I just now came across this video review of the Burson Supercharger 3A over at YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-SMtirVrKk
They seem to like it. A lot.
All the best,
Nonoise
They seem to like it. A lot.
All the best,
Nonoise
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)
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)
338 responses Add your response
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Hey nonoise, Here’s something on a cheaper version of a Pro-Ject CD player in their line up and the reviewer just loved it. I really appreciate you bringing to our attention here on the Project CD Box DS2. A lot of us here on agon are needle dropping for there main form of playing music and the Project CD Box DS2 just maybe the entry point for some of us here that don’t have $4000 to 6 grand to upgrade to a pure transport only with an outboard dac configuration. Nicely done sir. |
To those who are on the fence with the two Jays models (MK2 & 3), there's a new youtube video of The Audiophiliac (Steve Guttenberg) on the differences, and he feels the Mk3 is that big enough a difference to warrant getting it over the Mk2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hRMl4oAYNA&t=818s I asked him about the Pro-Ject and how he felt it compared to the Jays and although he felt the Pro-Ject sounded better, he never warmed to the feel and use of the Pro-Ject. Different strokes for different folks. Oh, and there's a bit of a discount (not for long) if you use the code he shows towards the end of the video. It's only $168 but it's something. All the best, Nonoise |
“I asked him about the Pro-Ject and how he felt it compared to the Jays and although he felt the Pro-Ject sounded better, he never warmed to the feel and use of the Pro-Ject. Different strokes for different folks.” I wonder if it’s because the Pro-Ject doesn’t allow you to program tracks? It still boggles my mind that they left out this feature, one that virtually every other CD player or transport has, and it was deliberate, not accidental. |
I just received and played the project and it is far better than my musical fidelity m1 cdt. I will be getting the pro-ject 4 way uni power supply on Saturday so that should be a nice improvement also . as far as sound goes. 1-more natural 2- a little more forward sound 3- much cleaner sound 4- tighter bass 5- hear more of the recording [things just pop out] 6- crisper top end 7- a little warmer also 8- separation is the same so far this is a comparison right out of the box. with a upgrade power supply, upgrade dc power cord , upgrade ac power cord , upgrade fuse in power supply, this should be a killer set up. |
Steve Guttenberg finding the Pro-Ject CD Box transport better sounding than the Jay's Audio transport is consistent with numerous listening impressions posted on this informative thread. @kully560, Your listening impressions mirror the others offered here. Congratulations on your acquisition of the Pro-Ject transport. Seems to be little doubt that this is top tier CD transport. Charles |
Have you guys used stock feet or some of the new vibration isolating feet under your CD or CD drives(or any electronics). I've found they make obvious improvements to all electronics(at least in my system) and especially on CD drives(I use a seperate DAC). It wasn't just a better version of my drive. It was like another way more expensive drive. I know it works on a Cambridge drive. I wonder if the isolating feet make significant affects on these super CD drives especially since it appears they inherently handle microphonics better than less costly drives. It would be interesting to see the affects of these feet on super drives. |
I have used an assortment of devices under my components and roller blocks, Iso Acoustics Orea have been my favorite until I tried Star Sound Technologies Audio Points with their new inverted coupling... The best i have heard so far with a more natural harmonic sound signature and all of my components are outfitted with AP. |
well I just received my pro-ject audio linear power supply the uni 4 way today . been playing all afternoon the power supply runs very cool to the touch after 4 hour of playing. it brought the project transport to a much higher level. 1-tighter bass 2- cleaner and better separation 3-even more natural than before 4- a deeper sound stage I did notice that the transport will not play the last 4 song on one of my discs , but the musical fidelity m1cdt plays it go figure? next week when I receive my parts for the dc power cord upgrade and build it that should take it to a higher level then the basic zip cord that comes with the power supply, plus a fuse upgrade. |
I've been listening to mine with a new LTA power supply (LSA is two blocks away from me, so...). Five days in, I'm very happy with it. I'd echo kully560's comments above. In particular, vocals seem more raw and true to source, as do guitars. I just listened to Jeff Beck live at Ronnie Scotts, and the tone and timbre of his playing seemed ... more (as did Colaiuta's drumming for that matter). I've not had any issue playing tracks at the end of CDs. Many thanks to Mark and Nicholas at LTA for their contribution to my listening happiness. (BTW, when I stopped by to pick up the power supply, Mark showed off a new "plus" version of his ZOTL 40 amp with refurbished Quad 57s. I was stunned. Quite the match.) kully560, would you mind posting a link to the DC power cord upgrade? Thanks. |
