BEST CD TRANSPORT

With the Jay's Audio CDT Mk 3 I have become enamored with the 4x upsampling toggle. I would now always prefer a transport that has such options.

https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2570169 Post regarding Esoteric.

I think their reputation/perception is better than reality. My K-07X transport has failed twice. When working or using its DAC, it sounds superb.

Just to add to this: I bought an Urd a year ago (running it into Dac3 B via coax). The combo sounds quite good (comparing it to my Wadia 830 and a modded Oppo 105D). I also use the USB input of the Urd to run my streaming through to the Benchmark which is certainly handy.

But the Urd has gone to Schiit. For repair. Since day one, it only plays a disc upon close about 60% of the time. Open/close, open/close, maybe it plays, maybe it doesn't. Just annoying. (I'm not the only who has seen this odd behavior.) Otherwise, its a very good sounding unit (not really on par with the Wadia but close enough). 

Which has me back in the hunt for a transport (because I really don't have faith in Schiit getting it together, tbh.) Prior to selecting the Urd, I was looking at Pro-Ject, Jay's, Audiolab, CEC, Esoteric, and Teac, I didn't really want a slot loader (which might be a hangover from the car CD days - but the Pro-ject DS2 T uses a Stream 8 - surely it doesn't eat media). And I don't really have the rack space for a top loader, certainly not an RS2T.

Now I'm thinking maybe the DS2T is worth a try. But I'm also intrigued with CEC and belt drive. Drive isolation makes sense to me. And maybe, with most CEC models having the top-loading point at the very front edge, I might be able to load with minimal space above. 

I looked at the Teac 701 today and the tray looks and feels weak. The player weighs a ton, a good thing but the tray is an issue for me. I did not listen.

I didn't want a slot loader and didn't have the space for a top loader and the Teac sounds great.   

Not worried about the tray at all.   It's driven by a rubber band, that is usually what fails when it won't eject.