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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
micro13
4 posts
 
There's a new MK3 version of Jay's CDT2 which I read is a lot better than the MK2. It comes with a new and better oven controlled OCXO clock (like the clock in the Terminator Plus?!).
Does anybody here already has experience with the new MK3 version? Would be interesting how it compares to the MK2 and also to the Pro-Ject RS2T.
jriggy's avatar
jriggy
562 posts
 
@micro13, there are a couple or few posts comparing the Jay’s MK3 to the older MK2 that you can find in search. wig compared the two. 
micro13
4 posts
 
@jriggy, thanks, I already read the posts from wig.
But I'm very curious if the new MK3 could outperform the RS2T and if somebody already compared the two transports.
jriggy's avatar
jriggy
562 posts
 
@micro13, I’m just betting it’s gonna be a long while till that materializes. I’ve been waiting for how long now, for a comparison between Mojo EVO vs Holo May. Some comparisons happen faster and easier. This is another one, for a few reasons, I feel we won’t see for who knows how long, hope that’s not the case though. 
chayro
2,983 posts
 
I don't know if anyone brought this up, but I would have an issue purchasing a relatively expensive transport without being able to purchase a spare laser or transport the way you can do with a Jays, or at least know that the company has set aside enough spare transports to guarantee replacements, as did Linn with their CD12.  At least Linn said they did. 
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