Help needed improving the sound of my Audiolab CDT

some of these ideas may well apply to the audiolab unit... approach with eyes wide open...

I have never heard anyone describe this transport in that way. I would give it a few weeks to burn in and see if your opinion changes. I would not buy any different cables until after you give it a chance. I have found that placing Vibrapods under the feet of certain digital components can soften the sound, but I would still wait. We had another person here complaining that his new $2500 Jay’s transport sounded harsh, but it improved considerably after break in. Be a little patient. 

It took about 6 weeks for my Technics SL-G700 SACD player to go from lean to full bodied. Everything else was fine but it got me to looking around for darker sounding speakers, thinking it wouldn't get any better. 

Glad I waited as it's now everything I want and need.

All the best,
Nonoise

Agree with @chayro ​​​​and @nonoise. Exercise some patience and acquire more burn in hours of use before drawing perhaps premature conclusions.

Charles

In what way would the Marantz be noisy? Never heard of that...I use my Marantz hdcd1 as transport, noisy Is not how I'd describe it, warm maybe...I owned the audiolab, I did not care for it, I prefer my Marantz, sold off the cdt...

Folks,

Thanks everyone, especially for the counsel of patience. I've had the until for 2 weeks, and it has gotten better. Still room for improvement. I haven't watched the video, but will try things that don't involved opening the unit.

The Marantz is mechanically noisy--It makes noise when it spins disks. Nothing I can do with footers or placement alters it. Something needs fixing inside, and I have no skills in this area.

barry

I own a cdt6000. IMO, you are do for a huge upgrade (something in the <$200 range should do it) to your digital cable and footers

hth