pro-ject cd box rs2 vs jays audio cd2 mk3

Sbooster not Sboost power supply...

@musichead
I would rate the Project transport as better across the board.  Again though the Jay's Audio transport is quite good for sure.   The extra dollars for the Project transport seem justified in my mind. 

Now the big question is the LTA linear power supply or the SBoost power supply the best upgrade for the Project transport?  The LTA costs a few hundred more.  Curious if u or anyone else might have some insight here.

@jaymark 

Are there any character differences between the 2 transports? Or is it the same but better across all parameters?

@charles1dad 
I am using the standard wall wart power supply.  However, over the next few months I plan to pick up an after market linear power supply.

@jaymark, 
Are your findings done with the standard Pro-Ject  wall wart SMPS or with the optional linear power supply?
Charles 

@jaymark,
That seems the  consistent conclusion from listeners who've actually have compared both. Jay's is "very" good sounding but Pro-Ject is better yet. 
Charles 

After 75 hours on the high end Project cd transport that replaced the high Jay's Audio transport, the Project is better.  Both transports are quite good, however, I am blown away the phenomenal sound now emanating from my modded Holo dac.

The New P.S. Audio PST is capable of providing SACD playback via its I2s connection. I believe that there are 4 different iterations of I2S available in the marketplace. So the DAC would have to be compatible with the P.S.Audio PST I2s approach. Too bad a standard universal I2s wasn't established. 

Agree that the potential for more things to fail or breakdown exist as a device/component becomes more complicated. Sometimes the choice is Swiss knife/versatility versus emphasis on narrow focused purpose function/mission with less flexibility. Generally I gravitate toward the latter. I do appreciate the plethora of excellent quality choices in High End audio.
Charles

The PS Audio only plays SACD into a PS Audio DAC, correct? If you are using a different DAC its a mute point and in theory it would make the transport more complicated and in theory more ways to break down?

I suspect SACD although nice to have is relevant only for a modest percentage of users. It seems the vast majority would make Redbook CD playback sound quality the major priority. I don’t believe there’s a dog in this trio. But the high praise, satisfaction and consistent feedback from Pro-Ject owners is noteworthy.
The use of the very latest CD Pro-8 Stream Unlimited drive units and attention paid to vibration control /chassis rigidity seems to be something special and well beyond the ordinary.
Charles

Only the PS Audio plays SACDs, is made in America, and is family owned.  Also, their support is fantastic!

Easy decision.

Hi There,

I was reading this thread with great interest as I am considering the the following transports:
- Pro-ject CD Box RS2
- Jay's Audio CDt2-Mk3
- PS Audio Perfect Wave SACD Transport?

I think Terry London compared the Pro-ject against the Jay's CDT2-MK2 but not sure whether there was ever a comparison with the MK3. And I am seeing some really good reviews pop up for the PS Audio (and they are running a promo at $3999 making it within $ ball park of the other 2 transports)

Any advice much appreciated.

I have the Project cd Transport paired with a Chord Quetest DAC and it sounds amazing. I haven’t upgraded the external power supply yet but I am really satisfied with Project’s stellar performance. I now prefer it’s sound over streaming through my Bluesound Node 2i. Where before I was using a Electrocompanient cd player’s digital out and I preferred the streaming over it.

@coltrane1  the Topping uses a three+ y/o chipset, albeit the flagship ESS ES9038PRO.  I have no idea how well its implementation stacks up to the same chipset implementation in my Cocktail Audio X45PRO, but at 15% of what mine cost, it must, I think, be a better value.  Plus, the topping has the i2s input, and mine doesn’t.  

@ tarheel, that Dac sounds like it’s got incredible specs. And it can act as a preamp. And it’s built in China! Is China surpassing the West with the delivery of the D90SE?

@ dreas     An i2s input is on a sharp increase in usage.  Even the new Topping D90SE @ $899 has one.  

Jays Transport all the way.

Forgive me overstepping your question re. comparing the 2 transports as I have not physically tested them.

As you likely know, the Pro-Ject is elegant, minimal, and it seems designed to use I2S with their companion preamp. Do you plan to connect w/ AES? If you also purchase their Pre Box RS2 DAC I'd suspect the set would be amazing but that is a significant price point for both units. And you may know, if not be advised, Pro-Ject's power supplies are bricks (some argue that offers a cleaner signal; others view it negative).

