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looking for the best cd transport only, without dac

I have a Hegel H160 with inbuilt DAC and I'm looking for cd transport recommendation for $1000 or so. I have Harbeth SHL5 + and like an open and transparent sound. I've considered PS Audio PWT and other used options. I'm currently using my $75 Sony bluray player for transport and surprised how good it sounds. I've auditioned transports like Marantz and Cambridge. Options like Primare and Audionote I have't been able to listen to, the latter ones used to get closer to price point. There is also the Oppo 203, but wonder about quality of sound sacrifices in jack of all trades box? When I have compared the few transports I've tried the sound quality differences were quite subtle. So have people here done some serious comparisons of sound quality of just transports and have any great recommendations? Thanks
ckharbeth
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
it it has some interesting features that a normal transport does not have, such as “re-read until successful” vs ecc error checking.

Just my .02, irrespective of the fact that physical CDs themselves are subject to data rot and present issues of their own, if one is wanting to "RIP" a cd this is why there is nothing better than exact audio copy (EAC) software. And, back to the point of the thread (transport without DAC), an outstanding transport - albeit with a DAC - if "bad" or "difficult to read" CDs are the issue, then consider an Emotiva ERC-3. It (intentionally) spins the disk at over 1200 rpm, 3 to 4 times faster than most other players, in order to read (and re-read) the disk to make sure things are "exactly perfect".

EDIT:

Forgot to mention the ERC-3 has a plethora of digital transport options.
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
the checksum used for CDs ought to be good to a couple of parts per billion
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Yes, ideally. 

The Reed Solomon error detection correction function should catch all errors. Ideally. Of course we know that's not (rpt not) true.
rja's avatar
rja
2,358 posts
 
CEC offers a full range of CD transports.
stevizzy's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
stevizzy
110 posts
 
A few years ago I was looking into getting a CD Transport to use with my Bryston DAC to replace an aging Oppo NewForce BluRay Player. 
I tried several until I read the TAS article about a Simaudio Neo260D. 
The transport was very nice indeed. When I finally listened to the DAC in the 260D, I sold my Bryston DAC. 
The transport is $2000, but I’d recommend spending the extra $1K for the DAC, it’s that good. 
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