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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
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,971 posts
 
To those who are on the fence with the two Jays models (MK2 & 3), there's a new youtube video of The Audiophiliac (Steve Guttenberg) on the differences, and he feels the Mk3 is that big enough a difference to warrant getting it over the Mk2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hRMl4oAYNA&t=818s
I asked him about the Pro-Ject and how he felt it compared to the Jays and although he felt the Pro-Ject sounded better, he never warmed to the feel and use of the Pro-Ject. Different strokes for different folks.

Oh, and there's a bit of a discount (not for long) if you use the code he shows towards the end of the video. It's only $168 but it's something.

All the best,
Nonoise
tommylion
874 posts
 
“I asked him about the Pro-Ject and how he felt it compared to the Jays and although he felt the Pro-Ject sounded better, he never warmed to the feel and use of the Pro-Ject. Different strokes for different folks.”

I wonder if it’s because the Pro-Ject doesn’t allow you to program tracks? It still boggles my mind that they left out this feature, one that virtually every other CD player or transport has, and it was deliberate, not accidental.


kully560
47 posts
 
I just received and played the project and it is far better than my musical  fidelity m1 cdt. I will be getting the pro-ject 4 way uni power supply on Saturday so that should be a nice improvement also . as far as sound goes.
1-more natural
2- a little more forward sound
3- much cleaner sound 
4-  tighter bass
5- hear more of the recording [things just pop out] 
6- crisper top end
7-  a little warmer also
8- separation is the same so far 
this is a comparison right out of the box.
with a upgrade power supply, upgrade dc power cord ,  upgrade ac power cord , upgrade fuse in power supply, this should be a killer set up.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Steve Guttenberg finding the Pro-Ject CD Box transport better sounding than the Jay's Audio transport is consistent with numerous listening impressions posted on this informative thread. 

@kully560, 
Your listening impressions mirror the others offered here. Congratulations on your acquisition of the Pro-Ject transport. Seems to be little doubt that this is  top tier CD transport.
Charles 
dynamiclinearity
281 posts
 
Have you guys used stock feet or some of the new vibration isolating feet under your CD or CD drives(or any electronics). I've found they make obvious improvements to all electronics(at least in my system) and especially on CD drives(I use a seperate DAC). It wasn't just a better version of my drive. It was like another way more expensive drive. I know it works on a Cambridge drive. I wonder if the isolating feet make significant affects on these super CD drives especially since it appears they inherently handle microphonics better than less costly drives. It would be interesting to see the affects of these feet on super drives.
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