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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
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wig
1,270 posts
 
No noises from my Pro -Ject.

Wig
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jaymark
512 posts
 
I inserted the new Project high end CD transport in place of Jay Audio's latest high end transport in my exercise room audio system.  I went out of town and returned 30 hours later - it had played continuously.  Both are excellent transports.  On a scale of 1 to 10, I give the Jay a 9 and the Project a 9.5.  As Terry previously said, the Project has more air and, IMO, a bit better soundstage.  The Project is much smaller though very dense feeling and is for sure nothing to look at.  

I bought an open box Project transport from Music Direct.  Still it was about 500 dollars more than the Jay Audio transport. Again, both transports are really, really good.  But in my system, the Project is discernably better.
essrand
297 posts
 
This thread has really tempted me to buy the Pro-Ject Transport. But a very similar thing has happened to me in the past and this feels like a deja vu, and I am confused.

There was a mid-fi product that was greatly oversold by a reputed forum member in this forum, there were lots of people who bought it and aha-ed and oho-ed this product, claiming it to be as good as SET amp etc (it was a Class D product). And I was in the market for a new amp and went for it, and it was a great disappointment. I don't know if these guys were deaf, were paid off by the brand, or didn't know what high-end sound was (or were in denial), or what were they smoking?. I sold it at a loss of course. IMO it was not subjective, anyone with some discernment would have called BS on this amp.

Now this is a similar situation, a CDT produced by a "mid-fi" brand that is reputed to be a world champion. I am just about the pull the trigger again. But this time I am thinking twice, three times and more. Only thing slightly different is that, this time it is a reputed reviewer not some random forum member who might have lot of posts and lot of miles on them but very questionable tastes, but is that better or worse. I don't know. 

Thoughts? Anyone have faced similar quandary in the past, or facing it now. Would love to hear.
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