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 5 responses by facten

essrand, does your dealer carry both the RS2 and the PST for you to get a firsthand listen to both so you can decide for yourself?
Gave the links simply because someone asked and I googled and those 2 came up came up. Why don’t you - riaa - tell everyone which dealers are offering discounts on the transport, including what percent from each . Below is the dealer locator - supply the list

https://pro-jectusa.com/dealer-locator/
On the surface it would seem that the LTA LPS would be low risk , here’s an excerpt from LTA’s website - Project transports are one unit specifically referenced for using their LPS with. Apparently they tailor the LPS to the speciifc brand/model power requirements

Though designed for our MZ2, the LPS+ is an excellent linear power supply for many components that accept an external power supply. By default, the LPS+ outputs 12V / 3A, but custom voltages and amperages can be accommodated. If you have been considering another linear power supply, you owe it to yourself to consider the LTA LPS+.

Here are just a few of the products customers can improve with our LPS+:

  • Lumin Digital Audio Products

  • Mytek DACs

  • Pro-ject CD transports, Phono stages, Streamers…

  • Chord DACs

  • CAmbridge Audio DACs

  • RME DACs

  • Roon Nucleus

  • Intel NUC

  • iFi Audio Amps and DACs

  • Sonore MicroRendu & UltraRendu

  • SOtM Streamers

  • Topping DACs

  • Wyred4Sound DACs

  • Many others…

You will be asked to specify your device name and electrical requirements when adding the LPS+ to your cart.


I don't own the Project but 100% agree with Charles about the improvement in SQ with better transports. I went from a fairly competent Cambridge CXC to a Simaudio 260D and the improvement was quite noticeable.