older CD transport vs newer ones.

I added a fairly inexpensive CD transport to my DCS Rossini DAC/Clock and am shocked how much better it sounds spinning a disc vs streaming it.

https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2237249

The Pro-Ject CD RS2 T Stream Unlimited Pro 8 transport is newer than Jay’s and outperforms it.
Top loader like a TT.

I disagree with slot loaders being rubbish. I've had several tray loaders malfunction, break, jamb, stick, you name it. Mechanical is mechanical. Anything with a moving part can break. As far as the slot loader harming the disc,,, I haven't experienced it.

As I was looking for a streamer, the Cambridge Audio 851N came up. It is built like a tank and sounded good. 
But the Technics SLG-700 was a revelation in build and sound quality. Tray load was solid, but one has to carefully place the CD… $3,000 range, but I found an “open box” for a good disco. 

Cd transports sound very different.... I went from an arcam cds50 which spins sacd.... At first into amp direct and then via a chord qutest DAC. Earlier this year bought a pro-ject rs2 cd transport at 4x the cost that ONLY does CD and I am amazed. CD played in the rs2 as good (but different) than same album SACD in the Arcam.

But playing CD vs CD in both units it becomes very clear that the Rs2 is lightyears better. Clarity, stereo seperation, musicality, blackness between notes... I could go on.

All I know is I am hitting charity shops here in UK snapping up their CD... Up to £1 each but sometimes 5 for a quid. Even compared to my vinyl rig which is a rega. RP8 with apheta 2 MC I think CD might have it and that is the greatest surprise.