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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 6 responses by stuartk

stuartk
3,356 posts
 

Expecting my Pro-ject to arrive Monday from TMR. . . 

stuartk
3,356 posts
 

@stewg:

Go to their home page and select the "Brand Partner" tab at the top, where you will see Pro-ject listed, along with the various other brands TMR represents. Note: this does NOT mean they have every Pro-ject component  in stock!  As it happened, someone ordered the transport many months ago and then changed their mind. Apparently, Sumiko still required TMR to purchase the unit, thereby rendering it available for purchase by another buyer. Having read this thread, I decided I wanted to try the transport but finding it was out of stock from A. Advisor, called  TMR and just happened to got lucky. "Right place at the right time". 

FYI, Upscale Audio is a Pro-ject dealer, as is Music Direct, although I'm personally not a fan of the latter.  

 

stuartk
3,356 posts
 

@charles1dad 

Will do!

 

 

stuartk
3,356 posts
 

Underwood, as far as I know, does not accept returns on Pro-ject. 

I've found showroom demos can be unreliable and while I read reviews extensively before purchasing, I'd never buy a component solely on the basis of a review, without the option to return it. Others here have different approaches but this one works for me. 

 

stuartk
3,356 posts
 

@charles1dad:

"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."

 

Exactly!  

stuartk
3,356 posts
 

@jayctoy:

 

Years ago I bought a few footers and cables recommended by a guy at M. Direct, which, to my ears, did nothing for my system. I returned them and in response, MD informed me that should I ever buy from them again, they would levy a 20% restocking fee. I can understand such a policy when someone orders a very expensive, exotic unit and returns it but in a case such as mine, no.  

If this makes me a "tire kicker", so be it but consider that since then, I've bought a DAC, a transport, three pair of ICs, two digital cables, two power cables, a headphone amp, three sets of Symposium Rollerblock Jr+'s and three Symposium shelves. None of this gear was purchased from M. Direct. When I upgrade my speakers in January, M. Direct will not be involved. Seems to me, their focus is on one-time buyers. I prefer to maintain long-term relationships with dealers who understand that I may make a mistake now and then and return something (which occurs very infrequently) but that I will keep coming back. Audio Art Cables and The Cable Co. are stellar examples and TMR are on their way to becoming another go-to dealer for me.   

 

 

 

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