JAYS Audio transport upgrade?

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