Aqua 'La Diva' ($9k) or Gryphon 'Ethos' ($39k) versus. Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T ($3k)?


What sensible rationale is there for buying either of the two above-mentioned VERY COSTLY CD spinners (Aqua ’La Diva,’ a CD-only transport, and the Gryphon ’Ethos,’ a CD player with built-in DAC) when we can get the same pure Red-Book CD digital output from the Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T for FAR less money?

What is a potential buyer getting for their significantly increased expenditure other than fancy packaging and possibly a boost to their egos from ownership of a prestige brand-name item? The one component (and a crucially-significant one at that) which all three of these products have in common is the new Philips-based Stream Unlimited CD Pro 8 CD player mechanism. Aside than that, what one appears to get with the two far-higher-priced components is little more than pure window-dressing, not substantive gains in performance over the CD Box RS2 T.

It is little wonder that one reviewer of the RS2 T thinks of it as nothing less than a "giant killer," in that it makes it nearly impossible for any level-headed purchaser, even one with the means to spend lavishly, to rationalize spending thousands of dollars more on these two competing products (or on others like them) when one can get the same sonic results (which from most reports are splendid) from the humble little CD Box.

Any thoughts? Do we audiophiles finally have good reason to come to our buying senses? To me, Pro-Ject Audio Systems may have struck a true winning vein with their CD Box when prospecting for gold.

128x128erictal4075
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Ah, Charles, now I understand - I, too, am getting an LPS (from Linear Tube Audio - their LPS+Linear Power Supply). For a moment I was thinking you were inserting a device into the audio chain itself! Instead, you are improving one you already have.

So, we’ll both soon be finding out what an LPS does to enhance the performance of our little CD Boxes.

Another thing: I am finding that sometimes my CD BOX cannot read standard Red-Book CDs which, when I carefully inspect them, are free of fingerprints, dirt and scratches and appear to be pristine. Whenever this happens, I find that shutting off and re-starting my transport sometimes helps. I also have a de-static-ing tool I bought some time ago from Mapleshade in Baltimore, MD, which neutralizes built up electrostatic charges on LPs and CDs. When I click my static-charge neutralizer, it generates a high voltage which jumps across its little terminals like tiny bolts of lightning and neutralizes static charges which can build up in cold, dry winter weather (try walking across a carpet in your stockinged feet and touch a metal object like a doorknob with your hand - you’ll hear a ’snap!’ and feel an electric shock). These tactics seem to work to clear up the problem and my CD BOX is again able to read my CD instead of showing that large green or red "X" superimposed over a yellow CD outline.

@erictal4075 - Just curious if you will be contacting the Project team about the problem you are encountering, and, if so will you be willing to pass on to the Forum the response/correction?

@charles1dad 

my apologies, I had assumed the gryphon was also just a transport.

indeed, it really would be interesting to see how much more performance can be squeezed out of the humble silver disk, and I agree that acoustic arts transport certainly looks very nice. 

I would also be interested to hear what difference your LPS makes. 

@ facten: I haven’t so far thought to contact the Pro-Ject Audio Team about this issue, because it seems to me to be a localized issue related to living in the freezing-cold Midwest, where right now the relative humidity is very low (< 30% in sub-zero windchill readings in the Chicago area, where I live), and where in my condo, the heat has to be constantly on to defend against the strong winds buffeting my building and further drying the air). All you have to do under these conditions is walk across a carpeted room while wearing socks (no shoes) and you’ll build up a major charge of static electricity. When I take a CD out of its jewel case and insert it into my Pro-Ject Audio CD Box transport, I must be giving it a static charge which somehow prevents the laser pickup from "reading" the CD, causing my transport to eventually stop trying to load it and declare "NO CD" present in the drive (indicated by a big green or red letter ’X’ superimposed over a yellow outline of a CD on the front panel). By "zapping" my CD with the little static-charge neutralizer I bought from Mapleshade Audio of Baltimore, MD, several years ago, I am once again able to get my CD Box to recognize and play my CDs.

You make a good point, though - I should let Pro-Ject’s people know about this problem, and then find out what they have to say about it. If I learn anything from them regarding this matter, I’ll make sure to post it here.