Is it worth upgrading a CD player?

@mitch2

I viewed your audio system and it is exceptionally nice. You Mojo Audio DAC is held in very high esteem. Benjamin Zwickel (Owner/builder Mojo Audio) did publicly express a preference for high level CD transports over streamers.

You represent a good example of potentially pairing an upper tier DAC with a similar tier transport.

I use the Pro-Ject RS2T which is excellent sounding. I don’t have a Jay’s Audio CD transport but based on reviews and owner testimonials, they are excellent high quality choices. From what I have been able to gather,  as good as the CDT2 MK III is, the big brother CDT3 MK III is the superior CD transport. I had read a review comparing the two siblings. The reviewer said the top model was in his opinion substantially better sounding (And he really liked the smaller (CDT2 MK III).

As you note, it’s double the cost. Given the high level of your audio system and certainly your DAC, I would opt for the CDT3. Of course this assumes you find it a comfortable budget fit. You may as well try to extract the highest degree of sound quality you can from your digital/CDs.

My strong suspicion is that the CDT3 and your DAC would yield superb sound quality as a pairing.

Best wishes,

Charles

A lengthy review (As is his norm) but he is detailed and makes very useful comparisons.

@mitch2 +1, I am in the stop adding more boxes camp. More boxes, more cables, more space in the rack, more $$$, more complexity= a lot of stuff for diminishing returns IMO.

@mitch2 

 

side22olto OP

13 posts

11-14-2022 at 09:22am 

I forgot to mention my cd collection is ripped to an external drive and then either streamed through the house via Sonos or played directly to the DAC via a USB cable from a Mac. I still manage the music library using iTunes.
 

That’s an important detail.
1 - Mac isn’t good as a streamer.

2 - if you used AIFF, WAV or FLAC format to rip your CDs, a dedicated streamer (i.e Lumin U1 Mini) will do a much better job than your Mac.
In my opinion, as long as your files are in any of the above formats, you’re much better off with a dedicated streamer that has a usb port to connect your hard drive with music to (in addition to usb out to feed the dac). A CD Transport under $1000 retail isn’t going to do a better job in that system than a streamer would.
At a later point, whenever you can, add Qobuz and you’re done.  As far as your marantz, keep it until you decide you no longer need it.