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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
snopro
392 posts
 
lordcloud, I have the a Terminator and CDT2-mk.2 transport using the I2s connections and the pairing is excellent.
I like it much better then my PS Audio Memory player and Directstream DAC combo.
The Terminator is open, has great prat, and dynamic with very good micro and macro detail. I think it is transparent and not colored. What it isn't is dry, thin, sterile, and fatiguing. 
Tonally, it sounds natural with nice texture and has some meat on the bones  (which to me is how a lot of acoustic instruments sound) but still has bite when a trumpet is blown harder, IMHO.  


shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 
This one could be his reference dac now.

https://hometheaterreview.com/lab-12-dac1-special-edition-reviewed/?page=2
lordcloud
155 posts
 
@snopro 

Thanks for your insight. After doing more research, as of right now I'll be going with the Terminator. It seems to fit the bill for what I'm looking for, versus what I can actually buy. Had I the money, I'd be looking at a Aries Cerat Kassandra, MSB Select II, or TotalDac Twelve.....but the Terminator seems awesome, and I'm loving being able to use I2s. Though I could save up longer and get an Aqua Acoustics Formula......I think I'll be happy with the Terminator. 

Thanks again. 
snopro
392 posts
 
Lordcloud, you mentioned some excellent DACs but, at a much higher price point. 
I heard the original Aqua Formula and I think the Terminator was very close. I'm sure the updated Formula xHD surpassed the older one but it is $17,000 now.
I'm sure you'll be thrilled with the Termy it's built like a tank and sounds wonderful.
Let us knew how you like it. Give it a couple hundred hours for break-in it gets better with more time.

mboldda1's avatar
mboldda1
575 posts
 
Lordcloud, bring the transport to skip's
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