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Resolving CD Transports Crowd Sourcing

Hi everyone! A couple of years ago I purchased my endgame CD transport- a Pro-Ject CD Box RS2T. Loved almost everything about the unit--highly resolving presentation, dead quiet background, balanced placement of instruments in a believable 3 dimensional soundstage, and  the synergy it had with my components. In fact I loved the transport so much I had two of them because Pro-Ject quality control and customer service is the pits. After almost a year of hassles, I'm swearing of Pro-Ject.

I'm in the market for a replacement CD transport that has the same qualities of the Pro-Ject minus the quality issues and customer service.

PS Audio, Jay's Audio, CEC, Audio Research (which are CD/DAC units) come up in my search. What are your thoughts? With all the bells and whistles the Pro-Ject was around $3300, so that gives you an idea of my budget, though I could go higher.

Thanks in advance!

128x128wharfy
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charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

@wharfy 

I still have the CD6SE (On loan from a friend). I’m really impressed with the air between and around instruments. Listening to John Coltrane’s solos on "Blue in Green" from Kind of Blue, the CD6SE allows you to hear the resonance/echo as he plays.

David,

I enjoy every track on that iconic album. I have to admit however that “Blue In Green “ is my favorite. I just love Adderley’s beautiful alto saxophone solo. Superb musicians all.

Charles

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jaymark
506 posts
 

I have two dead high end Project CD transports.  Took forever to get a service authorization.  I have yet to send them for repair cause I have moved on.

wharfy's avatar
wharfy OP
316 posts
 

@jaymark -

Ugh! I feel your pain. Any chance you can get refund/credit for your purchases?

deep_333
1,298 posts
 

. I have auditioned the Jay’s CDT2 MkIII both in a friends system, and in mine. It is without a doubt the best CD transport I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing.

Very detailed, yet not at all bright or fatiguing. In my system it was paired with a Tubes4HiFi VTA St-120 tube amp, and a Denafrips stack which leans toward a more relaxed slightly warmer sound. The extra detail was a welcome addition to both combos, and a great pairing.

Hmm, so, Jay’s fabulous spinner transport was "very detailed, yet not at all bright and fatiguing"....Hmm OK, It was paired with some tube amp and a Denafrips dac. Hmmmmmm, so, how exactly did you figure out that the transport did the "very detailed, yet not at all bright and fatiguing" sound and it was not the Denafrips and the tube amp’s doing all day long????? Could any fairly decent spinny transport paired with your tubeamp and Denafrips do the "very detailed, yet not at all bright and fatiguing"?????????

Enlighten us a bit more about your assessment, will ya @vthokie83 ?

vthokie83
817 posts
 

Deep_333,

Not sure where the snarky comment came from, maybe you're not a fan of Jay's or in ChiFi at all. I gave a short impression/opinion of the unit tested in my system, with my ears, in my house....nothing more. My system tends to be more "laid back" or warm, and I am always looking to add more detail in my budget restraints....if it does not lead to fatigue.

At the time I had the Jay's transport, I had a direct comparison with my Audiolab CDT6000 and my ancient Onkyo C-7030. Not sure what more what you would want than an honest tested and compared opinion in my system. I know my $16K mid-fi system is not the equal of your's, but everyone here deserves input from all levels.

Best to you

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