If you still spin CD's their is a reference level Transport for reasonable money
I just got in-house the Jay's Audio CDT-2 MK3 transport to review for hometheaterreview.com. The build quality and physical appearance make it hard to believe that it retails for around $2,400. Right out of the crate not even broken in yet, it's out performing my CEC double belt transport in the reference system. It retains all the liquidity and analog smoothness of the belt driven transport but offers more details, tighter bass frequencies, and a larger layered soundstage with more air between the players.
Alvin, of Vinshine Audio set this review up with me, so if you go to his website you can get a lot more details/pictures on this transport. The reason I was motivated to review a CD transport was I received scores of requests from my readers asking what is a great sounding transport, for a reasonable amount of money. So far, in spades the Jay's Audio CDT-2 MK3 fits the bill easily.
@aolmrd1241 , Srajan has that gift of gab, but he knows his stuff. There's a lot of word play going on with his style of writing and yes, sometimes my eyes cross but then it all comes together in the end. 👍
He's one of the few reviewers out there that has plenty of gear to try and he'll do just about every combination he can with what he has to determine what will, or won't, work with a given piece of equipment.
Srajan Ebaen, of Six Moon website, just completed his review on the transport. He came to the same conclusions that I have reported here on this thread. He was also kind enough to include my comments/viewpoints to other highly regarded transports in his extensive review. Srajan, awarded a "BLUE MOON AWARD" to this great piece.
I'm thankful for audiophiles like Teajay and Srajan who invested time, money and a whole lot of energy learning these new skill sets and I'm glad that I can keep spinning my shiny discs, being that it's on par with top flight mediums; no interest in servers or hi-rez...
The one thing that gives me pause about this transport is the comment that they recommend it not be left on for any more than 24 hours at a time... I’ve never heard anything like this before. Leaving power tubes on while not playing music, sure. But a solidstate something should be able to be left on...and even sound better after 24 + hours on. I’ve recently heard the Denafrips Terminator sound better after on for days. Is there a chance that due to this fact one may never hear the transport at its best—after on for days?? And what will happen I’d on3 forgets to turn it off over night?
You are confusing the CDT-2 MK3 with the CDT-3 MK3. The CDT-3 MK3, because of the heat from its internal clock, it is recommended to turn it off after 24 hours. The CDT-2 MK3 has no such concerns and I leave mine on all the time.
OK Kids, so Ive finally spent some time with the PS Audio DirectStream DAC with Red Cloud. Its what I expected for the most part. Look, its not a bad DAC, to me its run of the mill. Good. In no way great as far as I’m concerned, but realize, my reference is a Rockna Wavedream Signature Balanced .. to date I have not had a better DAC through here. Tonight Ive got a Vermeer Two which is the continuation of the French Company Audio Aero.. made some heavy hitter DACs back in the day. Its $20K so lets see how she does. I also have a MSB Analog DAC, another I’m not familiar with.
So the direct stream DAC is absolutely best on I2s in fact so much so that I would ONLY consider this DAC if you plan to use it with i2s or not purchase it at all.. I know much better DAC’s for $3K (Rockna Wavelight, Exogal Comet) which is what the real street price for the PS Audio is. Its rolled off on top. Absolutely zero leading edge, therefore not present nor 3D. Mid was grainy to me, and good bass. I am being objective and fair, if it was great I would say so and apologize for talking smack. I think the Metrum Acoustics Adagio does this type of sound better, because its R2R and NOS, but smooth musical and organic. The PS did not approach "real" in terms of the sound, the good thing is it only misses the boat for me because of what it does not do, not because it does anything bad. But the firmware updates and stuff ?? To me looks like a tool to keep the client base, if it changes things so greatly then at best you have a DAC in which you can not count on its character, because its always in flux.. so you must retune the rig every update. You guys should charge PS labor, for the re tune you must do each time. So I recommend Metrum Acoustics Adagio over PS. what I really dig about Adagio is it does not play DSD, but it does have a MQA module. So now when I tell someone the weak link is the PS , I know from experience . @ Ducks2007 My opinion is polarized on pretty much all things. I’m an all or none OCD type freak that notices all the little things. I dont need credentials to make big statements, have you vetted your beloved reviewers and thier "credentials" ? Let me purge facts if thats what floats your boat. I design HiFi products, and Ive done this as a full time career for the last 15 years, Ive learned about audio from Mark Levinson, Neslon Pass, and Jeff Rowland (among others). I have owned an amplifier manufacturing company in California whose lineage went back to Altec Lansing. Ive sued a company in the industry for copyright infringement and won. Ive filed a patent for a connector that replaces both RCA and XLR as obsolete. I used to travel to other states to see the Grateful Dead, My girlfriend is Costa Rican, I drive a Volvo, I had Thai for Lunch, and I put on my underwear the same way everyone does this A.M. So I am a regular guy just doing my thing and my opinion is never worth any more than any other human. We are all equal in our right to talk smack. PS is the weak link in your rig.. get past it and new realms will open up to you.. Just sayin.. all the best gang, I’m going to disappear for a while. Find me on You Tube under "OCD HiFi Guy" I will post the videos I took of Rockna Wavedream Sig vs PS Audio Directstream DAC.. Happy Listening !
