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CD Transports

Greetings. I am setting up a second system for the basement and am using a 1978 Sherwood receiver. At first I was going to just use the turntable with it and play the tuner occasionally but then thought I'd like to play some CDs. In my main system I have a Rega Apollo R hooked up to an Exogal Comet/Ion. Clearly I don't need the DAC in the Rega so I reasoned that it may be better to transfer the unit to the basement and get a transport, namely the Cambridge Audio CXC, for the upstairs primo set-up. Does that sound reasonable? The CD format is moribund so I don't see the point of getting a top dollar one--most of my CDs are ripped on the laptop and I just kept some rare European favorites. I was also tempted to buy a 1995 Marantz CC 45 5-CD player for the basement, but it is probably not such a great performer. Do I reason correctly that the CXC is my best option? I think the DAC in their Topaz player is not as good but that sounds like a decent player too. Thanks for advice. rt
128x128rtorchia
rtorchia's avatar
rtorchia OP
138 posts
 
For the record I did get the Marantz CC 45 5-CD player from 1995 to hold me over. It has Philips components and sounds great and cost me $50. I know 5-CD tray machines are anathema to audiophiles but they are very convenient, especially if you like Wagner operas. 
dr-john's avatar
dr-john
72 posts
 
My Moon 260D stand-alone transport came with a 10-year warranty.  No problems after two. Recently I paired it with the Moon 780D v2 DAC, and I now have the most transparent digital front-end I've owned in 20 years of spinning cd's.
minorl
1,016 posts
 
I have compared many CD players and Transports and for the money, it is really hard to beat the Pioneer Elite units.  The DV-09 is literally built like a tank.  Same for BDP-09. unit.

They are very inexpensive and are absolutely wonderful as Transports.

enjoy
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Word to the wise: Audiolab.
harrylavo's avatar
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harrylavo
346 posts
 
I'm going to throw a curve ball.  Back in the SACD days, Pioneer put out a universal player (in this country designated 578A.) John Atkinson mentioned it in an article or review as having the most accurate instrumental timbres of even the most expensive players.  He wasn't kidding, folks.  I picked one up on closeout.  But beyond the timbre, the transport was the same as Pioneer (probably sourced from them) and has been far more reliable than the Sony's.  The amplifier stage is cheap and two dimensional, but as a transport it is rock solid compared to any of my other CD sources.  I use it with a BelCanto e1 3.0 DAC with excellent results.

Find one used, give them a $100 bill, and buy yourself dinner with the change.



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