best CD transport available?

Unless you're looking for a "cost no object" choice, let me recommend Audio Alchemy DDS Pro, which I've just started using in place of a Sonic Frontiers SFT-1, Stereophile Class A in its time. The DDS Pro has a separate power supply, which led to even greater quiet in a system that, with a Power Wedge Ultra 114, was already pretty quiet. It's my current candidate for audio bargain of all time.
You might get one cheap enough to also go for a good interface: Genesis Digital Lens, Meridian 518, Assemblage D2D-1, something like that. I'm currently using a 518, and could still hear a clear difference between the DDS Pro and the SFT-1. It's nonsense to say that the transport, or for that matter the cable coming from it, no longer matter if an interface is used. Though maybe a matter a shade less.

Spectral Reference Transport SDR 3000. Better that any I have had in my system including Levinson 31.5.

Might as well add the big Burmester and Accustic Arts transports. I personally haven't heard them but heard good things about them. The AA transport is at a 'best buy' price and the Burmie is.... not :-). Here is a description and picture:

http://www.aaudio.com/accousticarts_drive1.html

Mike

Jcbtubes has correctly answered the question, a very close second would be the Jadis JD1 trans. Hey Mejames could you possibly start another thread, with the same question on DAC's. . oh, i see Audiofed has mentioned the big Burmester, now that's a consideration as well, 3rd place.

Audiofederation- I tried the Drive-1 in my system. It was very good, and it was a slight improvement when serving as transport into the digital 'in' of my AA Capitole MK 1 (slightly better than the Capitole's own transport). HOWEVER, I now own a transport that I got for $900 and was made in 1988, and it bested the Drive-1 doing the same test- the Teac Esoteric P-1- better detail retrieval.

Basically, I think some of this comes down to what transport mechanism 'methodology' is preferred, and it may be system dependent. i.e.- you've got the Phillips Pro; CEC uses the belt-drive system; Audiomeca designed his own proprietary one; and my Teac uses the heavy-duty VRDS clamping system- my personal preference for ultimate detail retrieval- ALTHOUGH, I suspect and have heard the CEC TL-0Mk II is also excellent in this regard (mucho denaro though).

Anyways, cost no object, I would opt for the Japan-only Esoteric P0s. There is an Agon member who picked one up in Japan (ultra-rare) for about $8k USD, and he e-mailed me the pics- talk about tank-like build quality!!