I have made it known on this forum in the past, about a friend who has been investing in a Digital Source for a Long Time, where numerous configurations have been adopted.
CD as the Source was left behind many years passed for Streaming Data as the Source.
Along with numerous tweaks to the Streaming Design and DAC's used where there was the assessment that the Digital Source was a real time competitor to the Vinyl Source in use.
When the Teac 701t was loaned to be tried in the system, everything changed, to the point a CDT was once more introduced and 100's of CD's were speedily acquired.
The 701t is now seen by this individual as the measure to be used to compare their return to an old / or new direction, for the work they are doing on the system.
The Vinyl Source is now seemingly being described as one that can be referred to as a Parity experience as a Source.
In my own system using a CDT > DAC and a Vinyl Source (not set up at present), I have formed the view these Sources share a Parity with each other. I can easily detect the differences when A/B compared on a short duration of demo' tracks.
When either Source is allowed run on playing an Album. The musical encounter being experienced is one which has the ability to immerse a listener into the music. I don't require anymore than that from a audio system, the audio system for ne is at its summit, where all the critical components are at the venue and the end production can't be imagined to be taken any higher.
I have spent some time listening to my Teac 701t this week as I had a few days off.
This machine sounds incredible, best component I have purchased in a long time. This player has me reaching for my favorite discs rather than streaming them.
I really can't have a top loader, so a drawer player was a must. If you are looking at Jay's my experience with their subsidiary LHY was very good. I just received their OCK-2 10m clock and SW-6 switch and they are excellent. Really nice build quality. It is CNC'd from a block of billet aluminum , really nice connectors . Seems like really good stuff.
I would think that the Bricasti M19 would be a great transport, especially when matched up with a Bricasti Dac.... but at $10,000, it darn well ought to be
From many accounts here on this forum and elsewhere.... the Jay's Audio CDT2MK3 and CDT3MK3 seems to be an outstanding transport, competing with others that cost much more... there should be no shame in owning a Jay's Audio Transport.
I've been told by several Bricasti dealers that using the M19 transport with any Bricasti DAC that is fitted with the I2S connection scheme will get the very most sonically out of this combination. Bricasti essentially optimized this proprietary connection and it is definitely worth a try.
I was going to purchase a Jays Audio CD3/MK3 and probably will but in the meantime, I am using a modified Arcam Delta 250 transport and 270 cd player. The power boards are rebuilt with massive power caps, filter caps, Sparkos regulators, etc. Costly but sonically worth it. Because they are difficult to find, the Jays Audio is a better option.
I appreciate your enthusiasm for the TEAC/Esoteric transports. I have to say that every audio component has some degree/level of signature or sonic character. I have not encountered an audio product that is any exception to this. I do think that the TEAC701T comparison with the Jay’s Audio CD transports would be very informative.
I have not seen/heard the Primare or the Audiolab, but if you're talking about the TEAC VRDS-701T CD Transport, yes I have heard it and other Teac models that you can also connect a master clock generator that surprisingly makes an audible improvement. The Teac has the best transport mechanism of the three; Primare, lesser spec Teac part, and the Audiolab looks generic with maybe better dampening applied. The 701T is a sonically neutral machine. When I hear adjectives describing or ascribing some sonic signature to a product like this as warm, meatier bass, soft highs, etc., those to me are colorations. I suppose neutral could be described as a coloration but this transport gets the information off the discs and if later you want to improve on it, the TEAC CG-10M Master Clock Generator will definately do that. I have heard these master clock generators on a few Teac's and Esoteric Audio products and they always make an improvement rather than just sound different like a lot of products might do. Think of the 701T VRDS as a baby Esoteric; okay a very baby Esoteric. It even uses a three point steel footers setup ( very similar to Esoteric) separate transformers, digital, transport.
I have a CEC on the way. There are a lot of choices and very difficult to compare them side by side. I like the ergonomics of the unit and the fact that it is a time-tested design with US service
A friend of mine had an upper level TL2 for a number of years.
It is a high-quality CD transport and from my observation quite reliable. He did have to change the drive belt from time to time as they tend to stretch after awhile. It is also a well-built top loading unit as well. There are definitely very good options available for those who continue to greatly enjoy the physical media CD.
FWIW, I have been using a CEC TL5 for some time, and am very happy with it. Note also that it is fairly simple to replace the belt, if or when necessary.
Personally, if your deck has support for I2S, I would not consider any transport that lack support for this protocol. I can tell you from personal experience, the disparity between an AES connection and I2S is quite significant..
