CD TRANSPORT THAT MAKES AN AUDIBLE DIFFERENCE

@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.

Love my CDT 6000

I think a lot of people sell theirs as they do not understand how much better is sounds with a quality power cord and coax cable. I upgraded from Pangea’s Premier SE ($169) and Wire World Electra 7 power cord ($260) to Ali- Express Odin Gold coax and power cord, which were much less money and fabulous upgrades. If interested I bought from DIY HiFi Store

For a bit more ($899) check out the Pro-Ject DS3 cd player, but use it as a transport

https://pro-jectusa.com/product/cd-box-ds3-cd-player/