JAYS Audio transport upgrade?

Get the CD3 Mk 3 and be done with it

https://youtu.be/3FD7a3o6dJA?si=mLmkbdqlUwMqu3F3

@larseand 

Thread:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/anyone-hear-jay-s-audio-cdt2-mk3-vs-mk2

Thank you.

So a few months back I visited Vinshine audio (the distributors for Jays). They have a listening room which had both the 2 and the 3. We went back and forth. I tried to convince myself that the 3 sounded better but to be honest they sounded exactly the same. The Vinshine employee who was listening with me agreed. Maybe there’s a difference but for sure it’s subtle.

@larseand

You’re asking about upgrading cdt2mkll to cdt2mklll, right?

THIS: 

https://www.tekaudiospecialties.com/product-page/mk3-upgrade-kit

Ask Todd at TEK Audio. He is a straight shooter. 

Yes, cdt2 mk2 to cdt 2mk3...Thanks, I sent an email, they don't have a phone? LOL

@aolmrd1241

Excellent advice but not all gear is available from sellers who offer trial periods/return policies. I normally don’t buy anything I can’t demo at home and return if necessary but sometimes this just isn’t possible. I bought my Jay’s CDT2MKIII without a return option and have been very pleased with it.

@larseand

FWIW, I’ve found Todd very responsive to emails. 

I have a CD3 MKIII but I haven't heard the CD2. I bought the CD3 because I'm in the process of upgrading my components to end-game status and I simply wanted the best I could get.

It sounds wonderful and I'm glad that I forked over the dough to get the CD3 so I don't have to twitterpate over getting the best model.

@8th-note 

Makes sense, at that price. For more cash, Bricasti, Aqua and Gryphon make very fine transports that might beat it, in some ways. It's a moot point, however, as far as I'm concerned. They're all too expensive for me! My CDT2MKIII is just fine for my needs. 

Yes, the CDT3 is in fact one of the best sounding sources available at any price. Just the truth. The CDT2 is quite good, but the CDT3 is audibly better still. Part of that must be the CLK and its PSU, it is one of the finest they can produce and occupies the whole R 3rd of the unit.

We tried hard to beat the CDT3 with various expensive streamers (eg Rockna, Lumin, Naim, Esoteric, etc) and have not been able to. Also, we tried master CLK'ing the CDT3 and the sound changed slightly but did not improve.

With all due respect the CDT2 and CDT3 do NOT sound identical. If you want the best sound you can get the CDT3 is the better path vs the Mk2-?Mk3 upgrade. Thanks TK 

And to the OP I have shared my phone with you there and we can discuss. Thanks TK

So appreciative for the personal response. Pure class.

@larseand, please check your email spam folder. Thanks, TK

First off, I’d like to echo @stuartk  comment and say that Todd at TEK is absolutely a top notch guy… a true asset to the audiophile community!

Secondly, I’ve “read” that the upgrade from CDT2-mk2 to mk3 is quite substantial and worth the minor investment.  
 

Thirdly, if I understand this correctly, the cost of a replacement CDM4/19 drive mechanism is much less costly than the drive for the CDT3-mk3.  
 

I have no doubt that the CDT3-mk3 may sound better.  With the enormous parts count, better clock and power supply, and at twice the price, it certainly ought to.

Due to many recent medical bills and other expenses, I bought a used CDT2-mk3 in excellent shape.  I also bought a replacement drive for it, which is user replaceable!  This will keep me going with great sound while I continue to save enough cash to purchase the flagship transport from Todd. 

Best wishes to you all,

Don

Thanks for the very kind words fellas :) At heart I’m just a long time fellow hard core audiophile as well, starting this journey with a nice Linn LP12/Naim system in the mid 80’s :)

And @Don you are right about the mechanism cost, it is much higher for the CDT3 CD Pro2 vs the CDT2 CDM4. That’s a large part of the cost increase as well for CDT3 vs CDT2. Thanks, TK

+1 @stuartk 

The CDT2-MK3 is doing everything I need and more, specially if it requires twice the money to upgrade to the CDT3. Not that I balk at spending 5k for a component since I have well over 50k in my system. But the true reasoning is that my CD playing has taken a considerable backseat to my streaming system. Same with vinyl. I will be lucky to play either CDs or vinyl once every other week, while I enjoy the streaming nearly every day. In my case it's just a matter of common sense. 

@tekaudiospecialties1 

I too have an LP12, highly modified from original, but I absolutely love it!  It has the Naim Aro tonearm with a Benz Zebrawood Ruby S-Class moving coil cartridge.

Below is my Jay's Audio CDT2-MK3 cd transport driving my Mojo Audio Mystique X-24AM R2R Ladder Dac on the shelf just below it.

Oh, by the way... my replacement drive arrived today.  I truly appreciate your help with that!

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes to all,

Don

My G-d what a beautiful system Don! Wow, nicely done :) I’m kinda drooling here :p A Mojo DAC, I met Ben at Axpona a couple of years back; he was using a Jay’s CDT3 to demo his DACs(!) What more can you say for endorsement? In fact he was one of the very first on the CDT3 bandwagon. He’s very passionate about audio and obviously has great hearing too :D

And darn it, that LP12 image has me in the mood for some analog again. I’m going to drag out a choice album stack and do some jammin’ out tomorrow :) I have a highly worked LP12 with alum subchassis, DC motor, Akiva MC, Naim phono pre, etc, etc. I did some mods to the phono pre, swapping in some cleaner, higher performance TK_super CFP's in place of the old Naim CFP's in the circuits, and some other changes (cap upgrages, etc). I cant wait. You guys are the best, inspiring :) TK

 Don't spend that much money to upgrade a Chinese CDT 

I purchased the CDT2MK3 from Todd based on cost. Also purchased a backup CDM4 drive. I have not heard the CDT3 so can't comment on the return on investment for the 2x cost. 

As others have stated above, I also found Todd to be great to deal with. 

Jays mkIII is my first price/performance choice, but curious how TEAC's new VRDS-701T CD transport compares.

I have had the Teac 701t for a few months and love it.   Nice machine.   I got a great deal so I stretched my budget.     Transports are few and far between so i wanted to buy a player before they stop making good ones.