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Transport under 1500 new or used

I have started similar threads in the past, but now I am down to the wire and need Agoners help!

I need a new transport, just sold my Meridian 500, and am looking for an upgrade. I have narrowed it down to the following and am looking for a smooth, warm CD transport, but have actually considered tube cd players. Question is, should I just get the most transparent and detailed transport and then warm it up with a tubed DAC and not worry about the transport as much?

I am leaning toward the new Northstar 192 transport as it seems like it will fit the bill, but cannot find anyone who has heard it, except dealers. Please help. Thanks

The list:
Northstar 192 Transport
CEC TL2
Vecteur D2
Audio Note CDT1
Audio Note CDT2 (although out of my price range)
platsolos
mejames
986 posts
 
the Theta data 3 is a excellent transport available used for about $900 here but if the transport mechanism fails you could possibly be up the Creek without a paddle.
jcaudio's avatar
jcaudio
237 posts
 
A good tube DAC should not act as a filter or smooth things up. It should be fast open detailed but not hard sounding. Midrange to cry for. The transport is every bit as important as the DAC. I wouldn't look for either one to be a filter of any kind. If they are good they should be musical without any hardness without one to tame the other.
rlxl
92 posts
 
Another thought, you might consider the Sony SCD 777ES. Excellent transport. Sacd playback would simply be a bonus.

Try it. You might like it. (especially the quality of sacd. Very close to vinyl. Very close.)

I was pleasantly surprised by its performance as a transport.
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
I'm using a Kora Hermes tube DAC with a Theta Pearl transport, and even with tubes in the path I don't hear or sense any filtering. In my system I feel the Kora is more open, detailed and refined than the Bel Canto DAC 1.1 it replaced. Plus having the flexibility of being able to try different tubes gives you some control over the character of the sound, especially if you can get your hands on some of the NOS variety.

The Pearl is quite affordable at around $600 used, and uses the Pioneer Stable Platter mechanism. When I switched to this combo from the DAC 1.1 a faint series of clicks has become audible while directly accessing tracks of a CD. They're so faint however, they don't ruin the musical experience for me.
stereo
147 posts
 
Get a Proceed CDD. Used they are in your price range and they have jitter reduction built in. I was in the same place as you a month ago and got the Proceed. I used a Cal Delta, then tried three Pioneer DVD players (over a few years) and now the Proceed. The Proceed is much faster, detailed, smoother with very deep bass. My dac is an Audio Note DAC1.1x
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