which the unbalanced and balanced output stages are built independently of each other in order to have no influence on each other, regardless of which preamplifiers or amplifiers are connected.

Once again, great attention has been paid to the power supply, using analogue circuitry and discrete design for low noise. A generously dimensioned mains transformer with separate power supply for analogue and digital circuits as well as optimised smoothing capacitors are cited by the manufacturer as essential criteria in this respect.

The new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player does not lack interfaces, quite the contrary. As already described, the developers’ intention is to make the outstanding signal processing available to other sources as well.

Thus, on the back of the new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player, in addition to an optical and coaxial S/PDIF interface, there is also a USB port for direct connection to a PC. This allows signals to be transmitted in Linear PCM at up to 32 bits and 384 kHz, and DSD is also natively supported, up to DSD256.

In addition, there is an RJ45 interface, which, however, has nothing whatsoever to do with integration into the network, but is rather designated as HS-LINK. This HS-LINK is designed to transmit digital signals, including native DSD data, between compatible devices. In concrete terms, an Accuphase DG-68 Digital Voicing Equalizer can be looped in here.

Accordingly, there is also an HS-LINK output on the back of the new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD player, as well as an optical and coaxial S/PDIF interface as outputs.

Analogue signals, as already indicated, are output either via a pair of unbalanced RCA jacks or a pair of balanced XLR connectors, the latter output featuring a phase selector switch.

The front of the new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player is once again very tidily designed, with two displays and several status LEDs providing excellent information on the operating status of the unit. And the user can make many interesting settings or obtain relevant information. The remote control included in the scope of delivery, an Accuphase RC-140 Remote Control, also allows convenient control of all the player’s functions.

The fact that the new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player presents itself with an elegant front made of solid aluminium must be mentioned here just for the sake of completeness.

With dimensions of 465 mm in width, 393 mm in depth and 151 mm in height, the new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player weighs 19 kg.

The new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player is available immediately from specialist dealers. However, the distributor points out that only very small quantities are currently available. The recommended retail price is € 10,600.

Getting to the point

The new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player is a high-quality integrated SACD or CD player created from the synthesis of the latest technologies, according to the Japanese description. What is particularly exciting is that the outstanding signal processing is not only reserved for data from the integrated drive, but can also be used by external digital sources. So even if streaming has not been covered directly, the new Accuphase DP-570 MDS Super Audio CD Player is also open to this application via the integrated D/A converter.