BEST CD TRANSPORT

Just to add to this: I bought an Urd a year ago (running it into Dac3 B via coax). The combo sounds quite good (comparing it to my Wadia 830 and a modded Oppo 105D). I also use the USB input of the Urd to run my streaming through to the Benchmark which is certainly handy.

But the Urd has gone to Schiit. For repair. Since day one, it only plays a disc upon close about 60% of the time. Open/close, open/close, maybe it plays, maybe it doesn't. Just annoying. (I'm not the only who has seen this odd behavior.) Otherwise, its a very good sounding unit (not really on par with the Wadia but close enough). 

Which has me back in the hunt for a transport (because I really don't have faith in Schiit getting it together, tbh.) Prior to selecting the Urd, I was looking at Pro-Ject, Jay's, Audiolab, CEC, Esoteric, and Teac, I didn't really want a slot loader (which might be a hangover from the car CD days - but the Pro-ject DS2 T uses a Stream 8 - surely it doesn't eat media). And I don't really have the rack space for a top loader, certainly not an RS2T.

Now I'm thinking maybe the DS2T is worth a try. But I'm also intrigued with CEC and belt drive. Drive isolation makes sense to me. And maybe, with most CEC models having the top-loading point at the very front edge, I might be able to load with minimal space above. 

I didn't want a slot loader and didn't have the space for a top loader and the Teac sounds great.   

Not worried about the tray at all.   It's driven by a rubber band, that is usually what fails when it won't eject.  

@trn - I suggest you follow up on looking at the CEC TL5 or TL2. I also had space issues and the CECs are quite compact and a minimum of space is needed due to the relatively low profiles. I have the TL5 and I am satisfied with the sound, but I really haven’t done any comparisons with the competition. I like the fact that the TL5 has a user replaceable belt, which may or may not be the case with the TL2. 

Trn:

I also have a Schiit URD.  It worked fine for a bit over 1 year, and then started to develop the "intermittent" play problem.  Finally, the CD drawer would not open, so I sent it to Schiit.  A solid unit with a Stream Unlimited drive and servo board.  You mention that others have had similar problems; any further comments about all this?  I found the sound to be very good with this transport, but I am wondering about the JPL-2800 drive mechanism durability, noting that a series of high end CD transports use this drive, or the CD PRO-8 (which seems to use most of the same "guts" as the 2800).