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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
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

@erictal4075

I’m just past the 100 hour burn-in point with the Fidelizer Nikola 2 LPS. It is obviously evolving and continuing to improve its sound quality. Take what I wrote in my last post (50 hours) and honestly add an additional 10% improvement. As impressively good the Pro-Ject is with its supplied SMPS wall wart, the high quality LPS is simply the superior choice.

That is saying a lot but is the unadulterated truth. Given the progression I am hearing, I unequivocally recommend obtaining a good LPS. I wouldn’t try to go cheap here. Power supply quality is too important and vital to acquiring good sound. It will advance the Pro-Ject RS2 transport to its fullest sonic potential. The manufacturer told me 200 hours to achieve complete burn-in of this LPS, so I’m halfway there.

How much more is there to gain? I’ll find out. This Pro-Ject with LPS is a tremendous package. Truly stunningly good sound quality. An exceptional audio value if there ever was one.

Charles

erictal4075's avatar
erictal4075 OP
70 posts
 

I just got notice tonight that my Linear Tube Audio power supply for my CD Box is due to arrive on Monday, so I'm about to embark on my own auditory voyage of discovery. I'm very glad and impressed to hear your story, Charles, as your setup continues to break in so impressively. Seems to verify everything we've heard about the improvements "going linear" can make to our little CD Boxes (don't be fooled by how small they are)! 

Big boys sometimes arrive in small packages.

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

@erictal4075 

Big boys sometimes arrive in small packages

Very apropos!  It so fittingly characterizes the Pro-Ject RS2 transport. You are going to cherish your LTA LPS. Patience and burn-in is all that's required.

Charles 

tommylion
874 posts
 

Something I’d like to figure out; is the lack of the ability to program CD tracks inherent to the CD Pro 8 mechanism, or is it just a “feature”  of the Pro-Ject RS2T?

erictal4075's avatar
erictal4075 OP
70 posts
 

@ tommylion: A very good question, needing more insight than perhaps most of us here have. It’s worth asking the Pro-Ject people themselves. If the inability to program tracks on the RS2 T is also duplicated on any or all of the other transports discussed in this thread which also employ the CD Pro 8 drive mechanism, then it COULD be a limitation built into the laser mechanism itself.

It’s also possible that transports using the CD Pro 8 CAN be made programmable, but this option has been omitted perhaps because very few people buying premium-grade CD transports and players have asked to have it included. Programmability may be viewed as a "consumer-grade" option found mainly on cheap, inexpensive CD players.

Thinking more about it, it seems to me that if you can select tracks using the remote, the ability to program them should also be there - it simply has to be accommodated - but for the possible reasons described above, it has been left out as being of little interest to most users.

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