Is it worth upgrading a CD player?

@arcticdeth Thank you.  I tried a Pioneer elite dv-59avi as a transport after upgrading caps in 2020.  It was mediocre as a CD player and transport.  Just one of 15+ transports I tried from the PS-Audio down to the Cambridge (Pioneer was slightly above).  

@charles1dad Well, I really appreciate knowing that they are all good choices.  If only I could try them in my system without paying for them first.  The two that have opposite technologies don't bother me and I've known about them.  My Benchmark HDR1 DAC uses asynchronous oversampling which maybe part of way it sounds good once radically upgraded ($400+ in parts alone, regulators at $50 each versus the computer grade 50¢ ones inside).  One thing, the Jays Audio transports are rarely is found used in the U.S. and I could try one and if it didn't fit the bill, I could sell it for less than a $500 loss.  I live in Los Angeles and dealers just don't want to lend out CD players or transports (they rarely have good ones) on a trial basis.  I'd pay for shipping to the East Coast for trial purposes.  My best friend also would like to hear the Luxman 03X for himself as he does not want separates (and has a more limited budget).  

Among my CDs are about 2,000 which are not going to be streamed (1000 Marston, Romophone and Biddulph CDs alone, ethnic and minor label/limited distribution labels).  Same with my LP collection with 5,000+ LPs never to be streamable (or most of my 78s).   Yes, many are cherished CDs.  

@fleschler 

Yep! It would be a wonderful situation if we could audition components that interest us in our homes prior to purchase. Just isn’t possible with all of them. If you have any interest in the Pro-Ject RS 2T, you could get it from an online seller like Audio Advisor /Music Direct with a 30 day trial period and judge for yourself.

The flagship Jay’s Audio CDT3 MK III seems like it could be a really fine transport. Given your vast experience with CD players/transports and your methodical approach I believe that you’ll acquire the right choice for you. I’m having a new DAC built for me now (In Ukraine) an Abbas Audio 3.2SE. I’m really looking forward to pairing it with the splendid RS2T.

Charles

fleschler

The Pioneer Elite DV-50AVi makes for a better DVD player. Its partner the AVi79 is geared more for CD playback. Go for the Luxman 03x. It is a very fine CD player.

Happy Listening!

DV-59AVi : corrected.

Fleschler,

At $500 the Audiolab is a great unit, and I am completely happy with it in my $15,000 system.....but from the sound of it, your system is higher end. For the money it can't be beat. It's easy to find on sale, you could try it and see if it works for you and return it if not. Some people may not like the fact that it is a slot loader, but the loader works really well.

Is the Jay's CD2 MkIII at $2,500 5X times better than the Audiolab?.....of course not. However one look inside will show the CD2 is the better made unit, and is clearly audibly the better unit. It is also a top loader which some/most will prefer, and adds adds I2S and AES/EBU inputs which the Audiolab does not have....big, heavy, sturdy

The Jay's CD3 at $5,000 is clearly the better built transport with very high quality components....beautiful inside. Sound wise it is the best CD transport or CD player I have ever heard by a good margin, and it adds more inputs than the CD2.....I was amazed at it's weight.....gotta be over 40 pounds

Bottom line: when I have the funds available, I will be buying one of the Jay's CD transports.....I might recommend the CD3 MkII, as I don't think it would be a limiting factor in your system.