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

I just added the LTA linear power supply and will wholeheartedly vouch that it is a noticeable plug and play improvement over the stock walwart power supply.  What is the difference?  Definitely more air and a sense if space and dimensionality.  Impressively, there is a marked reduction in the electronic sonic signature that overlays the music with the stock power supply.  I am for sure glad that I spent the money to upgrade to the LTA power supply.  

@jaymark 

Thanks and appreciate your listening feedback.  Even with the stock wall wart power supply you preferred the Pro-J3ct to your Jay's Audio Lab CD transport. Was this "electronic signature/overlay" noticeable to you then or only aware of relative to the LPS addition?

Charles 

Charles, it sounds really good with the stock power supply and I did notice the electronic overlay.  However, it was virtually all gone with the new LTA power supply.  No question that the power supply made the difference.

@jaymark, 

I'm loving the sound with the supplied SMPS wall wart but a LPS is in the very near future .👍

Charles