+1. I'd give the remote a grade of B for functionality. The CD transport gets an A+ for sound quality.
Charles
A phenomenal new CD transport-Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 transport
I have had in-house for the last week Pro-Ject's new CD Box RS2 transport to review for the website Stereo Times. I was very curious to assess its performance because it uses the Pro 8 drive with the Blue Tiger CD-84 servo card. This drive was developed and built by StreamUnlimited a company started by the original Phillips designers that historically built the finest CD mechanisms. Only two other companies use the StreamUnlimited 8 drive and Blue Tiger CD-84 servo card, their pieces cost $16,000 and $39,000 compared to Pro-Ject's sane price of $3,000!
My reference for the last two years has been the excellent Jay's Audio MK-II transport that had out-performed much more expensive highly regarded transports in my system. Well, across every sonic parameter (transparency/micro-details-overall dynamics/bottom-end extension/purity of tonality- a much more airy sound-stage with wonderful 3D imaging) compared to the Jay's Audio transport.
That's way I titled this thread a "phenomenal new CD transport" because while not inexpensive, it just might be a bargain based on its performance. Mind you, this superlative level of performance is based on using the switching power supply that Pro-Ject ships the transport with. I have shortly coming a custom 20 watt 3 amp linear power supply from Linear Tube Audio and Pro-Ject's own upgraded power supply to see if the RS2 transport performance will even go to a higher qualitative level of performance.
I'll be writing a full detailed review for Stereo Times in the near future. However, I wanted to share this information to GON members who still spin CDs. I have had numerous CD transports in for evaluation and this just might be the best sounding of all of them.
Teajay (Terry London)
My reference for the last two years has been the excellent Jay's Audio MK-II transport that had out-performed much more expensive highly regarded transports in my system. Well, across every sonic parameter (transparency/micro-details-overall dynamics/bottom-end extension/purity of tonality- a much more airy sound-stage with wonderful 3D imaging) compared to the Jay's Audio transport.
That's way I titled this thread a "phenomenal new CD transport" because while not inexpensive, it just might be a bargain based on its performance. Mind you, this superlative level of performance is based on using the switching power supply that Pro-Ject ships the transport with. I have shortly coming a custom 20 watt 3 amp linear power supply from Linear Tube Audio and Pro-Ject's own upgraded power supply to see if the RS2 transport performance will even go to a higher qualitative level of performance.
I'll be writing a full detailed review for Stereo Times in the near future. However, I wanted to share this information to GON members who still spin CDs. I have had numerous CD transports in for evaluation and this just might be the best sounding of all of them.
Teajay (Terry London)
Showing 50 responses by charles1dad
Get in touch with @wig via Audiogon email. He had the Jay's Audio CDT2 MK 3 version prior to getting the Pro-Ject RS2 transport. Charles |
I don't know about how others feel but for "me" a non important feature. My listening pattern is playing the complete CD all the through. I could however see where this feature matters to someone else. Charles |
Well I can see it both ways. 1, Better price but no audition period or option to return the component. 2, Higher price but includes ability to home audition and return for what ever reason. Just depends on the buyer's personality and disposition. In this particular I was comfortable with option 1. The Pro-Ject CD BOX RS2 transport has found a permanent home. 😊 Charles |
@tduc , I can't speak for Terry obviously but I can confidentially say that the musical pace.flow. fluidity and rhythm of music is exceptionally fine via the Pro-Ject CD BOX RS2T and my Yamamoto DAC. I can not imagine why your experience would be any different. This transport will extract the best from any good quality DAC in my opinion. 85-90% of my listening is to jazz music and it is marvelous! Charles |
@wig, "immense listening pleasures to my daily sessions" Thanks @wig. .Anyone who believes that the transport doesn’t matter or has modest impact is profoundly mistaken. This Pro-Ject transport is just wonderful! 3 days in and it has exceeded my expectations. Does it really need a linear power supply?😃 Charles
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. I received my Pro-Ject CD BOX RS2 transport yesterday, thus my proclaiming that it sounds stunningly good! And sounding better this evening. Numerous testimonials on this thread from very happy users of this unit. @esstrand no hyperbole , the RS2 transport is simply superb. 1. I'm using the supplied SMPS wall wart. 2. It's sitting on a rack shelve rather than a Star Sound Apprentice platform for vibration/resonance management. 3. It no way near being broken-in yet. Despite these factors it's undeniably a top tier CD transport. Most impressive to me at this very early stage is it accomplishes being quite resolving and beautifully organic in character with spot on vocal and instrumental weight and tonality. @esstrand I feel very confident in predicting that you will be very pleased with this Pro-Ject CD BOX RS2 in your audio system.