@kully560 and @disc, Congratulations on acquiring the linear power supplies. Given the high quality level of the Pro-Ject transport you'd think that the DC power-umbilical cable would be made to a higher standard. Those cables matter and contribute to the overall sound quality. If I decide to purchase the Pro-Ject I'm going with the LTA linear power supply and a top quality umbilical cable. May as well extract the full potential of the transport. Charles |
hi Charles , I spoke to another member here on the project oem upgraded dc power cable , and he stated his own build was better then there oem model. I ordered Furutech mini xlr connectors and the 24awg v quad cable form vh audio and I decided to build my own . the power supply from project is built like a brick very heavy. I was lucky that I found a 2 year old unit that was never used at a dealer. he wanted to get rid it at a really discounted price so I bought it, other wise I would have looked at the LTA units. |
in_shore, the Pro-Ject runs into the DAC of my Boulder 866 via Wireworld Supernova 7 optical or Cerious Graphene Matrix digital coax. I think the coax sounds a bit better, but it's close. A friend prefers the optical. charles1dad, LTA has been great to work with. The power supply is a great addition to my system and their customer service is fantastic. The power supply came with an excellent umbilical (the one teajay referred to above). I asked them to make me a shorter umbilical (one foot). They had it ready for me in a day or two, which was fantastic, and then graciously declined my offer to pay for it. |
I do have a RS2 T on its way the dealer happened to get one from the distributor apparently wait time for one from the manufacturer is a long one. Anyway I have a large collection of CDs and I like physical collection has anyone directly compared a well recorded ripped CD off a server to an actual CD played on the RS2 ? |
I recently picked up the RS2 T and compared it to both ripped AIFF files stored on my Aurender N100H and also streaming Qobuz from the same Aurender. The RS2 gives a noticeable increase in soundstage depth, transparency, and fine details. Horns seem to sound more real with less edge when compared ripped files or Qobuz. It's almost like a fine veil being lifted from in front of your speakers. This is all with the wall wart power supply. From what I hear I will get even better results by getting the linear power supply from LTA or Pro-Ject. So to be clear Pro-Ject RS2 T > Aurender N100H playing stored ripped files > Aurender N100H streaming Qobuz. |
@jaudio1, Thanks for taking the time to post your listening impressions of the Pro-Ject CD Box RS2T transport in your audio system. I have to delve deeper into the technology and mechanism of this fascinating component. It is obviously doing something very right to yield such a high level of sound quality from Redbook CD. A cogent argument could be made that the CD transport is as crucial a contributor to the sound quality as is the DAC. Charles |
well since I received the rs2t 3 weeks ago I added the project 4 way uni power supply a week later, very nice improvement all around. so last week I built a 20v dc power cable and the parts came from vh audio, again very nice improvement . today I added a fuse in the power supply [ hifi tuning supreme silver] it brought it up another level . this transport is unbelievable the more you upgrade it the more it likes it. unbelievable machine. |
@kully560, The I2S on my unit doesn't appear to work. The cable worked fine with the Jay transport. Has anyone had a similar issue, and if so were you able to correct it and how? BTW it sounds very good using a Black Cat digital coaxial cable. Has anybody compared the SQ using I2S, coaxial, AES/EBU? Thanks |
@lrm1jaf I think the I2s is only for Pro-Ject’s corresponding DAC. That, or it only works with DAC of a certain i2s configuration, as there are like four different ways i2s output can be configured… The Denafrips Terminator has a function to set the configuration of the i2s input to accept from different sources… But again, I believe the one on this unit is for Pro-Ject use only. |
Since this Pro-Ject RS2 Transport is so incredibly good...it has me thinking that I need to try the matching DAC. Has anybody here heard the Pro-Ject Prebox RS2 DAC ? Personally I am not a big fan of sabre based dacs but considering the project dac has 4 6922 tubes that can be engaged using the remote plus various filters it has me curious to try it out. It's the only dac that you can connect via the transports IS2 connection. If anybody here has heard this combo please chime in and give us your thoughts. |
Has anyone tried the Chinese LPS on Ebay? This guy specifically makes his LPS for Project products (20v 3amp) https://www.ebay.com/itm/124420057268?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 |
I have very happily been using the P.S. Audio PWT the past 8 or 9 years and it is wonderful paired with my Yamamoto YDA-01 DAC. Listening last night to jazz guitarist Royce Campbell CD "Solo Wes" a tribute to the great Wes Montgomery. It felt as though I was sitting in the recording studio, so real and tactile. Not an uncommon outcome with the PWT. Intriguing to contemplate the Pro-Ject CD Box transport taking this type of listening experience yet a further step upward. The comments on this thread are quite encouraging. Charles |
For those looking for a LPS to use besides what's been offered here, here's a review of several models that took the reviewer about 4 months to conduct:https://audiobacon.net/2021/08/06/the-worlds-best-audiophile-linear-power-supplies/ All the best, Nonoise |
Here's Terry's/Teajay's review: http://v2.stereotimes.com/post/project-cd-box-rs2-transport/ |