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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)




amorstereo

Showing 1 response by cymivka

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cymivka
51 posts
 

Ive had my rs2t for a couple of years with LTA linear power supply.  Its been very finnicky with unexplained cut outs.  Sent back to the u.s. based "repair" shop where the thing checked out just fine. (frustrating.)   So, been thinking about a replacement but am flabbergasted by the lack of reviews for a "holy grail" newcomer...the Onyx xst20 that has adjustable out for I2S coupling with dacs and can send true DSD via the I2S interface.  SACD out and CD out and under $2500.

Jay's Iyagi only compared the thing to its little brother. (worthless to me) sorry not sorry.   I say this cuz once the Laiv Harmony dac hit, there were countless "independent" reviews raving about the R2R dac and its features.  So, I'm left wondering about the Onyx.  It "sounds" like the perfect fix for disc playback but no real, useful feedback that I've found.  Specifically, I would like to know how it compares, via I2S out, to the Project, via coax out. (Project I2S out is proprietary) Sux! Also would be great to have true DSD from SACD's.  

Rant over.

Thanks all

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