CD TRANSPORT THAT MAKES AN AUDIBLE DIFFERENCE

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. 

This argument has been going on since the mid 1970's when Phillips introduced optical recording of data. The issues have not changed.

When you are talking transports there are two types: direct drive and belt drive. Just like with an analog turn table the belt drive transport will sound different than  a direct drive. A good transport must be mated with an equally good D/A converter to achieve the best sound at a price point.

I have used the Berkley with a Cambridge before. Always sounded like it was missing something. The problem is always the same, vibration cause an error in the data stream and basic design of a direct drive transport is the root of the issues, noise bearings, large motor which has a cogging issue, and the motor is to close to the laser pickup. All of this goes away with a belt drive transport like the CEC (which I sell), the Audio Note and the BMC transports.

Ripping has the same problems, bit perfect is not perfect. This is due to the error rate in reading a CD over running the error correction. This was a known limitation of the "Red Book" standard at the time it was adopted, it is nothing new. Streaming is not the same as reading a data file.

If you want great sound out of a CD transport get one that adheres strictly to the "Red Book" standard. Most almost do, but not quite. Many manufacturers make a small adjustment in the design so that it will read a CD made on a computer, which absolutely does not adhere to the "Red Book" standard. The laser dot created for burning is the wrong shape.

Having said all that if you are happy with what you have, enjoy it. If you can not hear the difference, why waste the money. If you want more, get a belt drive transport which strictly adheres to the "Red Book" standard.