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

@riaa_award_collectors_on_facebook And then one day there will be no dealers because of tire kickers and bargin hunters. Some brands do not need to be discounted because they stand on their quility and brand.

 

 

Ridiculous. What brands are you referring to?? Only brands that you cant get a discount for or not much of one is a Ultra Boutique brand that only has 1 Distributor and single digit dealers.  All the names that everybody knows there is almost always a 40% Markup and 50-60% on Demo Gear. Plenty of room to get a good deal without much effort. Once you establish yourself as a solid customer (repeat business) you will start getting calls FROM the dealers asking you if you want X Product for a good price. Then there's always the brands that "purge" their old stock to dealers for a ridiculous price and you can steal stuff that is brand new for 50% off MSRP.  Obviously you arent getting those calls so you have no idea what Im talking about.

@charles1dad:

"Well I can see it both ways.

1, Better price  but no audition period or option to return the component. 

2,  Higher price but includes ability to home audition and return for what ever reason. 

Just depends on the buyer's personality and disposition."

 

Exactly!  

@jayctoy:

 

Years ago I bought a few footers and cables recommended by a guy at M. Direct, which, to my ears, did nothing for my system. I returned them and in response, MD informed me that should I ever buy from them again, they would levy a 20% restocking fee. I can understand such a policy when someone orders a very expensive, exotic unit and returns it but in a case such as mine, no.  

If this makes me a "tire kicker", so be it but consider that since then, I've bought a DAC, a transport, three pair of ICs, two digital cables, two power cables, a headphone amp, three sets of Symposium Rollerblock Jr+'s and three Symposium shelves. None of this gear was purchased from M. Direct. When I upgrade my speakers in January, M. Direct will not be involved. Seems to me, their focus is on one-time buyers. I prefer to maintain long-term relationships with dealers who understand that I may make a mistake now and then and return something (which occurs very infrequently) but that I will keep coming back. Audio Art Cables and The Cable Co. are stellar examples and TMR are on their way to becoming another go-to dealer for me.