Let’s say it at once. The Accuphase DP-75V is a CD player par excellence.

This legendary player is widely regarded as one of the best integrated CD players ever made, regardless of price. To find out just how good the Accuphase DP-75V really is, I decided to compare it with an in-house competitor which, at the time it was launched in 1989, was highly praised as one of the best and most analog-sounding CD players that money could buy – namely the Accuphase DP-70. This vintage player has formed an integral part of my system for a while now, and will not leave my system any time soon either. A more in-depth review of the Accuphase DP-70 can be found in an earlier post titled “Accuphase DP-70 – revisited”. The conclusion of this review was that this vintage CD player displays qualities of a kind that still today can hold up against some of the very best CD players on the market.

So, what additional features does the DP-75V actually bring to the table, and what are the main differences that you are likely to experience when you conduct a head-on comparison with the DP-70?

The DP-75V perhaps looks like a conventional single-box CD player, albeit a very sturdy one with its 20 kg weight, but actually features separate CD transport and processor sections, each of which can be used independently. The control circuitry of the CD transport section is fully digital, which enables the use of adaptive filters to optimize servo performance for each disc. The laser pickup used in the DP-75V employs a very compact RF amplifier, which is directly integrated in the photo detector pickup assembly for error-free operation. The motors and actuators that move the disc tray, spindle, sled, and the focusing and tracking assembly are driven by two amplifiers arranged in a balanced configuration. Since there is no current flowing in the ground line, the operation of other circuits in the player remains entirely unaffected.

The innovative MDS (Multiple Delta Sigma) D/A converter with 24-bit ultra high precision reduces distortion to theoretical limits and assures outstanding S/N ratio. The output signal is generated by a newly developed D/A converter that provides excellent performance and sound quality. The MDS principle employs several delta-sigma converters per channel in a parallel configuration, resulting in a dramatic enhancement of precision. To ensure future upgradability, the unit has option board slots that support the ADB 2 (Accuphase Digital Bus 2) interface which accommodates formats such as SACD and DVD-Audio.

Aliasing noise in the extreme upper frequencies is removed by a three-pole linear-phase-type analog filter with outstanding phase characteristics. The cut-off frequency is further designed to minimize phase shift within the passband.

A digital level control prevents the sound quality to deteriorate, and allows precise level attenuation down to -60dB.

The teflon-coated D/A converter printed curcuit boards display a stable, low dielectric constant as well as superior heat resistance and high-frequency characteristics. Using this glass fluorocarbon resin for the audio circuitry assures signal transmission with the highest purity, resulting in a clear improvement in perceived S/N ratio. The gold-plated copper traces used in the DP-75V further contribute to sonic purity.

The audio output section features balanced circuitry which is isolated from the ground line. Both a set of balanced XLR connectors and a set of RCA unbalanced connectors are provided to match any system configuration.

All functions can be controlled from the gold-toned, high-quality infrared remote commander, model RC-25, supplied with the equally gold-toned DP-75V. This nicely machined and ergonomically correct remote appears to have been lathed out from a pure steel bar, and it is rather heavy.

For this test, I used the following set-up: Audio Sector Patek Integrated (amplifier); Accuphase DP-75V + Accuphase DP-70 (CD players); 47 Laboratories + Accuphase AL-10 (RCA unbalanced interconnects); Black Sand Violet Z1 MkII (power cord); Dunlavy Aletha, Mulidine Cadence, Rauna Leira II (speakers), DIY silver/copper speaker cables. The after-market power cable was only connected to the amplifier, not to the source. The reason for this is that the stock power cord that comes with the DP-70 is affixed to the player and can therefore not be easily removed without extensive modifications being made. I like things to be original or as close to the original as possible. Tube rolling and cable switching are perfectly fine. More intrusive DIY modifications of the original technical features/set-up should be avoided, or at least left to an expert. That’s my view, for what it’s worth.

Balanced XLR connectors can be used favourably with this player, but since I did not have any such connectors in my possession at the time of the review, the review thus had to be carried out using the regular RCA unbalanced interconnects only.

After having left the system on during the night to warm up, it was time to get into business. First out is the DP-70 connected to the amplifier through the 47 lab interconnects. As speakers I use the Mulidine Cadence. I insert John Surman’s “Saltash Bells”, select the first track “Whistman’s Wood”, sit down comfortably in my armchair, and press the play button on the remote control. I’m familiar with this album by now, and know what passages to look for especially. The music flows. There is warmth, liquidity and presence. The soundstage is big and both deep and wide. The instruments sound very natural and organic. I enjoy the full track and then press the stop button on the remote. Very nice, indeed. Can this really get much better?

I switch to the DP-75V, insert the same CD and watch the sled as it closes smoothly and effortlessly, and without a sound. I lean back in my armchair, select the same track and then press the play button on this rather heavy and nicely machined metal remote control that rests comfortably in my hand. Wow! The entire room is immediately filled with music. Again, there is warmth, liquidity and presence. The instruments also sound very natural and organic. The soundstage is bigger, deeper and wider though. But there is also something else. There is air in masses! The separation of the instruments is incredible. The instruments formally jump out from the speakers and perform as if they were immediately in front of me. No, not only in front, but all over in fact. They are next to me and even behind me. It’s eerily realistic. The music is further produced with such clarity and detail definition that it is almost as if I would be listening to a different record. Wonderful!

