New Accuphase DC-500 and DG-78 Break Cover

Details of the two units have surfaced via distributor channels, with Australian importer Advance Audio confirming availability for order, suggesting these may be early sightings of upcoming additions to the Japanese manufacturer’s digital lineup.

Accuphase’s current model lineup on its website lists the flagship Accuphase DC-1000 and the outgoing Accuphase DG-68, suggesting a gradual rollout rather than a formal global launch.

The DC-500 is positioned as a more accessible alternative to the DC-1000, retaining much of Accuphase’s core digital architecture while stepping down in specification and likely price. According to Advance Audio, it comes in at roughly half the cost of the flagship model. That saving comes with a few changes: it loses the timber exterior, uses a different chipset, and has reduced height and depth.

It uses eight ESS ES9028PRO DAC chips operating in parallel, implementing Accuphase’s MDS (Multiple Delta-Sigma) principle for PCM and MDSD (Multiple Double Speed DSD) for DSD playback. The company’s ANCC (Accuphase Noise and distortion Canceling Circuit) is employed in the filter stage to reduce noise and distortion.

Connectivity includes coaxial, optical and USB Type-B inputs, alongside both balanced and single-ended analogue outputs. Compared with the DC-1000, the DC-500 adopts a different DAC chipset, omits the timber enclosure, and reduces overall chassis dimensions.

Alongside it, the DG-78 replaces the DG-68, bringing a more iterative update to Accuphase’s digital room correction platform. The headline change is a move to an electrostatic touch panel, replacing the pressure-sensitive interface used in the previous generation. Internally, the unit retains its core three-mode structure, Voicing, Equaliser and Analyser, combining DSP-based room correction with manual adjustment and real-time frequency response monitoring.

Like its predecessor, the DG-78 supports both digital and analogue signal paths, while its DAC section mirrors the DC-500, using eight ES9028PRO chips in parallel alongside Accuphase’s active noise-cancelling filter topology.

Stock of both models is expected to begin arriving with distributors around mid-2026, with pricing to be confirmed through dealers. With neither the DC-500 nor the DG-78 formally listed by Accuphase, these early distributor appearances point to a soft rollout, offering a first look at how the company’s digital range is evolving.

For more information visit Accuphase