CD TRANSPORT THAT MAKES AN AUDIBLE DIFFERENCE

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/

Hi all.  Felt compelled to chime in here as I just plugged in a Project RS2T after picking it up used. Looked perfect. Sound into a Musetec 005 dac via coax blows away an Oppo bdp 105 used as a transport with same coax cable. (DH Labs) HOWEVER, within the first few tracks the sound dropped out for a second and the clock on the display screen seemed to stall.  Seems to happen randomly pretty much on every other track.  Needless to say I am DISAPPOINTED!!!  Project usa or whatever was VERY NICE on the phone but of course the warranty does not transfer to new owner.  Apparently my only option is to box it up and mail it to Minnesota for repairs.(at my expense) Still glad there's support in the U.S.  Really don't want to go back to the Oppo. Scanned the web for some trouble shooting tips but found none even though this feels like a fairly simple problem.(laser track needs greasing??... clocking issues... who knows?)   

The Oppo never failed to play but sounded brighter, with a lot more hash and less meat on the bones.  So, IME, the transport with a decent dac definitely makes a difference! (sound is roughly 35% better with the RS2T and that's my impression only after sampling 5 cd's)

FWIW bought used for a better price but mainly because the wait time for an ordered new transport puts you into next fall, or at least that's what I was told.   Anyone else have this type of problem??  ( split second sound drop outs)  I know one gentleman had to wait for a THIRD, new unit before he was satisfied. Hopefully I only have to have it fixed once.