Accuphase DP-470

Overview

The Accuphase DP-470 is a dedicated compact disc player that also works as a full digital hub, and it is the successor to the DP-450. Accuphase has been developing digital playback since the DP-80 and DC-81 arrived in 1986, and the DP-470 applies that accumulated engineering to the proposition that a well read, well converted CD is still a reference grade source.

At the heart of the player is the MDS+ conversion system. Four ES9026PRO converter circuits run in parallel per channel, which theoretically halves distortion, noise and linearity error compared with a single circuit, and because the benefit comes from the conversion principle rather than from filtering it holds at very low signal levels where conventional delta sigma converters struggle. The current to voltage stage that follows uses ANCC, the Accuphase Noise and distortion Canceling Circuit, a feedforward design that detects distortion and noise at the input of the I-V converter and injects a canceling current of reversed polarity.

The result is measurable. The DP-470 guarantees a 120 dB signal to noise ratio, which is an output noise floor of 2.5 microvolts, 11 percent lower than the DP-450. Total harmonic distortion plus noise measures roughly 25 percent lower than the DP-450 across the whole audio band. Alongside the disc section there are coaxial, optical and USB inputs, so a television, a computer or a network player can all use the same converter, and the transport outputs let the disc section feed an Accuphase voicing equalizer and come back in through the digital inputs.

Key Features

• MDS+ conversion with four parallel ES9026PRO circuits per channel for lower noise and better linearity
• ANCC feedforward distortion and noise cancelling in the current to voltage conversion stage
• Guaranteed 120 dB signal to noise ratio, an output noise floor of 2.5 microvolts
• Direct Balanced Filter with completely independent low pass filtering for the line and balanced outputs
• Newly designed CD drive on high performance elastic dampers with an 8-pole neodymium chucking magnet
• Three-layer large bridge cover over the traverse mechanism to suppress wind noise from disc rotation
• USB Type-B input accepting PCM to 384 kHz and 32 bits and DSD to 22.5 MHz, plus coaxial and optical inputs
• Coaxial and optical transport outputs so the disc section can feed a voicing equalizer or an outboard converter
• Display showing the incoming sampling frequency and quantization bit depth
• Programmable playlists, digital output level control from 0 to 60 dB, and a balanced output phase selector

How the DP-470 Compares

Accuphase DP-470 vs Accuphase DP-450

The DP-450 is the model the DP-470 succeeds, and it remains an excellent CD player that we continue to carry. The DP-470 moves to the MDS+ topology with four ES9026PRO circuits per channel and adds ANCC in the I-V stage, which is where its measured gains come from: output noise drops from 2.8 to 2.5 microvolts and distortion plus noise falls by roughly a quarter across the band. The newer player also accepts DSD to 22.5 MHz over USB where the DP-450 is a more conventional digital input. Both share the same chassis dimensions and the same Accuphase character, so this is a question of how much resolution and digital flexibility you want rather than a question of one being musical and the other not. See the Accuphase DP-450.

Accuphase DP-470 vs Accuphase DP-570S

The DP-570S sits above the DP-470 and plays SACD as well as CD, with a more elaborate conversion and power supply implementation and a heavier transport. If your library includes SACD, or you want the larger sense of scale that the higher tier Accuphase players produce, the DP-570S is the one to hear. The DP-470 concentrates everything on red book CD and on its digital input section, which makes it the better value if your discs are standard CDs and you want the USB input to serve a computer or streamer as well. See the Accuphase DP-570S.

Accuphase DP-470 vs Luxman D-03R

The Luxman D-03R is a CD player and DAC with the warmer, more fluid voicing that defines the Luxman house sound. It suits a listener who wants a slightly romantic tonal balance and straightforward digital flexibility. The DP-470 is the more resolving and the quieter of the two on paper, and its four parallel converter circuits and ANCC stage are aimed squarely at low level detail. The choice is one of character, and both are worth hearing before you decide. See the Luxman D-03R.

Recommended Amplifiers and System Partners

The DP-470 is a natural source for an Accuphase system, and its transport outputs open up one pairing that is unique to this brand.

