Transport to replace my cd player


Hi Gang,I could use some advice on CD transports. I just bought a new audio-gd 7HE 2020 DAC and think the CD player I have been using as a transport may be a bottleneck in my 2 channel system. The CD player is a Cambridge Azur 851 with upgraded blue fuses and a Synchro-mesh reclocker which has been OK but I think I may get good improvement with a dedicated transport. What do you think? The rest of my system consists of a VPI Classic 4 TT, McIntosh452 amp, a McIntosh C2600 preamp and the new DAC. Admittedly I have no experience with a dedicated Transport but based on reviews only these are the transports I'm considering: Cambridge CXC, Audiolab 6000CDT, Primare DD15 and DD35, Denafrips Avatar, McIntosh MCT 450 and MCT500 and finally the JAY's audio current transport. Have you experienced any of these? Which if any would you recommend?Thanks in advance,Joe
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Showing 6 responses by donpepe

I'm a fan of Moon equipment by Simaudio, I had their CD player a few years ago and found it enjoyable. However, I haven't heard the 260D and there are no dealers anywhere near me, I think the closest is in NC. Have you listened to it or are you just taking a shot on the brand as I did years ago? Let me know how you like it, i can't see how the Cambridge can match it.
A couple of years ago I bought the new very large conditioner from PS audio as well as their top of the line DAC and Transport. All three pieces had something wrong with them, while they were nice to deal with something was off in the quality control dept. I had to return all three pieces and have been lick shy with PS audio since then. It has been difficult to find many reviews of affordable transports other than Cambridge and Audiolab, both of which get nice reviews. I hear nice things about CEC but i don't know anyone in the States that sells them. They are available on EBAY but I'm not going there.
@nonoise I couldn't find much in terms of reviews on the Pro-ject and it's more $ compared to Jay's, so I'm leaning towards Jay's. @b_limo My digital rig sounds way better with the new DAC and the Cambridge as a transport. I'm excited about what a good (better) transport might bring to the party.  Maybe I'll go to hell with myself and get a pair of REL's.
@georgehifi. Yes it does but wait time for the player is at least 3 months, if they were in stock, i would order one today. If only I was a patient man!
@Soix I looked up Innuos and the Statement looks and is reviewed as amazing but cost way more than a transport. I have a large collection of CD's and albums. So adding another toy to play them doesn't seem financially reasonable UNLESS it was sonically much better.
@tweak1 My wires are all pretty good my weak link i think, is the Claris digital cable which will be upgraded this week.Although the audio-gd 7HE is not fully broken in it sounds good with no digital glare at all in NOS mode. One issue I have is that the instructions are translated from Chinese and not easy for me to understand. I think I'm just scratching the surface of what this DAC can do.
The price I saw on the project was 2999 the jays was just under 2400. I just ordered the Jay’s. With any luck we should both be very happy.
Hi Musichead,Yes I got the Jay's  CDT mark 2, I have no regrets. I just upgraded to the Mark 3 and going through the burn in process. I just added 3 isoacoustic footers and the improvement was significant. How are you doing?Joe
@musichead I was using my Cambridge player as transport, probably very similar to the CXC. IMO the Jay's Mark 2 and 3 are a little better, much better if you put the Jay's on isoacoustic or AV room solutions footers. However, I don't know if it's thousands of dollars better. Why not buy the CDP you are interested in from a retailer that will allow you a 30 day return policy, as you know the Cambridge won't be easy to beat. If you like how your system sounds now why not stand pat?