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Buy a new CD transport?

CD playing Luddite here with the question being if I should buy a new CD transport.
i currently have a Sony 608ESD which I have owned since new and still works perfectly.
i use it as a transport only with the digital out going into a Benchmark DAC3 and a Benchmark amp with Vandersteen 3’s upgraded to Signature. The Sony and CD’s are used for 97.5% of my listening.
Will I by buying a newer transport find an upgrade in sound or does using the digital out and bypassing ( at least that’s my understanding) any electronics that can affect the sound negate a newer transport sounding better?
Thinking of an Audiolab 6000DT as it fits into my possible budget.
Happy with my current sound quality, really like the Sony features as it is easy to program specific tracks etc but just wondering if there is an upgrade in sound available.
fyi. Not an over thinker or into tweaks and finite chasing of sound. Listen everyday and really enjoy quality sound but not wanting to obsess. Thanks in advance for your opinions.

zimick
tom6897's avatar
tom6897
1,484 posts
 
+1^ play what you have until it gives up. May try to purchase another optical laser or drive if you know what part number you need. The rest of the electronics will most likely outlast you.😃

Enjoy🎶👂😃
zimick OP
32 posts
 
Tom6897 -
thank you. Z
jl35
4,017 posts
 
you can buy the Audiolab on ebay from an authorized dealer with free return, so try one...nothing to lose, potentially lots to gain...my guess is that no one here has comapred the Audiolab vs the Sony, running into the Benchmark...while there is no agreement in these forums, many believe the transport can make a big difference...
zimick OP
32 posts
 
jl35,
been tempted to do that but wanted some input first to see if it might even matter.
Lots of transports out there that cost a lot more that only have digital out so you might be right that there is something to gain.
Laughing at myself as it always seems there is some sort of rabbit hole to fall into chasing “ better”.
naimfan
166 posts
 
If it still works, and you're happy with how it sounds, I'd leave it. 

I have a Naim nDAC, with a Teddy Pardo XPS power supply, and it's easy to tell the difference from transport to transport.  I use an Exposure 3010S2 CD player as the transport, and you can tell it's quite a bit better than the cheap Sony DVD player I have, and that it's not as good as a CEC TL3 (I think it was a TL3!). 

I've also tried a Cambridge CXC, which was quite good, and an Audiolab 6000CDT, which was also quite good.  Neither were as good as the Exposure - but then, the Exposure was something like $2395 new. 

So if you want to try one, I'd say the Audiolab would be a great place to start.  And there is always a rabbit hole to dive into!
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