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A phenomenal new CD transport-Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 transport

I have had in-house for the last week Pro-Ject's new CD Box RS2 transport to review for the website Stereo Times. I was very curious to assess its performance because it uses the Pro 8 drive with the Blue Tiger CD-84 servo card. This drive was developed and built by StreamUnlimited a company started by the original Phillips designers that historically built the finest CD mechanisms. Only two other companies use the StreamUnlimited 8 drive and Blue Tiger CD-84 servo card, their pieces cost $16,000 and $39,000 compared to Pro-Ject's sane price of $3,000!

My reference for the last two years has been the excellent Jay's Audio MK-II transport that had out-performed much more expensive highly regarded transports in my system. Well, across every sonic parameter  (transparency/micro-details-overall dynamics/bottom-end extension/purity of tonality- a much more airy sound-stage with wonderful 3D imaging) compared to the Jay's Audio transport.

That's way I titled this thread a "phenomenal new CD transport" because while not inexpensive, it just might be a bargain based on its performance. Mind you, this superlative level of performance is based on using the switching power supply that Pro-Ject ships the transport with. I have shortly coming a custom 20 watt 3 amp linear power supply from Linear Tube Audio and Pro-Ject's own upgraded power supply to see if the RS2 transport performance will even go to a higher qualitative level of performance.

I'll be writing a full detailed review for Stereo Times in the near future. However, I wanted to share this information to GON members who still spin CDs. I have had numerous CD transports in for evaluation and this just might be the best sounding of all of them.

Teajay (Terry London)




amorstereo
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
@bigkidz,
Thanks for taking the time to share listening impressions of the Pro-Ject transport. I know how well regarded the Metronome digital components are. Both you and Terry prefer the Pro-Ject to the highly regarded Jay’s Audio CD transport. Very high praise indeed!

"I don’t want to hear backing vocals on the same sound stage plane as the lead singers vocals if you understand what I am hearing. The Project was completely different than these two players."

Know exactly what you mean.
.

I’m familiar with the sound of the CEC transports and have happily owned the P,S. Audio PWT for years. If I were to replace it, the Pro-Ject seems the direction to go. I’d very probably opt for the linear power supply.
Charles
bigkidz
3,394 posts
 
@charles1dad - I also heard the PS audio gear and IMO it did not sound like this in anyway. The person with the Jays when we did that comparison, he used to own the PS audio so he replaced it with the Jays.


bigkidz
3,394 posts
 
@essrandI owned the CEC TL5 - there is no comparison to the Pro-Ject really.  Besides the Metronome, I also currently own the Audiomeca Mephisto II which I am currently repairing - and the CEC older TL-5100 (I think) but as much as I like the Audiomeca (Probably the most musical and analog CDT I have heard) the Pro-Ject may even be better for the reasons I described above.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi @bigkidz, 
Yep, I understand.  The P,S. Audio  PWT has served me exceptionally well for many years. But, there's always something better to move on to. If I do make a change at some point I know where to go.
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
A friend of mine had a CEC transport (TL1)  and the PWT. The CEC was very good and the belt drive is a nice story. It didn’t outperform the PWT to either of us, just a different presentation. So not surprised that the Pro-Ject transport is preferred by both @bigkidz and Terry to the CEC.
Charles
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