Bang For Your Buck Best Value CD Transport

I had the Northstar Model 192 DAC for about 1 year and never had any problems with it. It is an excellent performer and value. The used price varies but mine was around $950. It is extremely versatile with inputs and outputs.

I have tried using the Pioneer 563A as a transport and thought it was less than decent compared directly to a Panasonic RP91. Admittedly, the RP91 was a lot more expensive, but it wasn't even close.

If you are into modded stuff, I am a big fan of the Empirical Audio transport mods to the Sony S7700. I use this one as my reference transport with a Dodson DA-218 DAC. Have compared it to transports from Mark Levinson, 47 Labs, Esoteric, and have found it to be "in the ballpark" with all of these.

Hi Phil

Sure, it is very good at $150 retail though...at least in my system. It beats a $1,200 retail and $500 retail units I tried before it IMO.

He did say...bang for buck. The Empirical audio mods plus the price of the Sony are what?.

Dave

Yeap the Pioneers are excellent transports. I use the 578A as a transport. Loads faster than any unit I've spent time with that includes the Quad 99 CDp,Arcam DV27,Meridan 500 something? Too many numbers to remember ;-). I would think the 563a should be the same. You'll find similar transport mechanisms in the Esoteric and Ayre players . They both use the Pioneer transports with some extra modifications. Bottom line the transports are very solid..the players aren't good for much else though unless modded to the hilt for analog out playback.

There always seem to be a number of CAL Delta transports available here for $200-300. They are excellent transports.