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CD Transport
I’m looking for a cd transport (my DAC is the Bricasti M1 S2). I’m considering this 3 options; Audiolab 9000CDT, Primare DD35 and Teac 701T.
Your opinions, please.
Thanks in advance for your help.
75 responses Add your response
@leog2015 - did you get the Jays yet? Just interested in your opinion if you did. |
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. Charles |
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. |
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.
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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. 😄 All the best, |
@cleeds - that photo is definitely from a higher end VRDS. |
Fair point. “VRDS” is the attention grabber. Very likely different levels of its implementation in different models. Charles |
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. |
@leog2015 has terrific options among CD transports. In a high quality and resolving audio system superb Redbook CD music reproduction is the reward. Charles |
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. Charles |
@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. |
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. |
Forget it. Common sense is always frowned upon here. |
@leog2015 - selling? No, I just got it. I was just posting my initial impressions for anyone in the market for a TL5. |
Just following up for anyone interested in the CEC TL5. I received mine today and it is very nicely made with a well-damped chassis and everything feels commensurate with the price. Yes I know they are selling them on EBay for $1000, but I chose not to go that route. Audio Union is the distributor, but sales are now through a few dealers. I bought mine from Atelier 13 Audio in Nashville and I dealt with Constantin, who was extremely professional. 3 weeks from order to delivery as promised. I can’t comment on the sound compared to my CXC as it’s too new and I’m breaking in a new dac, so it’s really impossible to know what’s causing what. In any case, the TL5 is very nice. I’m sure the next model up for double the price is even nicer, but that’s the way things go sometimes. |
@leog2015 - the nu[prime was just OK. The Sim was good but there were better older units that out performed it but it was still very nice. The CEC units are very good. I did not prefer the TL5 as much. The model 2 with the 2 belt system was very good. I compared the Jays II to the old Metronome T1A & AL2 CD Transport & Power Supply we own. The Jays was more forward sounding and more detailed. The Metronome showing its age was much more musical and that is the sound I prefer in our systems. I have not heard the Jays III transport. As a manufacturer and repair place, we modify a lot of CDPs and once modified you get really close to a reference player and most have a digital output. We prefer that option over spending too much on a transport. The ones I have were ones we purchased broken, purchased cheap and then repaired them. We just finished an old HK CDP and it sounds fantastic. The old Marantz model 94 CDPs sound excellent to this day and can be used as a transport. Once modified (upgraded) they are very heard to beat IMO. A number of years back there was a tiny Nano CD transport and for $600 it was a killer unit. Have not seen any around in years but they were mind blowing for the price. Happy Listening.
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