Wig , I look forward to your comments! Now I don’t know if you ever experienced this before waiting on a delivery of a new component is that linear time seems to slow down,.
Mike all though my own experience comparing digital front was on a different scale I have settled with my own Rockna dac and look forward to your comparisons of your Rockna Sig and that of the Vermeer and MSB dacs .
Will do and it’s going to be a treat since I have upgraded an already spectacular SW1X DAC II reviewed a few months ago to an SW1X DAC III now, which I will have in 8 days or so that will compliment my Jay's CDT2 MK II Transport:
@wig I'm also very interested in your findings, as I am considering this transport as well, to replace my Musical Fidelity M1 and my April Music Stello CDT100.
Hopefully others who are still spinning CDs will chime in after purchasing this CD Transport which I find the build quality, fit and finish to be Outstanding!
Burning in on my sound-bar until my DAC arrives by the end of next week and it reads discs within 3 seconds which is quite impressive...
@wig please still let us know. With the familiarity you have with your DAC, maybe you will be able to quantify its upgrades and see what the Transport may be adding...maybe.
Are you close to sharing what you think of the Jay's Audio transport's sonic performance? A few listeners, last week, were quite impressed in the improvements they heard in my reference system over the CEC double belt transport. Everyone comments on it's build quality and beautiful appearance. They all assumed that it must retail for at least 8K to 10K, until I inform them that it's much less expensive. Then they are quite shocked you get this type of value for such a reasonable price.
I have three reviews in-line to write, so the review on this transport won't be done for awhile. If you want more information, please send me an Email through the GON and I'll be happy to discuss the details.
So far it's destroyed my previous transport (Musical Fidelity M1 CDT). More of everything, and it just puts everything together much better. Images are denser. The picture is more coherent
lordcloud, I have the a Terminator and CDT2-mk.2 transport using the I2s connections and the pairing is excellent. I like it much better then my PS Audio Memory player and Directstream DAC combo. The Terminator is open, has great prat, and dynamic with very good micro and macro detail. I think it is transparent and not colored. What it isn't is dry, thin, sterile, and fatiguing. Tonally, it sounds natural with nice texture and has some meat on the bones (which to me is how a lot of acoustic instruments sound) but still has bite when a trumpet is blown harder, IMHO.
Thanks for your insight. After doing more research, as of right now I'll be going with the Terminator. It seems to fit the bill for what I'm looking for, versus what I can actually buy. Had I the money, I'd be looking at a Aries Cerat Kassandra, MSB Select II, or TotalDac Twelve.....but the Terminator seems awesome, and I'm loving being able to use I2s. Though I could save up longer and get an Aqua Acoustics Formula......I think I'll be happy with the Terminator.
Lordcloud, you mentioned some excellent DACs but, at a much higher price point. I heard the original Aqua Formula and I think the Terminator was very close. I'm sure the updated Formula xHD surpassed the older one but it is $17,000 now. I'm sure you'll be thrilled with the Termy it's built like a tank and sounds wonderful. Let us knew how you like it. Give it a couple hundred hours for break-in it gets better with more time.
@lordcloud Congratulations on going forward with the Denafrips Terminator.
I was planning on responding to your post which I believe you have self-removed. If you would like my take on the questions you raised, feel free to reach out via PM. I second @snopro 's assessment.
Yeah, I did some research and saw what dac you were referring to. It isn't balanced and therefore won't work for me, but I'm still on the lookout to see if there's a dac I'd rather have besides the Terminator.
I've also heard the Aqua, but not in my system. The system I heard it in is great, but I couldn't say exactly how much of that is the Aqua, though I imagine it is a sizable amount.
At this point, the Terminator is my choice, but since it will be after the holiday when I'm able to pull the trigger, I'm on the lookout for something that may be better for me. I'm really looking for as much transparency, information retrieval, and neutrality, that I can get for my money.
@lordcloud Again congratulations on going with the Terminator.
If you are still evaluating DACs, you may want to consider the Rockna. There is one currently listed on Audiogon.
As you know I am very happy with the Terminator's performance in my system. However, these are personal journeys and if you are looking at other DACs, I think the Rockna should also be on your list as should the Aqua Formula xHD.
If you do get one or more in, be sure to share your comparative findings. All the best.
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