CD TRANSPORT THAT MAKES AN AUDIBLE DIFFERENCE

@mbmi 

A long time ago I had a CEC, but the belts stretched and were very expensive. I found a work around: a company who specializes in O rings sold them by the bag for less than one belt from CEC

@tweak1,,,,That's good to know....2 years running and no belt issues and they give you an additional belt in the package. CEC is the go to transport in Japan where they're made.

A good few years ago I auditioned so many CD Transport/DAC/CD Players I could get hold of. I came to only one that satisfied - THETA.

Expensive, but well built and sounds amazing - still working like a dream and still sounds fantastic. Occasionally available second hand.

The designer is called Mike Moffat, and he now co-owns Schiit Audio. 

If I was going to buy a replacement for Theta, that is the first place I'd look. 

Paul,

Mid level recommendation is an Audiolab 6000CDT for $600. GREAT transport for the money, sounds amazing with my Denafrips Pontus II DAC.

Would replace it with a $2,500 Jay's Audio CDT2-MK3 if cost were no object. My friend let me borrow his for a couple of days, and hated giving it back.....but the Audiolab holds it's own, and at 20% of the price.

I quit borrowing equipment from him after I borrowed his Aurender N10 streamer, and am now saving the $6,300 for an N200

+1 for the Audiolab 6000CDT, Pontus II combo as I am very happy with mine. I too would spring for the Jay’s Audio CDT2-MK3 in a heartbeat as my next upgrade.  Audiolab just recently released both a 7000CDT and 9000CDT which are priced higher than 6000CDT.  These might be worth checking out.