Someone had earlier in this thread asked if this transport was noisy. I can say that my unit is absolutely silent. It's compact but very solidly constructed and sturdy. Aluminum and carbon fiber, no cheap plastic. Charles
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@essrand, Subjectivity is such an integral part of High End audio so I’m not sure how one would get around this. There have been multiple positive listening impressions posted here by members most would find credible. Still doesn’t mean that you will share their opinion once you’ve heard it. The Pro-Ject CD BOX RS2 does utilize the very latest Stream Unlimited CD Pro-8 drive mechanism along with the Blue Tiger CD-84 servo. Midfi? Acustic Arts Audio uses this exact mechanism for their flagship CD transport. Gryphon Audio did the same with their flagship Ethos CD player. If you’re that apprehensive then get the unit from Music. Direct or Audio Advisers who offer trial periods and return policies. For what it is worth I recently acquired the RS2 transport and to the point, it’s stunningly good sounding!!! My impression probably will not impact your position in any manner. The retailers offering an audition trial is your best anxiety avoidance option. To the owners of this transport who took the time to provide their perspectives, thanks, you all absolutely nailed it! Charles
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@musichead, My first generation P.S.Audio PWT has been rock solid reliable with 9 years of heavy usage. Sonically I preferred it to an early generation Esoteric transport with VRDS I was using (Also very reliable and still working!). I suspect the current now called PST (Can play SACD via I2S connectivity) sounds excellent. The recent October price reduction puts in the range of the Pro-Ject RS2. The Jay's Audio MK III is less expensive than these two. I believe that any of these 3 transports is a clear step upward from the Cambridge (For a higher cost). I have no doubt that all 3 are upper tier solutions for spinning CDs compared to lower budget alternatives. If I replace my older PWT I suspect that any of the 3 transports would be an upgrade. By how much? That remains to be seen. My gut feeling is that the Pro-Ject is very probably the best sounding. I based this on comments and feedback from those who are familiar to some extent with all of them. There have been enough posters on this thread who've compared the Jay's Audio and Pro-Ject and find the latter better sounding. If/when I make a move to get another CD transport it will be the Pro-Ject RS2. There have been a number of RS2 owners posting here and noise has not been raised as an issue. So perhaps an isolated problem with only a few units. Charles |
Hi Terry, I've used the PWT very happily the past 9 years (Haven't used their DAC) and it's been very natural sounding and musically engaging. But that's just me and individuals will differ in their experiences and opinion, so definitely no problem. I really appreciate your feedback comments. The Pro-Ject CD BOX RS2 has most certainly caught my attention thanks to you initiating this thread 👍. Charles |
"That little Project clamp sure looks like it could use a bigger brother." It's my understanding that the small size of the clamping disc, chosen alloy metal and weight were well thought out and very specific to compliment the actual CD spinning mechanism and isolation suspension. So in this instance a larger clamping disc may not be advantageous. Certainly one could experiment with a larger disc and report their findings. Charles |
"That is part of what makes it so phenomenal." Hard to argue against this. I have a favorable bias toward heavier, solid and robust components but there are always exceptions. In regard to the Pro-Ject, light weight doesn’t imply cheap and flimsy. In the link I provided above the attention to detail, design and choice of solid aluminum and carbon fiber inspire confidence in high quality construction. Much focus on structural rigidity and on isolation from vibration It doesn’t weigh 40 or 50 pounds because it doesn’t have to in order to be "phenomenal" . Owners of this transport certainly appear to support that conclusion. Charles |
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.project-audio.com/wp-co... For those interested there are good descriptions of construction materials and details along with some photos. A lot of thought and effort was put into this transport. Charles |
I have very happily been using the P.S. Audio PWT the past 8 or 9 years and it is wonderful paired with my Yamamoto YDA-01 DAC. Listening last night to jazz guitarist Royce Campbell CD "Solo Wes" a tribute to the great Wes Montgomery. It felt as though I was sitting in the recording studio, so real and tactile. Not an uncommon outcome with the PWT. Intriguing to contemplate the Pro-Ject CD Box transport taking this type of listening experience yet a further step upward. The comments on this thread are quite encouraging. Charles |
@jaudio1, Thanks for taking the time to post your listening impressions of the Pro-Ject CD Box RS2T transport in your audio system. I have to delve deeper into the technology and mechanism of this fascinating component. It is obviously doing something very right to yield such a high level of sound quality from Redbook CD. A cogent argument could be made that the CD transport is as crucial a contributor to the sound quality as is the DAC. Charles |
@kully560 and @disc, Congratulations on acquiring the linear power supplies. Given the high quality level of the Pro-Ject transport you'd think that the DC power-umbilical cable would be made to a higher standard. Those cables matter and contribute to the overall sound quality. If I decide to purchase the Pro-Ject I'm going with the LTA linear power supply and a top quality umbilical cable. May as well extract the full potential of the transport. Charles |
Steve Guttenberg finding the Pro-Ject CD Box transport better sounding than the Jay's Audio transport is consistent with numerous listening impressions posted on this informative thread. @kully560, Your listening impressions mirror the others offered here. Congratulations on your acquisition of the Pro-Ject transport. Seems to be little doubt that this is top tier CD transport. Charles |
Given the feedback on this thread it seems indisputable that a linear power supply is superior to the stock wall wart power supply for the Pro-Ject CD Box transport. Does anyone have any idea how the LTA power supply compares to Pro-Ject’s own linear power supply option? @wig provide a link for the LTA power supply and its description is quite impressive. Charles |
@wig, Thank you for taking the time to express your listening impressions. Your comments along with those of @bigkidz has caught my attention. If I do decide at some point to replace my current CD transport, the Pro-Ject RS2T is the very likely destination (With a linear power supply 😊). High praise indeed that you and others find it better sounding than the esteemed Jay's Audio CD transport. Charles |
@bigkidz, Thanks for taking the time to share listening impressions of the Pro-Ject transport. I know how well regarded the Metronome digital components are. Both you and Terry prefer the Pro-Ject to the highly regarded Jay’s Audio CD transport. Very high praise indeed! "I don’t want to hear backing vocals on the same sound stage plane as the lead singers vocals if you understand what I am hearing. The Project was completely different than these two players." Know exactly what you mean. . I’m familiar with the sound of the CEC transports and have happily owned the P,S. Audio PWT for years. If I were to replace it, the Pro-Ject seems the direction to go. I’d very probably opt for the linear power supply. Charles |