Resolving CD Transports Crowd Sourcing


Hi everyone! A couple of years ago I purchased my endgame CD transport- a Pro-Ject CD Box RS2T. Loved almost everything about the unit--highly resolving presentation, dead quiet background, balanced placement of instruments in a believable 3 dimensional soundstage, and  the synergy it had with my components. In fact I loved the transport so much I had two of them because Pro-Ject quality control and customer service is the pits. After almost a year of hassles, I'm swearing of Pro-Ject.

I'm in the market for a replacement CD transport that has the same qualities of the Pro-Ject minus the quality issues and customer service.

PS Audio, Jay's Audio, CEC, Audio Research (which are CD/DAC units) come up in my search. What are your thoughts? With all the bells and whistles the Pro-Ject was around $3300, so that gives you an idea of my budget, though I could go higher.

Thanks in advance!

128x128wharfy

Deep_333,

Not sure where the snarky comment came from, maybe you're not a fan of Jay's or in ChiFi at all. I gave a short impression/opinion of the unit tested in my system, with my ears, in my house....nothing more. My system tends to be more "laid back" or warm, and I am always looking to add more detail in my budget restraints....if it does not lead to fatigue.

At the time I had the Jay's transport, I had a direct comparison with my Audiolab CDT6000 and my ancient Onkyo C-7030. Not sure what more what you would want than an honest tested and compared opinion in my system. I know my $16K mid-fi system is not the equal of your's, but everyone here deserves input from all levels.

Best to you

maybe you’re not a fan of Jay’s or in ChiFi at all. I gave a short impression/opinion of the unit tested in my system, with my ears, in my house....nothing more. My system tends to be more "laid back" or warm, and I am always looking to add more detail in my budget restraints....if it does not lead to fatigue.

At the time I had the Jay’s transport, I had a direct comparison with my Audiolab CDT6000 and my ancient Onkyo C-7030.

I like good quality Chifi or any quality hifi from my country or anywhere in the world just fine. I don’t like the crap from China...or other trash from the good ol’ boy here in town or anywhere else in the world.

For what its worth, one of my dacs is a denafrips. Generally, a Denfafrips+tube amp pairing can tend to sound detailed without fatigue (what you’re describing), no matter what the source is..i.e., it could be digital files from a NAS, or a flash drive or a CD transport. So, blanket attributing such a sound signature entirely to a transport seems rather strange (like you did on your first comment).

There are all kinds of dudes on youtube doing speaker reviews, preamp reviews, amp reviews, dac reviews, etc somedays and i know they’re conflating and describing some other component in their chain (not homing in on the component they say they’re reviewing)....

 

@deep_333 

It has been clearly stated by @vthokie83 that he compared all three transports in the same system, outlining sonic signature of Jay's in relation to other two. 

I think it is the best way, if not the only way to, review a component.

FWIW-Enjoying the ARC CD6SE loaner quite a bit. Will audition the TEAC and URD as they become available.

Meanwhile, I've been sending emails to Pro-Ject's parent company, Audiotuning, asking how the CD Box re-design is going. If anyone else is interested in emailing them-

marketing@audiotuning.at,
service@audiotuning.at,
office@audiotuning.at