A transport of delight
The DP-90 transport is designed to complement the DC-91 processor both cosmetically and in performance.
Hiding inside the 1/3"-thick aluminum chassis are two separate power supplies, each of which has its own beefy transformer.
One supply is dedicated to the digital signal processing, microprocessor, and display circuitry.
The other serves the spindle drive motor, sled, and the focusing and tracking assemblies.
The disc-drive motor features sapphire bearings and a heavy-duty spindle, which should offer many years of stable drive.
No stone is left unturned in Accuphase's relentless pursuit of perfection. The laser pickup is provided with an ultracompact RF amplifier that's integral to the pickup assembly.
Ordinarily, the RF amplifier is external to the pickup, which renders its feeble output signal vulnerable to externally induced noise.
Another design aspect that's been well attended to is the mechanical coupling between the disc tray and the rotating assembly.
Remember all those disc dampers that were touted as cures for digititis?
I bet everyone with an early-'80s CD player has purchased one of them in the hopes of finally arriving at Sony's promised land of "perfect sound forever.
" Well, partner, you can check your CD damper at the door: the DP-90's tray is firmly locked in place during playback, to eliminate the possibility of tray resonances.
The DP-90 offers every conceivable type of digital output, but the star attraction is an ST-type optical that uses a Hewlett-Packard transmitter operating at a data transfer
rate of 150 million bits per second. A quartz fiberoptic cable is supplied for this connection. I experimented with every available connection,
and can tell you that the ST-type rates a clear first sonically. In fact, the only way to experience the full potential of the DP-90/DC-91 system is through this connection.
The balanced XLR output was a close second, giving up a touch in the areas of detail resolution and timing precision.
The coax output finished in third place; not surprisingly, the bandwidth-limited TosLink brought up the rear.
DP-90 CD transport:
Digital outputs: ST-type connector with Hewlett-Packard optical link
AES/EBU balanced XLR
EIAJ-standard optical TosLink
S/PDIF coaxial.
Power consumption: 12W.
Dimensions: 18.75" W by 5.875" H by 14.625" D. Weight: 45.2 lbs.
Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/accuphase-dp-90-cd-transport-dc-91-da-processor#5tz1sEJSYAoIuJfO.99
DP 90
