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Is there a decent used transport for under $300?

Hi everyone,

I have a way cheap but decent budget rig: a Trends T-Amp driving tekton design single driver speakers (Fostex 167e, $325)and a Tube Audio Design subwoofer ($125 shipped, really not as bad as you would expect). Until today, the signal came from the venerable Rotel RCD 855 player (considered a good budget player in its day) with the digital out feeding a cheap "Super p" DAC, which sounded significantly better than using the 855's DAC.

All together I was getting a robust, authoritative, and stable full range sound, but today the 855 finally gave up the ghost after a protracted demise.

I have been wanting to get a transport only unit anyway, but for this setup need to keep the cost below $300 used. Is this possible? If so, would such a transport be better than a similarly priced player? For example, is the Rotel RDD 980 transport currently listed on A'gon for $195 an improvement on the digital output of the 855? I'd also love to know about any other thoughts/possibilities.

Thanks very much in advance of any responses. It's no good here (hear) without the music.
thomp9015
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
I was looking for a transport for my Bel Canto DAC2 a month ago. After doing research and watching the ads here I broke down and purchased an Oppo 980H.
After using it as a transport only for ten days I finally hooked up the audio output to my amp last night. Why? because I was playing a cd with HDCD. Anyway, the audio out is not bad, not quite as good as the DAC2, but not bad.
Also, I suggest staying away from the used 9000es. I have a dead one in my garage.
dla405j
14 posts
 
I'm selling two Rotel RDD 980 less than $200 on ebay....I think they sound fine and offer flexibility by changing DACs. I would guess that the design of the Rotel transport is better because of the isolation from parts together in a one box construction. I looked at the specs and description transport in the RDD 980 manual and they mention bigger and better transformers/power and less vibration by going to separates. That may be ad hype but there often are compromises in old one box design. There is much discussion about which is more important, transport or DAC; in theory you should hear a difference but you may not...too many variables in my opinion (cables, amps, speaker, support/isolation etc.) I have compared my system to a one box rega planet and Pioneer pd65 and liked the rdd transports with different dacs but I doubt that you'll hear much difference in ONLY a switch to a tranport
thomp9015 OP
79 posts
 
thanks for the insights timrhu and dla405j. i think for the amount of money i'm willing to spend it seems a used transport only unit would be my best bet, i can always update the dac later. of course, i'm happy to entertain any claims to the contrary. dla, the Rotel RDD 980 seems like a very good option, they do have a good reputation. about the only other true-transport option in my price range is the CAL transport, unless i am missing something, so i guess it comes down to how these two compare. anyone have any more thoughts on this? am i missing something...it wouldn't be the first time.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Those are players, but they are often used as transports via digital outputs due to low price, build quality, and in the case of the pioneer/elite units, stable platter mechanism. You are not going to find too many transport only units at that price, since its pretty much a niche item.
thomp9015 OP
79 posts
 
thanks swampwalker, sorry but i wasn't sure which players you were referring to...i think the Rotel RDD 980 is a transport only unit as is the CAL Delta. i know my options are limited but i'm just trying to optimize my front-end approach to this budget system and am still leaning to a transport only simply because it seems to make more sense if i'll be using an outboard dac. but again, i'm open to other suggestions.
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