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 sfseay

@longinc - I bought the unit you mentioned below earlier today from Tmraudio.com. Didn’t see your link until now. I also bought an open box “Pro-Ject Power Box RS Linear Power Supply Black - For Single Unit” a couple of hours ago from audioadvisor.com.

The Pro-Ject Power Box RS Linear Power Supply Black - For Single Unit sells for $540.00. I see a few folks here opted for the four unit output linear power supply, which goes for $799.00. I saved quite a bit on the open box one.

“In case anyone is interested, an open box RS2T just popped up here:

https://tmraudio.com/components/cd-sacd-players/pro-ject-cd-box-rs2-t-cd-transport-remote-open-box/

Just received my new (open box) Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T with Pro-Ject Linear Power Supply.  It has been about three years since I have had a full time CD player in my system.  It sounds fantastic connected via AES/ABU to my PS Audio Directstream DAC.

The last player I used in my system was an Oppo BDP-103.  Sound stage is much bigger, better defined bass and much better dynamics.

One more vote for this awesome CD player!

 

I have no issue with not being able to program tracks.  Not sure I would ever use that feature if it was included.  If I didn’t want to hear a track I would just skip to the next track I wanted to hear.

I have no issue with the remote either.  It does need to be pointed directly at the unit though.

@audiotroy - you shouldn’t post while under the influence.  It makes you appear to be incompetent.