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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
wig's avatar
wig
1,274 posts
 
I am quite happy with my Jay's CD 2 MK II, a very organic and natural sounding player : )

Wig
toddrhodes
49 posts
 
@whart 

Hey Bill, long time no chat! I am using the latest iteration of the Schiit Yggdrasil. They updated the analog output stage I think about a year ago, all updated units have a "B" to begin their serial number. While I would say it favors tone, texture, and musicality over imaging and spatial cues, it's really not a slouch at the latter either. 
lordcloud
155 posts
 
I also love mine and see no reason to switch it out for anything else. It just sounds right. 

I had an April Music CDT100 that sounded great, but was weighted downwards. I also have a Musical Fidelity that sounds very very good, and doesn't do anything wrong, but it lacks the overall life and resolution of the Jay's Audio.

I'm looking around at dacs to see what would be a great paring for it. 

I wish more dacs had the HDMI i2s output, as I have to be able to utilize the transport tot he fullest. I'm thinking about a Rockna Wavedream (expensive) and still haven't completely ruled out the Terminator (better price, but I don't love that it's voiced to be warm and lush, as opposed to simply being as transparent as possible).
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@lordcloud   The Denafrips Terminator accomplishes the difficult and rare feat of being both transparent and musical.
lordcloud
155 posts
 
@david_ten 

I imagine it is fairly transparent. However the designers have said they voiced it to be lush. Most reviews also say it is in the warm side. 

I'm sure it isn't syrupy warm or lush, but I'm trying to avoid as much voicing as possible, and listen to what in the disc as much as possible. Or at least as much as my limited funds can get me.

I'm still not opposed to the Terminator, but if I can get more transparency and information retrieval, while not sounding bright or slow, I'll be happier.

I really wish someone was in Austin and had a Terminator, so I could hear it for myself.
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