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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
celander's avatar
celander
1,503 posts
 
I purposefully did not compare the Jay's Audio CDT2 MK2 with my analog rigs (VPI Prime and two Linn LP12 set-ups having different arm/cartridge combinations).

The SQ commonalities between my CD and LP playback front ends include an incredibly silent background and a huge 3-dimensional sound space.
toddrhodes
49 posts
 
Since I don't think I really made the point I was driving at when I set out on that post, my goal is to find my favorite recordings in their best form on physical media. And in cases where they are roughly equal, frankly I’d prefer to play the CD to keep wear off the stylus. To me it’s just gratifying to hear digital playback that has reminded me so much of what I love about vinyl. I had a very, very nice digital setup four years ago and it had its good points but it was more about "look what I can do" vs "how does this system make you feel?" If that makes sense. I actually feel some equivalence between the two formats now and that makes me happy because so much of what I’m after either doesn’t exist on vinyl, isn’t affordable on vinyl, or is honestly not so well-produced and translates poorly on vinyl.

Hope that makes sense :)
lordcloud
155 posts
 
@in_shore 

What are you thoughts on the Rockna vs the Terminator?

I considered the Terminator as my next dac, but now I'm thinking that maybe the Rockna will be the one. Longer to save the money and justify the price, but it seems like a very long term dac. 
garrard
73 posts
 
All I want for Xmas is my 2 front teeth...
No, actually the Home theater review of the CDT2 Mk2 would be better.
dsper
663 posts
 
Hi celander,

I noticed that you are using a Theta Digital DS ProBasic IIIa DAC.

Can you comment on the sound and how it compares to other DACS you have used?

Thanks for listening, 

Dsper
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