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Help with choosing a CD transport

Hi Folks. I'd like your opinions on CD transports that are "Affordable" and or may be unusual choices. I have an Oppo 93 that I like a lot. When ithe 93 got sick for a while I picked up an Audiolab 6000 CDT. The Audiolab is a really nice unit once I got used to slot loading. Good sound and is heavy and apparently well built. I've run it constantly for weeks. My problem is the 93 sounds a little better. My system has some extra exuberance and the Audiolab exacerbates that. It' just a bigger relaxation factor with the 93. 
I wonder if there are some other blue ray players out there or CD players that also offer good performance as a CD transport. The 6000 was $550. In retrospect I could have gotten a pretty food CD player and used it as a transport all things being equal. Sony has some blue ray players with digital coax out for $100. Might be a sleeper.
I have considered the Cambridge transport but if you look at the on line reviews for Cambridge equipment they seem to have more than their share of reliability problems. I auditioned their stereo receiver and it was DOA. Had to get a replacement. 
Any ideas, opinions or suggestions. Thanks in advance. 
fredcdobbs
soix
9,414 posts
 
Maybe consider adding something like a Wyred4Sound Reclocker to your current setup as it could help yield some improvement with any transport you use.

Another idea would be to ditch the transport altogether and go with something like an Innuos Zen server/streamer where you can load all your CDs right into it and have all your music at your fingertips.  You could also then explore the world of streaming and have a whole world of music to play.  Best of luck. 
facten
2,864 posts
 
You might find some help from responses on this other similar thread
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/advice-on-cd-transport
Ag insider logo xs@2x
tonykay
1,301 posts
 
Take a look at a pre-owned Oppo 105. They're available for around $1,000. 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Get a JVC XV-N310 DVD player and use its digital output jack. They can be found on eBay for around $25! Excellent sound quality - it gets ALL the 0's and 1's to your DAC of choice . And has an excellent 24-bit ladder-type chip set built-in for playing CDs. I have one in use! Why spend more?
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
The JVC XV-N310 DVD player sounds astonishingly good playing CDs! Must be its internal 24-bit ladder-type chip set! Now if it only cost four-figures ...
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