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

@jayctoy,

Thank you. Their dedicated Pro-Ject CD BOX RS2T is strictly a transport and has no tubes. You may be thinking of their DAC BOX RS2 which offers a solid state and tube analogue output stage.

Charles

Thanks Terry for the info.  I' be been a Naim guy since way back when my wife and I took several of your classes.  We talked a lot about jazz and our tastes allign.  My cds3 is kaput and am wondering if the project and audio mirror combo would give me the PRaT I am accustomed to...

@tduc ,

I can't speak for Terry obviously but I can confidentially say that the musical pace.flow. fluidity and rhythm of music is exceptionally fine via the Pro-Ject CD BOX RS2T and my Yamamoto DAC. I can not imagine why your experience would be any different.  This transport will extract the best from any good quality DAC in my opinion. 85-90% of my listening is to jazz music and it is marvelous!

Charles