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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
toolbox149
263 posts
 
Two questions,
First, Anybody hooking up the Project to a PS Audio Directstream with I2S? Is it a good match? (My Jays CDT2 MK2 always had a small glitch).
Second: Speaking of the Jays, is it possible to use the aftermarket Qstab disk stabalizer on the Project unit? That little Project clamp sure looks like it could use a bigger brother.

Thank you,
Tim
80s_forever
43 posts
 
I read somewhere that Pro-Ject is not using PS Audio's I2S pinout in their implementation.  So only the companion Pro-Ject DAC is designed to work with their cd transport.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
"That little Project clamp sure looks like it could use a bigger brother."

It's my understanding that the small size of the clamping disc, chosen alloy metal and weight were well thought out and very specific to  compliment the actual CD spinning mechanism and isolation suspension.

So in this instance a larger clamping disc may not be advantageous. Certainly one could experiment with a larger disc and report their findings. 
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
P.S. Audio has reduced the price of their PWT Memory SACD/CD to 3,999.00 (From 6,499.00).  Pretty much the same ballpark as the Pro-Ject CD BOX RS2 with an added LPS. Teajay I wish you could get your hands on the latest PWT and compare to your RS2 transport. One can dream😊.
Charles
amorstereo OP
64 posts
 
Hey Charles,

I have never been a fan of P.S. Audio gear for two reasons: 1) There build quality. 2) Underwhelming performance-Both the DACs and transport.

I have talked to two individuals that I trust their "ears" and both thought the Pro-Ject transport was superior in it's performance compared to the latest version of the P.S. Audio PWT transport.
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