CD transports; do they really matter

@noske

 At this price point I’m quite disappointed that Pro-Ject does not include an internal linear power supply

With all due respect I believe that you are missing the value/performance ratio of the Pro-Ject CD Box RS2T. At this juncture there are only a few manufacturers who have adopted the Stream Unlimited CD Pro-8 and Blue Tiger servo-84 unit.

Aqua Hifi La Diva II (9,000.00),  Accustic Arts Drive II (18,000.00) and the Gryphon ETHOS CD player (39,000.00).  These companies felt the CD Pro-8 was the best choice for their flagship CD transports/players.

Pro-Ject ofers the consumer this latest drive technology at roughly 3,000.00. This is very much worth acknowledging. Yes it is physically scaled down compared to the more expensive alternatives. It comes with a wall wart power supply whereas the more expensive alternatives have LPS as standard.

So Pro-Ject is providing a reasonable cost entry point to obtain the latest Stream Unlimited  CD drive mechanism technology.  I do not mind the smaller form factor at all. As Terry London noted in his review,  even with the supplied SMPS wall wart it still outperformed his Jay'sAudio CDT2 MK II, MBL CD transport, CEC, Accustic Arts transport (Not the current Drive II)and  so on.

I can understand his conclusions as the wall wart powered Pro-Ject outperformed my P.S.Audio PWT with has a LPS. So it seems to me that the Stream Unlimited CD Pro-8 and servo unit are likely the dominant factor as to why it sounds so terrific.  Pro-Ject went with a wall wart power supply to lower the price entry point. They do offer a LPS upgrade option.

@bigkidz who is a manufacturer of custom high end audio components and said the diminutive Pro-Ject outperformed his highly regarded Metronome CD player and his CEC. Again accomplished with the wall wart power supply.  So in my opinion the Pro-Ject RS2 transport offers superb  sound quality at its asking price. 

The cherry on top is one can further extend the sound quality if they decide at some point to add  a LPS. This is a splendid scenario as far as I am concerned.

Charles 

From the review by Mr London -

An audiophile who will spend $3,000 on a dedicated CD transport would be very motivated to spend a bit more to get the maximum performance out of the Box RS2 transport.

.....I contacted Mark Schneider, owner of one of my favorite companies, Linear Tube Audio,......They also make very high-quality linear power supplies that can be customized for other companies’ gear. I had Mark take their LPS+ linear power supply and change it from a 12V/3Amp to a 20V/3Amp to match the Box RS2 transport input level, along with building a DC umbilical cable. Total cost, $645.

This for a custom made external LPS. In my experience custom made are much more expensive (and not just in $ terms - yours and my time to research and talk and research, perhaps travel, etc. It adds up) than a supplied component due to one off tooling costs and so on.

And after all that, it is still external. I maintain that it is false economy to not include an internal LPS. Like saving pennies on an heirloom.

Still, well within comfort boundaries compared with the prices of other technologically comparable units - those prices are so far away as to make any comparison like apples to oranges.

The Pro-Ject engineers would design one that is optimal for the transport. I would suggest that this would be "better" than a generic one that is designed to fit around the product rather than specifically for it.

So, we agree -

The cherry on top is one can further extend the sound quality if they decide at some point to add a LPS. This is a splendid scenario as far as I am concerned.

@noske 

Well for me the number 1 objective of an audio component is "how does it sound?". So that's the first thing to address and get right. Pro-Ject specifically wanted a small footprint  package (Their "Box" concept).  Adding an internal LPS they reasoned is inevitably going to increase the  physical package (Which they are seeking to avoid).

So they went the route of external LPS for those who desire this option. Keep in mind as I and other owners and listeners have pointed out,  sound quality with the wall wart is excellent. So the LPS is not mandatory for excellent sound quality.

A number of users have acquired Pro-Ject's own LPS or the LTA (Linear Tube Audio) LPS with excellent results. I opted for the Fidelizer Nikola II LPS and the pairing is divine. 

So owners have used different brands of power supplies with terrific results. This flexibility is an additional asset. I listed the expensive transports as a reference point if they want the Stream Unlimited CD Pro-8 unit. These types  of high quality CD drive mechanisms are the heart and soul of a transport.

There is currently no other CD transport anywhere near the cost of the RS2T that utilizes this latest technology CD drive unit. That's a very key point. Look, I understand no matter how good I or someone else  believes a component is, it is not going to please or be for everyone.

Maybe the Pro-Ject simply  is not what you're looking for, easily understood. There is a wide market for other transport choices.  I feel that based on my actual listening experiences and direct interactions it is a marvelous sounding CD transport. YMMV as is always the case with audio related matters. 

Charles 

CEC TL5 Belt driven top loader with Denefrips Ares 2 DAC...Wonderful. Turntables isolate motor noise by using a belt drive. CEC gets it!

Charles;

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