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
Guys, absolutely no issues with noise coming from the transport. My review sample has worked flawlessly after hundreds of hours of use. I also checked with the importer who said both statements (noise problems/lack of product) are not correct. Yes, like virtually all high-end gear there is a longer waiting time than usual, but no problems with their production.
Hey Tejay...have you compared the Pro-Ject with the updated Jays cd2 mk3 version with the better clock and other upgrades yet ? 
riaa my store has  1.6 million dollars of display inventory
w
 state of the art gear in five soundrooms


we have a 4000 sq foot house which has been tirned into a private store


Audio Doctor Video - Jersey City, NJ United States - Home Garden - Bing video

Guys,

I have been a huge fan of Jay’s CD Transport for over 2 years owning both MK2 and MK3 and have enjoyed the performance gains I have attained over many other transports. I sold my MK3 a few days before my Pro-Ject CD Box RS2T arrived and have been spinning discs on my MK2 and its without question that the MK3 is an improvement over the MK2, especially in the sound staging and imaging department where the sound is pulled inward from the boundary of the loudspeakers and the sound stage is much deeper.

Just like many that have bought the Pro-Ject and voiced their impressions on the differences they have heard between several transports are Spot-On! Clarity, separation, layering, imaging, sound staging, image width/depth/height, timing and it goes on and on and must be heard to Believe… I am hearing things effortlessly with speed, impact, detail and with a dimensionality I didn’t think was possible but what I find amazing is how each instrument is separate and occupy its own space within the sound stage and you can almost feel the space between the layers of music developing. This is very noticeable on string instruments after the initial pluck where the pressure “swell” and the notes appear to Pro-Ject toward the listening position in an enveloping and immersive listening experience.

Over the past two days, I have been up until 2 AM listening to my new RS2T and just can’t believe how spacious and airy the sound is and the bass is so textured, deep and impactful…

I like the analogy mentioned by Bigkidz as “bay windows”, the floor noise appears to be nonexistent which allows such clarity and a beautiful soundstage to emanate from a space that has no boundaries and imaging is So natural and realistic sounding; It’s quite Amazing to say the least and will see what LTA will bring to the table…

Wig