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Thoughts and perceptions on the sound quality of Accuphase Digital Products

Hello Audiogoners - and I have a quick question that came up in a recent conversation I had with a dealer as well as with a friend of mine. High End single box CD / SACD players are seen as being limited these days due to the increase in  streaming, but companies such as  Esoteric, DCS and possibly Vitus to just name a few are still making and developing this technology. My question is ; '' where does Accuphase stand on this subject,,,,, '' Do we look at Accuphase as being a leader in the making and development of high end single box CD / SACD players '' ? I read where for their 50th Anniversary they came out with the DC / DP 1000 separates which is CD / SACD player that is supposed to be really, really good. ( but, at a price )  The DP 750 received great reviews and just came out with the newer version the DP 770. 

I owned the Accuphase DP 720 at one time and it was a very musical player and yet detailed at the same time. Also, Accuphase has lowered their prices here in the US due to somewhat of a change in their distribution here and hopefully it will gain some better traction in sales and at a better price than before. With that said, and being very familiar with Accuphase products ; '' is it time to look at Accuphase Digital products seriously and consider them just as good or even better than the Esoteric , DCS players that are out there now '' ........your thoughts and thank you in advance.  

garebear
garebear OP
1,178 posts
 

........good point Erik where the '' economics '' of the brand here in the US is a huge factor.  

chadsort
22 posts
 

I just came back to my hotel after listening to a demo of the new dp-770 at Audio Union Shinjuku store, paired with their new A-80, and the c3900 preamp on a B&W 804D4.

It sounded good, but not great. As an owner of an Esoteric K03XD, I'd very much rather have the Esoteric K03XD, K01XD, or Grandioso K1X over any Accuphase CD players past and present. Accuphase definitely has a more laidback sound. 

Also worth noting that Accuphase's digital products are still using off the shelf ESS DACs, while Esoteric has gone on to develop their own discrete DACs. 

garebear OP
1,178 posts
 

....thank you Mr. chadsort as this was the information and answer that I was looking for. My system is very close to the same one that you listened to the Accuphase DP 770 on and I am not surprised that you came to that listening conclusion. It is not that the Accuphase digital is bad, it is just different sounding compared to let's say : Esoteric. Accuphase digital does take on a very musical ''persona'' but it is very laid back. I was considering selling my Esoteric Grandioso K1x and buying the Accuphase separates or more realistically the new DP 770 but what you noted was what I was afraid of......being too soft. I would like to say that having the Esoteric Grandioso K1x with the rest of the system being all Accuphase, is the right mix to my ears and what I will keep using. Thank you once again for your response.     

deep_333
1,733 posts
 

Accuphase is a company that should go manufacturer direct for the sake of its customers (get rid of the vulture they have in the US for a dealer). 

donquichotte
136 posts
 

I own the Accuphase DP550 SACD player and use it mostly as a DAC for streaming purposes (fed through a little Aurender USB-SPDIF converter). I don't have exposure to a lot of comparatively priced DACs, but I did compare it several times, in my own system, to a Rockna Wavelight. The Rockna is a bit better in technicalities such as extension up and down, detail / separation and bass tightness. On the other hand, the Accuphase has a more colorful, natural and seamless, cohesive presentation (whereas the Rockna's bass and midrange were a bit disjointed by comparison), a very musical sound favoring the reproduction of the acoustic instruments. Overall I preferred the Accuphase. An important thing to mention is that the Accuphase is very sensitive to the power cord and kind of needs a punchy, dynamic one with assertive treble or else it might be too laidback indeed.

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