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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
shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R5CDG8O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you use separate isolation transformer for Jay's CDT2, it sound more organic and natural.

Above inexpensive isolation transformer connected with  Spiritual Audio power conditioner works well in my system.

Thomas
snopro
393 posts
 
@garrard
I’m the guy who’s system bigkidz heard.
First off, we used two different inputs so we are comparing apples to oranges.
Between the Jays transport and the Terminator I use a HDMI Wireworld Platinum cable.
 With Metronome we used a Cerious Technologies digital coax.

I thought the hdmi sounded more open and livelier but, had a more upfront presentation.

When we used the digital coax with the Jay’s and Termi it also sounded pretty similar the the Metronome and Termi pairing. It became smoother, had a  deeper soundstage but the Jay’s was more dynamic and had more air.

Difference of opinion. I don’t think the Metronome was better just a little different presentation. 

Both were excellent. If you can get the Metronome used for a good price you’ll get a hell of a transport.

IMO,  the Jay’s is just as good, maybe even better and you can get it new plus it is built like a tank.

Joe


garrard
73 posts
 
I bought my Jay's Audio CD2 Mk.2 in November 2018 :)
vitamin_z's avatar
vitamin_z
3 posts
 
I’m going to try out the Benchmark DAC3 DAC-Pre for reasons partly unrelated to the DAC section. I’ll sort out the SQ of their DAC section when I audition it.

Hi @celander ! Have you had a chance in listening the CDT2-MK2 with the Benchmark DAC3? I have one (a Benchmark) and I'm wondering how'd be with the Jay's Audio transport.
Thanks,
Nikos

teajay OP
1,702 posts
 
Heads up,

Steve Guttenberg on his daily audiophile review video just gave a total thumbs up on the Jay's transport.
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