BEST CD TRANSPORT

Charles; you hit it on the head.  The Stream unlimited drives and servo boards are about the best that can be had (except in the case of very expensive transports), and if the output electronics are well done, the sound is quite good.  This is why Schiit uses them in the URD transport.

Trn:

I also have a Schiit URD.  It worked fine for a bit over 1 year, and then started to develop the "intermittent" play problem.  Finally, the CD drawer would not open, so I sent it to Schiit.  A solid unit with a Stream Unlimited drive and servo board.  You mention that others have had similar problems; any further comments about all this?  I found the sound to be very good with this transport, but I am wondering about the JPL-2800 drive mechanism durability, noting that a series of high end CD transports use this drive, or the CD PRO-8 (which seems to use most of the same "guts" as the 2800).

Trn:  Keep us informed in this thread  as to how your repaired URD works.  The URD uses the JPL-2800 tray loader mechanism, and the CD88 servo board.  The CDPRO-8 variation is supposed to be an "upscale" mechanism.  My research is that the CDPRO-8 has most of the same "guts" as the JPL-2800; but it is housed in a CNC machined aluminum box.  Not sure this would lead to any significant sonic or reliability advantage.  As you might be aware, there are very few decent CD drive available for use in the high end.  Stream Unlimited, a Teac unit (not Esoteric), and maybe a few others.  Stream Unlimited is made up of the "gurus" that were doing the fine drives that Phillips made decades ago.  Schiit went with the Stream Unlimited drive and servo board - probably the best choice.  As to reliability, we will see.  My unit has just reached their repair department, and I am hoping for a long term fix.  I will update this thread.