CEC Belt Drive CD Transports vs Jay's Audio CD Transports

@mbmi Thank you for your tip on buying directly from Japan and the voltage difference, etc.  I’ll have to investigate that some more!

Id love to get the TL2N, but at US prices, it seems pretty steep. 
 

Thx again for your post!

Don

@no_regrets

Like you I am dedicated to LP playback because of the level of energy and musicality delivered.

I have not heard the Jays but listened to the CEC TL5 in my system which gives a sweet analog musicality, yet I found it a little too relaxed, albeit, I could live with a CEC happily.

I own a Teac PD-H600 CD player which can be bought used for $300-400 (easily serviced). This sounds very good. Virtually the same good sound as the 2000GBP Audio Analogue AAdrive CD Transport from Italy, with nearly the same TEAC drive.

But to my ears, this, and for example, the favoured Project RS2t, unmodified, sounds too detailed, sharp and wearying for longer listening sessions (in my system).

I settled on a Sparkler Audio notebook 507T transport (from Japan, there is a dealer in Canada, VK Music) and after installation of a new clock and linear power supply (from Fidelity Audio, UK) CD’s sound about as close to analog as I could imagine. Harpsichord and piano and everything else sounds real, in deep, big space.

I suspect many well engineered machines benefit markedly from reclocking and optimised power supplies, shifting them from digital sound much closer to natural.

Good luck in your search

No experience with Jay's but have owned a CEC since the North American distributor was in Canada. I've used it off and on for years with no problems. Would describe it as "smooth" "relaxed". Too smooth? Would depend on your system.

@psf4972 Hello and thank you for your post!  I must admit, that I have never heard of the Sparkler Audio notebook 507T transport.  I'm sure that there are many other products that I am not aware of too, so thank you for bringing it to my attention.  

I also appreciate the fact that you also shared your thoughts on the other products as well, to give it some context.

Thank you once again and best wishes to you,

Don

@no_regrets

not trying to go off topic or to muddy the waters, but you may find other options useful:

• 1.3 Yamaha CD-S1000
• 2.0 Rotel CD6000T
• 2.1 LUMIN U1 mini
• 2.5 Jay’s Audio CDT2-MK3
• -2.7 Teac 701T
• 3.2 Soundaware D300REF Transport
• -3.2 Project CD Box RS2 T

I haven’t decided on adding a transport to my digital chain, so I compiled a list of positively reviewed transports. Prices not current.

I was debating between Jays and the Project CD Box RS2 T, and decided on the RS2….for now.