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If you still spin CD's their is a reference level Transport for reasonable money

I just got in-house the Jay's Audio CDT-2 MK3 transport to review for hometheaterreview.com.  The build quality and physical appearance make it hard to believe that it retails for around $2,400.  Right out of the crate not even broken in yet, it's out performing my CEC double belt transport in the reference system.  It retains all the liquidity and analog smoothness of the belt driven transport but offers more details, tighter bass frequencies, and a larger layered soundstage with more air between the players.

Alvin, of Vinshine Audio set this review up with me, so if you go to his website you can get a lot more details/pictures on this transport.  The reason I was motivated to review a CD transport was I received scores of requests from my readers asking what is a great sounding transport, for a reasonable amount of money.  So far, in spades the Jay's Audio CDT-2 MK3 fits the bill easily.   
teajay
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Hi snopro, I to use the I2S connection from the ps audio memory transport to the latest updated ps audio direct stream dac usein the wire world platinum starlight HDMI cable, I agree,  it does sound good,  a lot cheaper than usein another type cable. 
snopro
390 posts
 
Hi Audiolabyrinth, I also use a platinum starlight hdmi. I have a directstream dac and denafrips terminator. I perfer the terminator with redbook cd’s.

Teajay, if you didn’t use the I2s output to your dac, then you didn’t hear the memory transport at it’s best, imho.
wig's avatar
wig
1,262 posts
 
@ teajay,

Is it the Femto Clock that is responsible for better sound quality over the PS Audio which plays the CD from storage with reduced jitter?

Thanks,
Wig
teajay OP
1,691 posts
 
Hi Wig,

Honestly, I'm not sure what the jitter level is for either transport.  I'm assuming it's low for both transports.  I do no measuring for my reviews, but base my conclusions on extensive listening of the review piece with a comparison to other pieces of gear that I have experience with.  In this case I have had highly regraded transports that range in cost from around 3K up to 30K in my system.  Yet, the Jay's audio CDT-2 MKII based on performance is the transport I now use in my reference system because it out performed these other highly regarded pieces.  It's beautifully built and is a bargain at around 2K.
wig's avatar
wig
1,262 posts
 
@ teajay

Thanks for the update! This is definitely on my radar and may order one very soon :)

Wig
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