Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 I2S pin definition

It arrived! I rushed home from work, doing my best to obey speed limits and full stops at stop signs. Took about 20 minutes to set-up. Tete Montoliu in the tray.First impressions-Incredible!

PRAT-best I have experienced

Depth of the soundstage.

The speakers disappear. 

Attack and decay-wow!

Presence and the "weight" of the instruments-the space between instruments has dimensionality. I am in the room with the musicians. 

The drums have full presence. And this is just one CD out of the box.

Compared to my Cambridge transport (which is very good at its price point), what an upgrade!

If you all could see the smile on my face.

Stay tuned...

@wharfy ,

Congratulations!

I knew that you would find it wonderful sounding straight out of the shipping box. And it will quickly and steadily improve. I was very sure it would fit right into your home system and immediately impress you.

The Cambridge is a solid and competent CD transport however the Pro-Ject is just in a much higher tier of sound quality. I post fairly frequently about it because I want others who listen to Redbook CD to understand how superb this transport is. Its price is an outstanding value given the level of performance. @wharfy I’m glad that you took the chance to hear it for yourself.

👍

Charles

@wharfy 

Yours is yet another compelling  example of the importance and substantial impact a CD transport contributes.  All you did was exchange transports and witness the huge improvement,  nothing else changed in your system.  People who adhere to "bits are bits" and any CD player will suffice fine as a transport are so mistakened. Transport and DAC are 'both major factors in the ultimate sound quality. 

Charles 

@wharfy 

Is it safe to assume that you were up late last night?😊

Charles 

@charles1dad -LOL. Yes. And early this morning. There's no rest for the weary 😁

I had the opportunity to simultaneously listen to Tete Montoliu's, Catalonian Fire from 2 different sources-the Pro-Ject CD Box and the Cambridge CXC transport.

The differences between the two transports are not subtle. While a revealing transport, the CXC throws a shallow and lighter weight soundstage compared to the Pro-Ject, Instruments like Tootie Heath's drums are subdued on the CXC when compared to the Pro-Ject. I've listened to Catalonian Fire countless times and Heath's presence was startling. 

Via the Pro-Ject and an Aurender music server which feeds a Musetec 005 DAC with an Amanero USB board, I also compared an awesome Philip Catherine/Niels Pedersen CD, Art of the Duo.

Have you heard this one?

Via the music server, the output level of this CD is on the quiet side, and when you read the reviews many people complain about that. You need to turn it up to hear the nuanced interplay between PC and NOHP. It's satisfying.

Played on the Pro-Ject transport, the nuance is now replaced by first row intimacy. Hearing NOHP's playing is captivating. He's prominently featured and on many songs is playing lead to Catherine's rhythm. You can hear him plucking, pulling and sliding his fingers on and across the strings of his stand-up bass. In my set-up, with the Pro-Ject, you are right there!

If my timing is right, you have had your Pro-Ject since the summer. What CDs that you've listened to are noteworthy?