CD TRANSPORT THAT MAKES AN AUDIBLE DIFFERENCE

IMO It’s only a half-baked question and resulting half-baked equation …ya don’t hear or process the laser-read 1’s and 0’s digital bits alone, and it needs to be converted into analogue first,

Hence, a careful matching of a transport to its stablemate DAC ( stratified into various pricepoint strata) comparison, is the better question.

Ignoring the Captain Obvious step-up in audio performance from a stepped up build transport mated to a high-end build DAC;

- is a high(er) end transport feeding a cheap(er) budget DAC gonna make you better off comparatively…. or

- is a high-end DAC with a cheap transport system pairing gonna satisfy or improve your satisfaction quotient?

I can only tell you about what I know. I used to have a Cambridge transport and went to a Jay's CDT2-MK3. The difference is simply phenomenal. In this case you get what you pay for is real.

As good as the Cambridge or other drive is there is the possibility of jitter going to the DAC. I use 2 old Monarchy anti jitter devices in series(with good cables) and that seems to produce improved sound.

Another vote for Jay’s and Project Transports. Anyone using an external DAC, these two players should be their #1 and #2 consideration. Please IGNORE the bits are bits posters.

I own both a Marantz hdcd1 used as transport, as well as the Cyrus cdt. They both sound great, so it's a toss up between the two. I bought them for their relatively small foot print. I got rid of the audiolab...it just did not do it for me.