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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
amorstereo OP
64 posts
 
Hey disc,

Thanks for posting the link to my review. I hope all you guys enjoy it and find it informative about this great transport. It's not inexpensive by any means. However, I believe it's one of the best transports on the market today, and the highest performing I have ever had in my house.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi Terry ,
I enjoyed reading your review very much.  Can the transport screen brightness and color scheme you cited in the review be done with the remote control?
Charles 
amorstereo OP
64 posts
 
Hey Charlies,
Glad that you enjoyed it. Yes, the brightness/color are adjusted through the remote control.
stewg
22 posts
 
Terry,
I wonder if you've been able to compare the Pro-ject to any of the upper level Audio Note transports that your local dealer sells. I have an all Audio Note system, using a level one transport with the Dac 2.1x Signature, which is one level down from your dac. Just curious if there would be a system compatibility between an Audio Note dac and transport, vs using the Pro-ject. The upper level Audio Note transports all use the Phillips CD Pro 2LF  transport.
amorstereo OP
64 posts
 
Hey stewg,

I have nothing but respect for Audio Note UK gear. My hunch is that because all the different  Audio Note transports use some type of NOS Phillips transport mechanisms, and the Pro-Ject uses a qualitative new/different mechanism and control board that you still would get a higher level of performance out of your 2.1X Signature by driving it with the Pro-Ject. Part of this hunch is also based on that at least three transports that I have had in-house used different versions of NOS Phillips transports and none sounded as good as the Pro-Ject driving my 3.1 Balanced MK II.
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