2. digital
  3. 166755-159189

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
amorstereo OP
64 posts
 
Hey everybody,

Just got through with my evaluation of using Pro-ject's own up-graded linear power supply, which I stated earlier in this thread lead to significant improvements over their standard switch-mode power supply, with Linear Tube Audio's own customized linear power supply. LTA changed the rating from 12V-3A to 20V-3A.

These subtle but easy to hear positive changes were:
1) Transient speed and overall dynamics/aliveness increased.
2) The sound-stage opened up with more air around instruments.
3) Transparency/clarity went to a higher level.
4) The purity of timbres/tonality/colors increased.

Great stuff! The Linear tube Audio power supply costs $645, which is about two hundred dollars less than Pro-ject unit. Therefore, my conclusion is if you get this transport, go for the Linear Tube Audio power supply.

On to the topic of comparing the Pro-Ject to the Jay's Audio MKIII. My friend will be installing the new board to bring the transport to MKIII status in the next couple of days. We will let it burn-in for a few days and then do the side by side comparison in my system and report back with our findings in the next two weeks.


tommylion
874 posts
 
Thanks Terry. Regarding my question above, I assume there must be a way to program tracks? It would seem a rather glaring omission, if not.
amorstereo OP
64 posts
 
Hey tommylion,

To be quite frank, I never program tracks, so I never thought about it! Why don’t you go to Pro-ject’s website and take a look at the owner’s manual to see how to engage this feature. If it's not in the manual send an Email to them for an answer to your question.
ghdprentice
7,051 posts
 
Upgraded power supplies seem to always produce improved sound.
tommylion
874 posts
 

I emailed the Pro-ject US importer about programming tracks, and this is the reply I received:

 

Thanks for reaching out.

The RS2 T does not support track programming. It is a pure CD transport playback device.


Best regards,

Pro-Ject Customer Support Team@

Pro-Ject USA


The lack of the ability to program tracks may not matter to some, but, for me, it's likely a deal killer. I get putting sound quality over features, but I’m having a hard time understanding how implementing track programming would impact sound quality??? This is the first transport/player I’ve run across without it.

Just wanted others who may be considering the CD Box RS2 to be aware of this omission.
More to discover