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Best ever made & sounding CD transport ?

I owned many different CD transports over the last 11 years. From the Krells, Levinsons, and Wadia to the Japanese makes of Phillips, Sonys and Denon. All very nice and had their strengths. The prices ranged from $1,000 to $4200, (preowned of course) that I paid. Now recently I had purchased a mint preowned Pioneer PD-S 95 Elite Transport for $1300, and I was simply blown away with the results. This machine uses their pattened stable platter mechanism, where the CD is inserted upside down. All I can say this unit is and will be a fixture in my system til the CDs stop spinning. What other great CD transports are out their on the preowned market that you recently purchased?? And compare it to your previous CD transports that you either spent too much money or generally disappointed with because your $149 Fisher with digital output sounded better.
mrchips
ferdinand
26 posts
 
For me, the Sonic Frontiers SFT1 and the Theta Pearl are very good for the money considering they sound really good and at the same time very well made!
tkmetz
91 posts
 
i agree with ferdinand concerning the theta pearl. incredible musicality with that theta punch and soundstage. i ended up with the jade which has better resolution of inner detail and soundstaging. the pearl is an outstanding value though.
royc
8 posts
 
The CEC's are excellent transports. While somewhat dark at the topend they are very smooth and msuical. The Forsell Mk II is still the best in my experience, as musical as the CEC but better at the extremes (very airy at the top). Its not engineered as well as the Japanese transports but gets it right where it counts; the music.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
I recently replaced a Sony XA7 CD player with a Levinson 37 transport. Until I heard the ML 37, I didn't realize that a transport could make that much difference. The Sony is good, but the ML 37 is definitely a step up. It has increased clarity and detail without being etched or analytical, and with a bit deeper more articulate bass; upper mids and low treble are very natural. Paired with the ML 360S DAC, the two made a dramatic improvement in my stereo system-- overall a smooth, natural, live presentation. Happy Listening. Craig.
mitch
27 posts
 
The Sakura Fish player/d/a with the Sakura progression 47 d/a was the best digital sound ive heard to date better tham krell aacuphase theta and wadia any other opinions?
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