older CD transport vs newer ones.

"Moved to a PS Audio PWT (memory player that was/is also 12 years old and listed for $4000) and the PWT blew the CD8 away."

@dsper,
Yes your experience with the P.S.Audio PWT mirrors my very good outcome. I had an early generation Esoteric with the VRDS mechanism/assembly. I used it for years and it was very good sounding (And reliable it still works fine today). Direct comparison to the PWT in my system the PWT was better sounding and more musically engaging.

@sns and others had different experiences with it. This is nothing new, diverse opinions and listening impressions are part and parcel in High End audio. Personal taste,system synergy etc. I do think that the Pro-Ject RS2 BOX is extremely intriguing with the latest "top loading CD" Stream Unlimited technology (And Blue Tiger servo board) and attention to detail and built quality. This thread has produced some very interesting and insightful commentary.
Charles

Was sold on streaming hi-res until I replaced my Cambridge CXC transport with the Jays’. Streaming still sounds great but something natural about the red books now. Both paired via I2s to Holo Audio May Dac. To think I almost got rid of the discs!

Streaming still sounds great but something natural about the red books now. To think I almost got rid of the discs!

Lucky boy.
A couple of members in our Audio Club had thousand + cd’s they collected from the start of CD. And then sold them all when they went to streaming, chopped and changed streamers for a year or so, and then in the end gave up on hiend audio altogether, and now have budget systems, and we don’t see them at the meetings anymore.

I believe this is the reason why, streaming is usually always the later (red compressed) re-releases

Only album they ever did.
https://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list/year?artist=Traveling+Wilburys

And the Boss.
https://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list/year?artist=Bruce+Springsteen&album=Born+To+Run

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ&ab_channel=MattMayfieldMusic

Cheers George

@ggc: you're absolutely right with the VRDS and VRDS Neo drives - I wanted to buy a Wadia combo of 521 DAC and 571 transport - there was an 24/192 upgrade announced for the DAC 521 - I was waiting almost 2 years as I wanted to buy most recent products - unfortunately Wadia stepped out of the hghi-end business with those products before.
The Wadia S7i player had built-in the better 24/192 DAC but according to Wadia engineers the drive itself was not on the same level as the 571 transport.
So I went with the AR Ref. CD9SE and the Philips CD-Pro transport.

I use the teac vrds10se as transport. 
Old dac removed course it can add distortion on the main board. 
Recapped the main board. Added a bnc 75ohm at the rear. 
Tentlabs reclock. 
Replaced the two belts one of them runs the CD up and down to the spindle very hard to replace (tip add markings on that piece course it's tricky to get it right in gears again) 
It is a tank very nice running transport.
One disadvantage the laser isn't made anymore but I got a list of players where this kss151A is also build in. 
If your handy this is a very good alternative. And nowadays not expensive