Fix or replace Accuphase DC 91 DAC?


One channel coming out of the Accuphase is suddenly badly distorted. With a qualified audio guy, we did everything possible to narrow the problem down to the DAC.

I do love the Accuphase and will probably fix it but before I do, I thought I'd post to hear any opinions on options such as replacing it.

I am using it with a Shindo preamp and CJ Premier 140 amp.

Cost for repair would be $1500 plus shipping.

Thank you in advance
controlit
definitely worth repair but not $1500. $1500 is definitely inflated price and you must shop around. accuphase equipment does not drop value just like mcintosh. 
I agree and I spent time today swapping cards in the unit and seem to have determined (as George suggested) that it most likely is a defective BB PCM63 chip. 

Thanks for the response!
Hey George,

Thank you for that post and information.

I’m not much of a tech at all but was able to swap cards around to narrow down the problem to one of the cards that has 8x BB63P chips.

I see the chips are available for sale on Ebay but don’t know if one is bad or even if an other component on the board is causing the problem.

Do you or anyone reading this have suggestions as to the next step? I do know someone who has the ability to simply swap out chips but don’t think they would be able to determine which might be the culprit.

But bottom line, I am relieved to have isolated the problem and the idea of packing and shipping this unit to California for $1500 plus shipping was not something I was looking forward to!

Thanks again!



I see the chips are available for sale on Ebay but don’t know if one is bad or even if an other component on the board is causing the problem.

I thought in your original post, that you already knew it was the Accuphase, and that the qualified audio guy narrowed it down to the dac chip (D to A Convertor) chip.
My mistake, as just a swap of the channels would have indicated the Accuphase.

Yes it may not even be the PCM63’s maybe the i/v stage or the l/p filter stage or the output buffer. Yes these card/s house the PCM63’s and the I/V and maybe the buffer.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9c/8e/7c/9c8e7ca238a92ee114616a00b3203796--professional-audio-le-son.jpg

As czarivey said $1500 is a bit steep, seeing it’s so easy to remove the faulty card I think in the order of $200 -400 would sound about right, the parts will be no more than $50.
I have a passion for R2R multibit as it’s the only conversion around that converts Redbook (pcm) "bit perfect" all other coverters only give a facsimile.

Better still give it to me, it's 22 years old now and I’m poor and needy.

Cheers George

haha..thanks George!

If I hit the lottery, the Accuphase is yours!

Meanwhile, I have no idea but will start to look for a replacement card, which I doubt I find very easily.

Who fixes this stuff anymore? I'll start a thread!

thanks again!