It seems both units you are comparing do not offer XLR or RCA balanced out so if that's important, just be aware. If you plan to connect via I2S, allegedly the best(?). I've had difficulty finding equipment that is using I2S unless you go with these "sets" from Pro-Ject or Jay's. Again, you're into nearly 6K? (Even PS Audio seems to have ceased producing an I2S cable for their own equipment?) 

I did months research on about 6-7 so-called higher end CD transports and players with a long list of criteria but one of the more important things for me was to have XLR balanced connection (which may not be important to you).

I finally purchased the Artera Quad+ for well under $2000. It has been exceptional. Mind-blowing how quiet it is (I can hardly hear it load / unload and I do not hear the CD "spin").

One picky complaint is that the user interface and adjustments are very cludgy. The manual is not much help BUT when I emailed them, they were responsive and helped me to learn some of the more detailed settings. https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/quad-artera-play 

Let us know what you decide! 

IS2 connection is more resolving than aes/ebu or any other connection, so for start Jay mk2 is no idea to compare with. Ofcourse dac needs IS2 to otherwise it's obviously a no go.

Hello, 
@tar..thanks for clarifying. It makes even more sense to have the backup since it is so easily swapped. I have been looking at Jays for a few years. I love the look and function of loading CD players. 

@hshifi. You do not have to send the Jay’s cd2 mk3 in to have the cd drive replaced.  Both the drive and the laser pickup are user replaceable, taking only a few minutes.  Pricing is $300 for the drive and $100 for the pickup. 

I have no knowledge of the Project. I did investigate the Jay’s but eventually bought a Moon Simaudio 260DT cd transport. It preforms wonderfully. Is it the best? Probably not. Is it a great sounding  deck and that’s all that concerns me. 

Hello,
I have seen this scenario before. The Jays transport is nice and gets good reviews. If you are concerned about the drive you can buy a backup. You will have to send it all in to have the drive and firmware installed.  It is usually more important with SACD drives but the top loading Jays is a little unique. The same goes for the Project except I love the separate power supply. Their are some cheap chinese alternatives but I would go with SBooster brand. Their is a reason why top gear has a separate power supply’s. You can start with the wall wart for now and upgrade later. One last thing:
Everything has a sound signature even without a built in DAC. See if you can demo both..
If you need to order an SBooster and live near the Chicagoland area this store is a dealer. https://holmaudio.com/
They are also a Nordost dealer. I use the Nordost Silver Shadow BNC/RCA Digital cable. For $275 it is an insane value. Normally around $550. You can try before you buy. 

Pro-ject hands down. They make some great stuff! I love both my tube box ds2, and the Classic sb turntable. Pro-ject also now owns musical fidelity.

Kully560, Yes, that’s probably me. I believe I ordered it on June 28th, it shipped the 30th, I received it the 2nd. Something like that. In any event, no delays.

My system sounds significantly better with it vs. the Oppo 105 (as well it should). The system does a good job conveying in an enjoyable way very different instruments. For example, I was listening to Nina Simone last night and the presentation of the grit in her voice and conviction in her delivery was wonderful, and well matched by the smooth sound of her piano playing. Vocal or acoustic music (Joni Mitchell’s Blue has been getting a lot of play this week) sounds like the group is in the next room, while more complex music (I listen to a lot of Zappa, King Crimson, Jeff Beck, Steely Dan (typical) and the like) has excellent separation of instruments, and the system never sounds overwhelmed.  The ProJect isn't solely responsible for all of this, but it definitely has had a significant positive impact.  My system is the ProJect into a Boulder 866 with DAC to LSA-10 Statements.

Wig, I am using the power supply that came with the ProJect. I live a couple of blocks away from LTA and am in the process of ordering a power supply from them.

The project also has the ability to use external power supply the 4 way or 1 way. I picked up 4 way off ebay for 200  which was half the new price for 1 way and I get any more project rs or rs2 stuff I have power supply upgrade already

Guy,

Which linear power supply are you guys using for your Project? Considering one myself 😁

Thanks

he is checking  for me on stock tomorrow . I am looking for silver and he said he just ordered a silver one for somebody that was in stock was it you. how long did it take to receive it after placing the order? and how does it sound??

