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older CD transport vs newer ones.

I added a fairly inexpensive CD transport to my DCS Rossini DAC/Clock and am shocked how much better it sounds spinning a disc vs streaming it.  It's not even a close call.  I was thinking of bettering my CD transport and was looking at options such at the Jay's CD transport.  There are also options such as Mark Levinson 31.5 which was a 10K unit in it's day.  Any thoughts on the best way to go?  I get a little worried about one of these older units breaking and not being able to get it fixed.  
128x128ejlif
62 responses Add your response
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
H snsi, can you list what you read that improves?

Because this is what doesn't:
Twice the jitter
Twice the error correction
Twice the power supply noise, (even worse than twice because the computer is a noisy SMP)
The spdif digital output circuit from a good transport is far more exacting that that of a computer sound card.
And I'm sure there even more if I think about it.

Cheers George



charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,236 posts
 
I definitely agree that this topic has been discussed frequently and across many different audio forums. Anecdotally it seems that owners/listeners  with access to both  say high quality CD transport beats high quality ripped files and streamers (60 to 40 or thereabouts).

Not scientific by any means and bottom line seems to be both are capable of excellent sound if the hardware is up to the task. The convenience factor of streaming and stored ripped file library is undeniably huge. There are very happy listeners in either camp.
Charles
sns
3,003 posts
 
Per Charles, yes, don't need to hijack thread, this has been discussed at length here at the 'gon' and elsewhere.
For those still using cd transports, players. I discovered very early on, footers and rack solutions have relatively large effect on players, transports, and turntables for that matter. Anyway, I played with various means of situating player, over time I migrated to ceiling mounting with hd fish line. I still fondly recall the amazing sound that ML37 mounted from ceiling provided. So, if you're adventurous, try the ceiling mount, very effective.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Three years ago I posted about fishing line for TT's that I did back in the 80's, but if the TT does not have suspension like a Gyrodeck then it can still happen to a degree as the base still resonates. 


https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/best-sturdy-floor-rack-for-turntable/post?highlight=fishing%2...


https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/subwoofer-rumble-issue/post?highlight=fishing%2Bline&post...

Cheers George



majorc
76 posts
 
my cd rips played from my computer's hard drive sound better than the cds played from the transports.


Sorry that's impossible if the same transport and CD!!!! was used to do the copy with, and both were using the same dac, and exactly the same digital link up to the dac. 


George may be correct.  I listened to CD s from my computer's transport and then the ripped files that were made from that transport - they sound identical.  However, both sound MUCH better than any external transport connected to the same dac.  External transport using coax computer USB.  Computer software foobar.   

arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,549 posts
 
All transport does is spin the cd and a laser reads it, signal to your dad.

   Don’t waste money on a CD player without a dac. The tascam CD player is good and reliable, the sound comes from your dac,  

save money, spend it on music
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,236 posts
 
  • "All transport does is spin the cd and a laser reads it, signal to your dad.

       Don’t waste money on a CD player without a dac. The tascam CD player is good and reliable, the sound comes from your dac," 
If this has been your listening experience,  so be it. This is the antithesis of mine.
Charles 

facten
2,762 posts
 
+1 Charles
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,549 posts
 
We use McCormack UDP-1  and. Pioneer elite dv-79av
will put the elite up against any (almost) CD player out there. 
bigkidz
3,325 posts
 
Pro-Ject RS2 Box transport is right now the best transport I have tried.  Easily is an improvement over any streamer or playing from a hard drive based system.  It was better than the Jays, CEC, Rega, Esoteric, PS Audio, etc.  That being said, I am moving to playing through a hard drive system myself.  Better sound, well  no but so easy to play music at your finger tips.  Since we make our own components we can adjust the sound to our demonstration system as needed.



nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,581 posts
 
It certainly pays to hear from those who've actually bothered to listen to a component than just spout off about something they've never even heard.

All the best,
Nonoise
ejlif's avatar
ejlif OP
1,366 posts
 

I ended up getting a Project CD Box RS2 T.  It's a nice upgrade over the audiolab.  I'm really enjoying the tunes and having been adding to my CD collection daily.  Now I need to build some shelves to hold them all.  I know this is somehow a touchy subject but for me I far prefer playing the CD vs streaming in Roon via tidal. It's just a lot fuller sound, more engaging. 

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