Accuphase DP-470 Combines a Refined CD Transport With an Upgraded USB DAC

Accuphase has introduced the DP-470, a new CD player and digital converter positioned as the successor to the DP-450. The component adopts selected design and circuit concepts from the higher-tier DP-570S, with particular attention paid to disc-reading stability, digital-to-analog conversion and USB playback.

A more heavily controlled CD mechanism

The DP-470’s disc drive uses a rigid, low-center-of-gravity structure intended to reduce the influence of external vibration. Accuphase has added a specially developed rubber damper between the traverse mechanism and the disc-loading assembly. Its purpose is to suppress resonance generated by the optical pickup motor and support more accurate disc reading.

An eight-pole neodymium magnet holds the CD in place, applying uniform and stable clamping. The bridge spanning the entire mechanism has a three-layer construction incorporating closed-cell foam and a 1.6 mm steel plate. This assembly is designed to reduce both airflow noise created by a rapidly spinning disc and resonance within the chassis.

The disc tray is machined from a single piece of aluminum. It receives a hard-anodized finish and matte surface treatment, extending the DP-470’s emphasis on mechanical rigidity to the loading system itself. High-carbon cast-iron damping feet provide additional isolation at the base of the player.

ES9026PRO conversion with MDS+ and ANCC

Accuphase continues to use the ESS Technology ES9026PRO converter found in the preceding model, but surrounds it with revised proprietary circuitry. The company’s MDS+ architecture runs four DAC circuits in parallel, an arrangement intended to improve distortion, noise and linearity performance compared with using one circuit alone.

The more substantial change takes place in the current-to-voltage conversion stage. Here, the DP-470 introduces Accuphase Noise and Distortion Canceling Circuit technology, abbreviated as ANCC. A secondary amplifier is used to cancel noise and distortion produced by the main amplifier. It operates alongside the four parallel MDS+ circuits as part of the redesigned conversion section.

Accuphase has also revised the DAC board and optimized the associated power-supply system. Separate supplies serve the analog and digital circuitry, supported by independent windings on the power transformer.

Independent analog outputs and level control

The analog output stage employs Accuphase’s Direct Balanced Filter circuit. This keeps the unbalanced RCA line output electrically separate from the balanced XLR output, limiting interaction between the two signal paths.

Output level can be adjusted from 0 dB to minus 60 dB in 1 dB increments. The balanced XLR connection also provides a polarity-selection function, offering flexibility when integrating the DP-470 with different preamplifiers or integrated amplifiers.

Expanded USB DAC support and digital connections

The DP-470’s USB-B input accepts PCM streams at up to 384 kHz and 32-bit resolution. DSD support reaches 22.5 MHz with native ASIO transmission and 11.2 MHz through DoP. The native DSD ceiling is therefore higher than on the DP-450, which supported DSD up to 11.2 MHz.

Additional digital inputs include coaxial S/PDIF supporting signals up to 192 kHz and 24-bit, plus an optical input handling up to 96 kHz and 24-bit. Coaxial and optical digital outputs allow the DP-470 to operate as a dedicated CD transport with an external converter.

The player measures 465 mm wide, 151 mm high and 393 mm deep, matching the dimensions of its predecessor. It weighs 13.7 kg and has a stated power consumption of 18 watts. Accuphase supplies the DP-470 with an AL-10 audio cable and an RC-150 remote control.

With its redesigned vibration control, revised DAC board and broader USB format support, the DP-470 advances Accuphase’s established CD-player platform while retaining digital inputs, transport outputs and independently configured analog connections.