• Accuphase DG-78 This is the pairing the DP-470 was designed around. Run the transport outputs into the DG-78 voicing equalizer and the corrected signal back into the DP-470 digital inputs, and room and channel balance correction happens entirely in the digital domain before conversion.
• Accuphase E-4000 A straightforward and complete match. The E-4000 has the power and the damping factor to drive almost any speaker, and it shares the DP-470 tonal character for a coherent front to back Accuphase system.
• Accuphase E-700 For a pure Class A amplifier, the E-700 brings a midrange purity that suits the DP-470 low noise floor. A good choice when the system is built for long, quiet listening rather than for volume.
• Accuphase C-2300 If you prefer separates, this precision preamplifier preserves the resolution the DP-470 produces and gives you a route to Accuphase power amplification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Accuphase DP-470?
It is an MDS compact disc player from Accuphase with a built-in digital to analog converter. It plays CDs and also accepts USB, coaxial and optical digital sources, so one converter can serve your whole system.

What does the DP-470 replace?
It is the successor to the Accuphase DP-450, which was released in 2021. We continue to carry the DP-450 as well.

Does the DP-470 play SACD?
No. The DP-470 is a red book CD player. If you need SACD playback, the Accuphase DP-570S and DP-770 play SACD as well as CD.

What is MDS+ conversion?
MDS+ stands for Multiple Delta Sigma plus. The DP-470 runs four ES9026PRO converter circuits in parallel per channel, which theoretically improves distortion, noise and linearity by a factor of two. Because the gain comes from the conversion principle rather than from filtering, it holds at very low signal levels.

What is ANCC?
ANCC is the Accuphase Noise and distortion Canceling Circuit. It is a feedforward circuit in the current to voltage conversion stage that detects noise and distortion at the input and injects a canceling current of reversed polarity.

How quiet is the DP-470?
Accuphase guarantee a 120 dB signal to noise ratio, which corresponds to an output noise floor of 2.5 microvolts. That is 11 percent lower than the DP-450.

Is it measurably better than the DP-450?
Yes. Output noise falls from 2.8 to 2.5 microvolts, and total harmonic distortion plus noise measures roughly 25 percent lower than the DP-450 across the audio band.

What digital inputs does it have?
USB Type-B, coaxial and optical. The USB input accepts PCM to 384 kHz and 32 bits and DSD to 22.5 MHz, coaxial accepts PCM to 192 kHz and 24 bits, and optical accepts PCM to 96 kHz and 24 bits.

Can I connect a computer to it?
Yes. The USB Type-B input is USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and is designed for a PC or a network audio player. A USB driver and setup guide are supplied in the box.

Can I connect my television?
Yes. Run an optical cable from the television to the optical input and set the television digital audio output to PCM. The DP-470 converter then handles television sound through your stereo system.

Can the DP-470 be used as a transport?
Yes. It has coaxial and optical transport outputs, and the transport section and the converter section work independently, so you can feed an outboard converter while still using the disc drive.

How does the voicing equalizer connection work?
Connect the DP-470 transport outputs to an Accuphase voicing equalizer such as the DG-78 and bring its output back into the DP-470 digital inputs. Sound field correction then happens in the digital domain before conversion.

Does it have balanced outputs?
Yes. It has balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA line outputs, both at 2.5 V and 50 ohms. A rear panel selector can invert the balanced output phase.

What is the Direct Balanced Filter?
It is an output arrangement with completely independent low pass filter circuits for the line output and the balanced output, rather than deriving one from the other, so both outputs receive the same quality of signal.

Can I adjust the output level?
Yes. Output level is adjustable from 0 dB to 60 dB in 1 dB steps in the digital domain, which is useful for matching the DP-470 to other sources in your system.

What does the display show?
It shows the current track and the incoming sampling frequency, the total number of tracks and the quantization bit depth, the time, and program and repeat indicators.

Can I play tracks in a custom order?
Yes. The DP-470 supports programmable playlists so you can play the tracks on a disc in the order you prefer.

What warranty comes with it?
New Accuphase units carry the full Accuphase USA manufacturer warranty of 3 years parts and labor for the original owner when purchased from an authorized dealer.

Is All Elite Audio an authorized Accuphase dealer?
Yes, All Elite Audio is an authorized Accuphase dealer, so your purchase includes full manufacturer support and warranty coverage.

Why buy from All Elite Audio?
All Elite Audio is an authorized Accuphase dealer offering genuine products, full warranty coverage, and expert guidance to help you build the right system around the DP-470.