I posted my opinion in the last CD Transport post. I build my own direct heated triode R2R DAC and have used many transports including many of the above. So here is my opinion. I was using an older Audiomeca as a transport with a separate power supply. That was the best sounding of everything mentioned above but it is not driven by a belt, it is driven by a string attached to a spring. So repairing the unit is an issue. I also used an older CEC TL5100Z and a Rega Apollo and Saturn as transports. The CEC sounds better than the Rega but the Rega has great tone and more of a jump factor, CEC much more musical for long term listening. I would choose the CEC over the Rega but could live with the Rega. I used to own a CEC TL-2X which was nice sounding but I sold mine as CEC no longer had replacement parts. It was a better sounding transport than my CEC TL-5100Z. We compared the Cambridge to the NuPrime and to an older Sim Audio used as transports into my DAC and a Musical Fidelity (M1 DAC?) that was modified by me with V-Caps, etc. In each listening arrangement, The Rega sounded better than the Cambridge, NuPrime and the Sim Audio. We did not have the Jay Audio at that time but another person has one with the Terminator DAC. That set-up did not outperform the CEC TL5100Z with the DHT DAC. Was not even close. So you have to really listen for yourself in your own system to see what you prefer.
If you are looking at older model units, the lasers are getting harder to find. So even though these units can be repaired, it is getting harder to finds the parts. Plus some of the lasers were modified so even if you do find the part, it may not be a plug and play arrangement.
I hope this was helpful. Happy Listening.
