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Reference Transports: An overall perspective

Teajay did a great job by starting a threat called "Reference DACS: An overall perspective."
I thought it might be beneficial to start a similar thread on transports.
Unfortunately I really have nothing much to say; I just hoped to get the ball rolling.

I'll start by throwing out a few names and a question:

Zanden 2000
CEC TL-0X
Metronome Kalista; T2-i Signature; and T2-A
Esoteric P-01; and P-03(?)
EMM Labs CDSD
47Labs PiTracer
Weiss Jason
Accustic Arts Drive 1
Ensemble Dirondo
Wadia 270se

I know that there are very few companies that actually make the drives themselves. The few I know about are:
Philips
TEAC
Sanyo/CEC

Do the various Philips drives or the TEAC VRDS transport mechanism each have a particular sonic signature regardless of which maunufacturer uses them in their designs?
exlibris
enjoy_the_music
39 posts
 
Hi there,

They definitely contribute to the sonic signature..they are fundemental to it!

My favourite transports (that i own) are all proprietary. They are also some of the best ever:

1. Sony CDP-R10 (less than 100 made for sony top brass)
2. Victor XL-Z900 (Harmonix Reimyo 777)
3. CEC TL-1
4. Denon DP-S1
5. Esoteric DV-50S

Would love to hear the Esoteric X-01....i will dream for a year i think.

I'm simplifying down now...just a transport running into a TACT TDA2200 digital amp....works wonders.

I also heard the new TACT CD1 is an amazing machine...

Enjoy!!! the music!!!

Richard
audioarchon's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
audioarchon
37 posts
 
"The interesting little feature" (upsampling in the transport) that Teajay mentions on the Ensemble Dirondo Drive, also eliminates the need for a "clock sync" cable. This seperate "clock sync" is something that is found on some of the best (at least to my ears) digital combos.

Note that I'm an Ensemble dealer.
Mike
kana813
956 posts
 
Richard-

Agree on the Denon DP-S1, with ST glass it was wonderful.

I'd add the Esoteric P-0 clocked the G-O, and the last of the Theta Redbooks, the Jade.

FYI, the CD1 is made by LyngdorfAudio, not TacT. Where did you hear it? - Dan
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
In the Teac lineup, besides the stratospherically priced P01, you may want to look at the redbook only P70. You should be able to find used P70 transports for just under $4K. Its VRDS mechanism is extremely similar to that used in X-01.
exlibris OP
438 posts
 
Do the TEAC VRDS units have a particular sound?
I know that the TEAC digital products themselves have a 'house sound' but I'm wondering if anyone has used one of these tranpsorts with a DAC that is not made by TEAC.

Also, do these transports upsample the signal before they send it on to a DAC?
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