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
charles1dad, 
Thanks for the link. Seeing how it's made is like audio porn.

All the best,
Nonoise
I wonder if the Pro-ject CD transport would pair with the DAC built into my Hegel H360 integrated amp. Would anyone happen to know? Thanks
@gyeltsen I own one now but haven’t posted on it yet…  the transport is simply clean, clear and natural, and is a source that should pair well with any DAC or whole system. 
 Like others have said, I too, hear the clean and well separated bass, the natural musical textures, and it’s open and transparent nature. It seems to present the music in a nice full, neutral, balance and uncolored way. And I don’t have an upgraded power supply yet. 
I’m extremely interested in the Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 transport. I’m using an OPPO UDP-205 as a transport to my Bryston BDA-3 DAC. My DAC doesn’t have an i2s input. Will my Wireworld silver sphere HDMI work?