I leave the DP-75V on but switch to the Dunlavy Aletha speakers. I then insert a new record, “Skagerrak” from the Tingvall Trio, and select the title track. There it is again. There is lots of air between the instruments. The piano, the double bass and the drums are clearly separated and easily defined. The sound is amazingly three-dimensional. If I close my eyes I can easily locate each of the instruments and reach out for them. I can easily hear the touch of the keys on the piano, the finger snaps and slides on the double bass strings, the sometimes misplaced hits of the drum sticks and the breath of the performers. In between, there is dead silence. Although very liquid and natural, there is a certain sense of dryness. The overall presentation appears less “wet”. I switch to the first track on the record, “Sjörup”. The same picture appears here. It’s difficult to explain in words. On the one hand, the sound is very detailed, refined, precise, quick, clear, dry, and forward and, on the other hand, it is wonderfully airy, open, fluid, present, deep, wide, analog, musical. Normally, you will have to chose. It is either this or that. With the DP-75V, you get both.

The same record on the DP-70 also gives a very nice presentation. But here the sound picture is somewhat different. The DP-70 displays a slightly more laid-back overall performance. Although the soundstage is similar to that of the DP-75V, it is not the same. Whereas the DP-75V is amazingly three-dimensional with lots of air around the instruments, whilst never losing the focus, the DP-70 appears to project a slightly more two-dimensional soundstage, with instruments being well placed on horizontal and vertical axes, but with a flatter sound, almost like an image projected on the wall. The DP-75V creates that third dimension. The DP-70 does its best to project it. There is also less air and less refinement in the latter player’s overall presentation.

Next record on is the “Air Hadouk” from the Hadouk Trio. The Rauna Leira speakers are brought forward and I switch to the Accuphase AL-10 interconnect, but decide to keep the DP-70. I listen to a number of tracks on this record and, quite honestly, the sound is very good. The overall presentation appears subjectively fuller and more life-like. There is more meat to the bone, which is primarily due the interconnect. I could easily live with this sound forever – if it wasn’t for the other player standing next to it.  Again, the DP-75V takes the direction. It paints pretty much the same picture, but the colours it uses are both clearer and more multi-facetted, while the picture is no longer limited by its frame. It’s about lifting veils. It’s about cleaning a window that you’d never thought was dirty in the first place.

I keep the DP-75V on, switch to the Mulidine Cadence speakers and turn back to John Surman, but this time with the album “Road to Saint Ives”. I’m impressed with its fluid, analog-like sound. The micro dynamics are unbelievable, especially on the decay. The music just seems to trail off in infinity. The sound stage appears to expand beyond the walls. Lovely! With the DP-70 back on, it’s still all very nice. But it’s also a different presentation, a different story. The players are very similar, yet so different.

The simple, refined design of the DP-75V complements its technological prowness. The overall result is musical reproduction of such clarity and detail definition that you will discover a whole new dimension of enjoyment even in the long-familiar records.

As always with Accuphase, construction, design and reliability is first rate. Here, the DP-75V is no different from the DP-70. The fact that the DP-75V had a very short production run, makes it ultra rare on the second-hand market. Their owners tend to hold on to them firmly, and it is easy to see why. This obviously means that this player is likely to preserve its still comparably high resale value. You will not normally find this player for less than EUR 3000-3200. If you do, you should be on your guards and check its history carefully. The current sales price is more likely to be in the region EUR 3200-4000 depending, obvously, on its condition. Whether that is well invested money is something that everyone has to decide for themselves. The price new was EUR 11,000. Thruth is, however, that if you are fortunate to find a well preserved example of this ultra-rare and highly regarded unit, and think you can afford it, you can rest assured that there is simply no other CD player on the market today that can beat the DP-75V for this amount of money or even for twice its current normal sales price on the second hand market. Period. The transport used in this model has been dicontinued, but can still be obtained in certain service centres in case it one day should fail. Production of the DP-75V allegedly stopped when the transport became unavailable, and Accuphase couldn’t find another transport of equal quality.

This stunning player has compared favourably with highly regarded heavy-weights such as the Linn CD 12, Reimyo 777 Integrated and the top Wadias, which should tell you a thing or two of what it is capable of.

So, does this all mean that the DP-70 can be conveniently put to rest now? No, most definitely not. The DP-70, when compared to the DP-75V or even to the DP-700 (currently priced at EUR 20,200), is still a highly potent player, and even today there are few players out there that can match its overall qualities. Yes, the DP-75V is of course the overall better player. But it would have been strange otherwise, given the 12 years of technological development that actually separate these two players. Equally, the DP-75V eventually had to give up the throne, but it took until the current DP-700 to find a worthy successor. In any event, even if the differences here are indeed immediately noticable, they are not earth shaking. Mind you, we are rather talking about complaints being made on a very high level here, than anything else.

The DP-70 is even today a very competent CD player that is fully capable of delivering all that you will ever want from a high-end CD player. That is until you audition the DP-75V. We all like to believe that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Yes, I have surrendered to the DP-75V, but I have also approached it with an open mind, knowing that all is relative. Fact is that the DP-70 will most definitely not have to be ashamed when being compared to the DP-75V or even the DP-700. They are all good in their own way and display their own qualities that one can easily learn to appreciate.

As I said in the beginning of this thread, the DP-70 will not leave my system anytime soon. Why choose when you can have both….

Last but not least, and just to avoid any potential confusion in this respect: The review here concerns the DP-75V (in its direct comparison with the DP-70), not its predecessor, the DP-75.  Although the numbers may suggest otherwise, please bear in mind that the DP-75V is MUCH more than simply an upgrade of the DP-75. These two players are substantially different in their character. The DP-75 is definitely not a bad CD player, but with the DP-75V Accuphase almost reinvented the wheel. It’s a statement in the world of hifi. You need to hear it to believe it.

Verdict: My highest recommendation.