I presently have the PS Audio DMP player and it’s superb and built like a tank. Their new iteration is said to be as good if not better. If your budget permits, I would certainly consider that. https://www.psaudio.com/products/perfectwave-sacd-transport
Congrats on your settling on the CD3 Mk3! Here's a link to Michael Lavorgna's review of it. He flat out loved it. Just read it every now and again until it arrives and it should leave you in a good place until then. 😄
I just want to add that just because Teac says it’s a VRDS (or whatever) doesn’t mean much. I had an Esoteric X-05 with a so-called VRDS transport that was just a glorified plastic transport with a top clamp resembling the clamp in the 701. It was nothing like the transports in the higher end Esoteric products.
Fair point. “VRDS” is the attention grabber. Very likely different levels of its implementation in different models.
I had an Esoteric X-05 with a so-called VRDS transport that was just a glorified plastic transport with a top clamp resembling the clamp in the 701. It was nothing like the transports in the higher end Esoteric products.
Here's a photo of the Esoteric VRDS transport from its website:
Sony built some of the best CD players ever with the X and XA models as examples. Particularly in the 1990's decade. They were better than many ES models. The CD mechanism was engineered like a Rolex watch. I wish Sony still made CD players like those models. If they did, Sony would be my first choice.
I just want to add that just because Teac says it’s a VRDS (or whatever) doesn’t mean much. I had an Esoteric X-05 with a so-called VRDS transport that was just a glorified plastic transport with a top clamp resembling the clamp in the 701. It was nothing like the transports in the higher end Esoteric products. Given the cost of the better Esoteric units, I don’t think they’re giving you that much VRDS for under 3k. Not saying it’s bad, but don’t think you’re getting a transport out of a K-03 or anything like that.
I went back to double check and the only thing in English on those shots read: 701/701T so it must be the CDP and not the CDT. My bad
No problem and appreciate the effort. TEAC has the engineering chops and experience. To get the CD tray mechanism/assembly right does involve a degree of complexity that alternative top loaders don’t require. Simplicity is an advantage with regard to audio more often than not.
The Jays is a beautiful product but it’s huge and weighs almost 50 pounds. I couldn’t swing that. It’s definitely an issue for some. The CD2 weighs about 33 pounds which is no lightweight either. The TL5 is 18 pounds and the TL2N at about 26 pounds.
Understood. I think that the 3 transports on your list are excellent choices to ponder. Do you have a preference for top loading versus tray loading CD mechanisms?
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Yahama CD-1000 SACD. Over the years several reviewers have praised the build quality of it's structure. For $1300 new or less used, it might be worth considering. This is especially true if you buy it new with a free return policy.
@leog2015 I believe Audio Union doesn’t sell anymore. They just distribute and repair. As I said above, I had a very good experience with Constantin at Atelier 13 Audio and I know they have the TL2. Maybe not in stock, as I think they order from Japan. But check if you’re so inclined.
@leog2015- I would definitely check with Audio Union before buying an expensive used CEC product. I would give them the serial number to make sure it can be serviced if necessary. I have never heard one, but the TL2N looks like a beautiful unit and I believe you can even add some type of outboard clock if you want.
Here's an interesting article by Arthur Salvatore to the effect that the transport is more important to the overall presentation than the dac. A minority view to be sure, but make of it what you will.
I have a Jay's CD3 MK III and I have a Teac 701 on order with Music Direct. Recently they told me that the Teac will ship in November. Before the Jay's I ran a PS Audio PerfectWave Transport. I have also had several CD players, my current one being a Marantz KI Ruby and before that I had a Marantz SA 8005.
My primary advice regarding transports is to choose a brand that specifically identifies the manufacturer and model of the drive itself. Then research the reliability of that drive. If the Transport maker is coy about which drive they use then I would avoid them. I came to this lesson from my experience with PSA where they used a $15 cheapo computer drive in their $4000 transport. After going through three drives they quit supporting the unit and wouldn't assist me with replacing the drive myself. BTW, any drive adapted from a computer application is unfit for a CD player. Computer drives are designed to spin up, read data, then spin down. They are not designed to spin CDs for hour after hour.
Marantz makes their own CD drives but for some reason they don't make a transport. One option I would consider would be to get a used Marantz player such as a model from the 8000 series and use that as a transport. I've had 3 Marantz CD players over the years and they have been 100% reliable. You will likely get a better transport for less money with a Marantz player than if you bought the Audiolab or Primare. Teac obviously makes their own transports and the 701 should be an excellent unit.
FWIW I have compared the sound of my Jay's transport with my KI Ruby used as a transport and they sound virtually identical through my Berkeley Reference Series 2 MQA DAC. I doubt I could identify them in a blind test. I think transports are likely to sound very similar so other factors will weigh in on the decision. Reliability, ease of use, form factor, and pride of ownership should mostly drive the decision.
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