Replaced CDP w/ Transport; Now, Soundstage Changes Dramatically w/each CD. Why?

I agree, ceramics kill brass. Brass is one of your softer metals. NASA grade ceramics are almost as hard as diamonds. Brass is waaay on down the scale.

geoffkait: this may be a dumb question, but unless components have some sort of threaded, adjustable feet, how does one "level" components?

>>>>Absolute level of the CD itself is not as easy to obtain as it seems. The tray level is not a good reference, sometimes the tray is at some angle to the transport. The level of the top of the chassis is not a good reference, either, because tolerances of the whole package are not exactly NASA precision. If you use a bubble level on the top of the chassis what you often find is the level varies. So, which one is correct? If the component does not have threaded feet you will have to come up with a shim or two under one or two feet.

Also, “fuzziness” is not unusual for ANY CD player. Everything is relative for resolution and dynamics. Unless one addresses scattered background laser light AND flutter and vibration of the CD whilst spinning I’m afraid you’ll always be on the fuzzy side of things. It’s always gaining to be fuzzy and compressed relative to what it should be. People give designers of this stuff way too much credit. 

geoffkait: thanks for the explanation. So then, what does one use for shims ?  

Quarter, dime, small ceramic tile, playing card, credit card, CD, industrial diamond, steel washer, aluminum washer. How will you know the CD is level whilst playing?

 If the component does not have threaded feet you will have to come up with a shim or two under one or two feet.

Here we see the difference between Audiogon's reigning theoretical physicist and an actual, you know, physicist. The actual physicist knows three points define a plane. Not one. Or even two. Three. 

millercarbon, God gave animals and pianos four legs for a reason. He gave CD players four legs for the same reason. It’s so they won’t run around in circles.