A phenomenal new CD transport-Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 transport

Thank you for reviving this thread . Iam wondering if they fix the problem yet. Otherwise it’s getting good reviews for those who own it.

Ive had my rs2t for a couple of years with LTA linear power supply.  Its been very finnicky with unexplained cut outs.  Sent back to the u.s. based "repair" shop where the thing checked out just fine. (frustrating.)   So, been thinking about a replacement but am flabbergasted by the lack of reviews for a "holy grail" newcomer...the Onyx xst20 that has adjustable out for I2S coupling with dacs and can send true DSD via the I2S interface.  SACD out and CD out and under $2500.

Jay's Iyagi only compared the thing to its little brother. (worthless to me) sorry not sorry.   I say this cuz once the Laiv Harmony dac hit, there were countless "independent" reviews raving about the R2R dac and its features.  So, I'm left wondering about the Onyx.  It "sounds" like the perfect fix for disc playback but no real, useful feedback that I've found.  Specifically, I would like to know how it compares, via I2S out, to the Project, via coax out. (Project I2S out is proprietary) Sux! Also would be great to have true DSD from SACD's.  

Rant over.

Thanks all

@phusis  This transport is still being sold? I thought Project pulled it a couple of years ago. I know it wasn't available in the states the last I heard.

@cymivka - my RS2T suddenly stops playing on certain cd’s. It is very frustrating. I had mine repaired twice and now it is out of warranty. I would not recommend this transport to anyone. The excellent sound quality is not worth the headache.

@acresverde wrote:

This transport is still being sold? I thought Project pulled it a couple of years ago. I know it wasn’t available in the states the last I heard.

It’s still sold here in Denmark, but they may be emptying the stock that’s left. I imagine not many of them are sold in light of the momentum of high-end streaming that has caught on for some years now.

Myself I have for years regarded CD-playback from dedicated transports a nostalgic remnant of the past with a stubborn love for physical media, and something I couldn’t see myself going back to - ignorantly, I might add; having listened to the Pro-Ject transport + LPSU quite a few times now I simply cannot ignore the sonic prowess of this duo, physical CD’s and their space requirement be damned. From what I’m able to assess the sound quality level here easily challenges very expensive streamers, and so for me the source approach will now be twofold: a less than all-out but still very capable streamer (like the NuPrime Evolution Stream, Lumin U2 or thereabouts) to have that vast musical repertoire at the tip of my fingers, and then - with purchases inspired by the music from streaming - the Pro-Ject + LPSU for physical media playback in the best/better quality. We’ll see how it goes down the road. Maybe streaming will catch up at lower prices eventually, but for now the best investment appears to what I just outlined above. 

It’s a shame if Pro-Ject has discontinued this CD-transport. It’s truly something of a sonic marvel, I find, but popularity for digital physical media may be dwindling, sadly. 

For those who report technical issues with the Pro-Ject CD-transport I can certainly understand the frustration, but I dare say it also fits the narrative of a streaming competition that would rather see digital physical media die - the consumers being willing disciples for the manufacturers in spreading word on mishaps that are likely a minority problem in the bigger scheme of things.

As it is it’s rather amazing seeing the sonic potential that a CD holds, and how many audiophiles have really been able to discern that potential with a great CD-transport - I mean if they even wanted to? Hell, I’m guilty as charged, but at least I’ve now reacted based on listening impressions for an acquisition real soon.