If you still spin CD's their is a reference level Transport for reasonable money

I just set up my new Jay’s Audio CDT2 MK2 transport. Incredible SQ. Surprised to find no manual for a $2,000 transport, but no issues with set up. Remote functions didn’t work; maybe batteries are required. 😂😂

The RCA digital coaxial output of the Jay’s Audio reverses channels relative to my other transports (CAL Delta transport via all tested digital outputs, including both RCA and AES/EBU outputs and a borrowed NuPrime CDT-8 Pro transport via RCA digital output). I’ll need to test its BNC output.

My error on the transport channel reversal. I now recall having done a channel reversal test on my Teo Audio Liquid Pre outs and the L/R channels my ATC active monitors to isolate some weird noise on one channel. 

@teajay
I am testing a Oyaide digital IC at the moment. I got the Sablon digital IC on Saturday. Should be a fun comparison. 

My initial impressions of the CDT2 MK2 are presented below.

System: CDT2 MK2 transport, Theta Digital DS ProBasic IIIa DAC, Teo Audio Liquid Pre passive preamp, ATC SCM20-2A active monitors, 1.3M Oyaide DB-510 digital IC (Canare BNC-RCA adaptors on the digital cable’s BNC connectors to accommodate the RCA digital input of the DAC), 2ft and 6ft runs of custom HAVE Dual StarQuad parallel integrated audio IC’s per Shroeder Method (2ft run between DAC and Liquid Pre and 6ft run between Liquid Pre and ATC active monitors).

My first listening of the CDT2 included a switched set of audio IC’s running from the Liquid Pre to the ATC active monitors (originally done to isolate a spurious noise at one channel output). That led to my errant conclusion the CDT2 has reversed the channels on the CDT2’s RCA digital output. That error was rectified by reversing the analog output cables at the Liquid Pre.

The CDT2 replaces a CAL Delta transport. And the CDT2 transformed CD playback in so many ways. Soundstage presentation was more expansive in all dimensions. But what amazed was how much the soundstage leaped well in front of the speakers, resulting in their near disappearance from the sound field. The layers of musical complexity was resolved far better, with a much greater degree of both micro and macro dynamics coming forth. The background and inter-passage silence were more evident, immediate and blacker. The degree of quietness was unnerving at times, as if a layer of ever-present glare were removed from the background, leaving utter silence.

The CDT2 drove digital playback of my Theta DAC to incredible heights. It was as if the CDT2 transport literally granted permission to the Theta DAC to reveal all of its glorious potential. I can only hazard how much more improvement can be brought by an updated DAC. I suspect the CDT2’s extremely low jitter levels contributed to how well the Theta DAC negotiated the digital stream. But no matter. I’m tapping to the music at a much more involved level.

I have another digital IC to test in the context of a product from Mark Coles of Sablon Audio of the UK. Will report back when that IC is in the system.

@nonoise

I watch that OCD YouTube video (aka Mike Powell) the other day. I thought when he finished initially (and I clicked off the channel), I concluded he didn’t review the Black Cat digital cable. Returned to it again and found that I had prematurely turned off the video, omitting the extra time at the end devoted to that cable.

I’ve created a new thread for the Jay’s Audio DAC as it’s unrelated to teajay’s original thread. 

I purposefully did not compare the Jay's Audio CDT2 MK2 with my analog rigs (VPI Prime and two Linn LP12 set-ups having different arm/cartridge combinations).

The SQ commonalities between my CD and LP playback front ends include an incredibly silent background and a huge 3-dimensional sound space.

I’ve only used the Theta Digital DSPro Basic IIIA as a DAC. It’s potential is greatly affected by whatever transport feeds it. My original CAL Delta Transport (having a <50 psec jitter output) sounded great with it. My Sonic Frontiers Ultra Jitterbug reclocker (having a reclocked digital stream with <40 psec jitter) or an AE Synchro Mesh OTL reclocker (having presumably 8psec jitter) didn’t really improve the SQ from the Theta DAC using the Delta transport.

I tried a NuPrime CDT-8 Pro transport (having 120 psec jitter output) with the Theta DAC. The resultant SQ from the DAC wasn’t better (might have been worse in imaging) than with the Delta transport.

I then obtained a Jay’s Audio CDT2 MK2 transport to mate with the Theta DAC.
💥BOOM!💥
The Jay’s Audio transport brought out the best SQ from the Theta DAC I’ve ever heard. As most here know, the Theta DAC is an R2R ladder design. I could easily live with the Theta forever.

I’m going to try out the Benchmark DAC3 DAC-Pre for reasons partly unrelated to the DAC section. I’ll sort out the SQ of their DAC section when I audition it. But based on the Theta DAC design and its resultant SQ when mated with a high resolution transport, I might be biased towards R2R ladder DACs.

I had a Counterpoint DAC that I traded in for my then-new Theta DSPro Basic IIIa DAC. I believe it was also a R2R design. One nice feature about that Counterpoint design was that one could swap out DSP chips to change the flavor of the analog section. The Theta was a better unit, in terms of SQ. 

Dr. John. Mike Powell Audio is the US distributor of the Jay’s Audio product line. At least that is where I obtained my CDT2 MK2. 

Is the pissing contest over? Can we return to civil discourse?