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A phenomenal new CD transport-Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 transport

I have had in-house for the last week Pro-Ject's new CD Box RS2 transport to review for the website Stereo Times. I was very curious to assess its performance because it uses the Pro 8 drive with the Blue Tiger CD-84 servo card. This drive was developed and built by StreamUnlimited a company started by the original Phillips designers that historically built the finest CD mechanisms. Only two other companies use the StreamUnlimited 8 drive and Blue Tiger CD-84 servo card, their pieces cost $16,000 and $39,000 compared to Pro-Ject's sane price of $3,000!

My reference for the last two years has been the excellent Jay's Audio MK-II transport that had out-performed much more expensive highly regarded transports in my system. Well, across every sonic parameter  (transparency/micro-details-overall dynamics/bottom-end extension/purity of tonality- a much more airy sound-stage with wonderful 3D imaging) compared to the Jay's Audio transport.

That's way I titled this thread a "phenomenal new CD transport" because while not inexpensive, it just might be a bargain based on its performance. Mind you, this superlative level of performance is based on using the switching power supply that Pro-Ject ships the transport with. I have shortly coming a custom 20 watt 3 amp linear power supply from Linear Tube Audio and Pro-Ject's own upgraded power supply to see if the RS2 transport performance will even go to a higher qualitative level of performance.

I'll be writing a full detailed review for Stereo Times in the near future. However, I wanted to share this information to GON members who still spin CDs. I have had numerous CD transports in for evaluation and this just might be the best sounding of all of them.

Teajay (Terry London)




amorstereo
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
@facten,
Yes I saw that via @wig's  link above. Agree probably a low risk scenario.  I just wonder if Pro-Ject would use this as a reason for non supporting  warranty issues if they should arise. Just openly speculating. 
Charles 
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,903 posts
 
I got an email from Burson Audio (Australia) about their 12V-3A power supply. Maybe they heard someone talking about it 😄
https://www.bursonaudio.com/product/super-charger-3a/?utm_source=Burson+Customer&utm_campaign=cf4eebf276-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_10_06_38_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_dcbad555fe-cf4eebf276-31111047
It uses multi stage MosFet Noise Filtering and goes for $285 until mid August and then goes up 20%. 

All the best,
Nonoise
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,903 posts
 
I just now came across this video review of the Burson Supercharger 3A over at YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-SMtirVrKk
They seem to like it. A lot.

All the best,
Nonoise
Post removed 
tyray
657 posts
 
Hey nonoise,

Here’s something on a cheaper version of a Pro-Ject CD player in their line up and the reviewer just loved it.
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0621/Pro_Ject_Audio_CD_Box_DS2_CD_Player_Review.htm
I don’t know if it uses the Tiger platform that the top loader uses but it’s way cheaper and really impressed the reviewer.

All the best,
Nonoise

I really appreciate you bringing to our attention here on the Project CD Box DS2. A lot of us here on agon are needle dropping for there main form of playing music and the Project CD Box DS2 just maybe the entry point for some of us here that don’t have $4000 to 6 grand to upgrade to a pure transport only with an outboard dac configuration. Nicely done sir.
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