New, Very Interesting CD Transport

Why waste money? I just ordered from eBay a Samsung DVD-HD841 to use as a transport. $16 including shipping and tax! All CD/DVD players have to conform to protocol and output the same digital bits! That's the difference between a digital device (transport) and an analog device (turntable). Turntables are inherently sonically colored while digital transports are not! This is the reality that the "golden ears" crowd prefers to wish away!

@secretguy : If someone wants to blow a wad of cash and drool over a CNC-machined-out-of-billet aluminum transport go right ahead!

I already have on hand a Denon, a JVC and two Sony's (DVD and Blue Ray) players for use as transports. After an Agon member recommended the HD841 I went looking for one on eBay. I expect it will do fine!

The Shanling can only play CDs. The HD841 can play SACDs and DVD Audio (PCM) discs. Sure, the Shanling can read Hi-Rez files via USB but those would most likely already be on a computer.

@magnuman : I've been at this stuff a lot longer than you! Heck, if I thought spending four-figures on a transport would give me better sound I'd for sure do it! The digital world is totally unlike Analog - where structural integrity, mechanical precision and vibration control rule! 

I well remember back about thirty years ago when the golden-ear crowd was gaga over the CEC belt-drive transport! Anybody ever see one of those lately? Didn’t think so! How about the Theta transport praised by TAS that was actually a $200 DVD player hidden intact inside a metal shell? TAS said it was the best sounding transport ever and a new standard for digital playback!

Agon member vonhelmholtz didn't like the Audiolab 6000CDT, while member creativepart did. Two subjective impressions based upon how a particular transport sounded in two dissimilar systems. Not good enough to stand up in a court of law!