CD Transport

@chayro 

I have a CEC on the way. There are a lot of choices and very difficult to compare them side by side. I like the ergonomics of the unit and the fact that it is a time-tested design with US service

A friend of mine had an upper level TL2 for a number of years.

It is a high-quality CD transport and from my observation quite reliable. He did have to change the drive belt from time to time as they tend to stretch after awhile. It is also a well-built top loading unit as well. There are definitely very good options available for those who continue to greatly enjoy the physical media CD.

FWIW, I have been using a CEC TL5 for some time, and am very happy with it. Note also that it is fairly simple to replace the belt, if or when necessary.

Love my Rega Apollo as a transport! Nice analog sound. Yes transports sound different. 

I have not seen/heard the Primare or the Audiolab, but if you're talking about the TEAC VRDS-701T CD Transport, yes I have heard it and other Teac models that you can also connect a master clock generator that surprisingly makes an audible improvement.  The Teac has the best transport mechanism of the three; Primare, lesser spec Teac part, and the Audiolab looks generic with maybe better dampening applied.  The 701T is a sonically neutral machine.  When I hear adjectives describing or ascribing some sonic signature to a product like this as warm, meatier bass, soft highs, etc., those to me are colorations.  I suppose neutral could be described as a coloration but this transport gets the information off the discs and if later you want to improve on it, the TEAC CG-10M Master Clock Generator will definately do that.  I have heard these master clock generators on a few Teac's and Esoteric Audio products and they always make an improvement rather than just sound different like a lot of products might do.  Think of the 701T VRDS as a baby Esoteric; okay a very baby Esoteric.  It even uses a three point steel footers setup ( very similar to Esoteric) separate transformers, digital, transport.

Have your heard the Jay’s Audio CDT3 MK3 transport? 

@vitussl101

I appreciate your enthusiasm for the TEAC/Esoteric transports. I have to say that every audio component has some degree/level of signature or sonic character. I have not encountered an audio product that is any exception to this. I do think that the TEAC701T comparison with the Jay’s Audio CD transports would be very informative.

Charles