Another vote for the Pro-Ject.  I just received mine a few days ago from Walter (Underwood HiFi).  No wait at all.  I am very, very happy.  It replaced an Oppo 105 that I was using as a transport.  

thank you for the help bigkidz , I read teajays, yours, and others on these different transports I knew the project was better than jays mk2 but no results for the mk3 version. I really was not to keen on nos drives like he uses for maybe a repair down the road. I also look at the weight of the 2 the mk3 is 33 lbs and the project is like 6.6 lbs . the jays mk3 needs a lot of electronics [filters]to compete with a transport with an out board power supply . sometimes simple is better! I will be ordering tomorrow if in stock, he is supposed to let me know as this was a holiday weekend . thanks again for all the replys. 

@bigkidz has a very impressive stable of highly regarded CD transports. That he finds the Pro-Ject CD transport better sounding is quite a  testament. 
Charles 

This has been covered before.  @Teajay and I both came to the same conclusion about the two transports.

People who make comments who don't know anything should keep their comments to them selves.  And yes the Pro-Ject does make that big of a difference.  So your cheap transport will not and does not compete at all.

If you re thinking the MKIII may be better - it would have to make a significant improvement to make that leap IMO.

Like already stated, get a linear power supply for the Pro-Ject and be done with all of this.  BTW I currently own the Audiomeca Mephisto II transport, Metronome  T1A & AL2 CD Transport & Power Supply and a CEC transport.  The Pro-Ject is better than all three.

Happy Listening.

replacing transports is above my pay grade. is it plug and play if so that is fine . I have built speaker crossovers , cables , power cables etc but never looked into replacing cd drives . may need to study about this !

so you are saying I can install any philips drive in the transport or just the one type that is in the transport now?

@kully560 you can purchase spare Phillips drives.

@jasonbourne52 too bad you know absolutely nothing about what you comment on.  Or maybe you blew out your ears by listening to too loud music. 

thanks Teajay, I read the pro-ject was better than the jays cd2 -mk2 on your review on here but I guess the big question is how does the mk3 compared to the pro-ject .my thoughts are, it can go either way but probably close. they are both all most the same price give or take a few dollars . jays uses good caps , power supply etc but the drive is nos as it is discontinued but I guess all drives live out there day.  now with the pro-ject it will give me down the road if I chose to upgrade the power supply for better performance . that could be something to look forward to once I get use to the pro-ject and it settles in to my mind . just another toy to look forward to buying.

@unsound noted,
’He’s been doing that back when he posted under a different name. Something like robberjerman’.

Yep, It sure seems like the same guy with the same tiresome rants.

@jriggy
I suspect many would agree with your comment.
Charles

this topic looks very interesting.

Hey kully560,

Take a look at my thread on the Pro-ject transport. I sold off my Jay’s Audio MKII, it's a fine transport, because the Pro-ject’s performance, which I describe, was vastly superior to the Jay’s Audio. I’m writing a review for Stereo Times website in the future on the Pro-ject transport.

Even with the standard inexpensive wall wart switching power supply the Pro-ject out performed my Jay’s Audio piece. Then when I used a LTA linear power supply the level of performance went to even a higher level of sonic bliss. I will shortly be conducting a review on the Jay’s Audio MKIII, my buyer of my Jay’s audio just installed the up-grade board, to see if it comes closer to the Pro-ject’s performance.

The Pro-Ject has a new, optimized drive system also used in $40K transports.
I picked up a Power Box RS Uni 4 way (massive) on the cheap for mine and any improvement was not noticeable. Pro-Ject seems to be able to optimize SMPS. Try any LPS and see if you can hear a difference. I too have replaced all of my wall warts. Some make a huge difference, some little or none.
Head to head comparisons I've seen prefer the SQ of the Pro-Ject.

And I think there should be a rule how many bs know-it-all posts in a row someone can spam a thread with.

He's been doing that back when he posted under a different name. Something like robberjerman. 

All the best,
Nonoise

I know what a dvd player sound like in a system ! as far as power cords go I bought to many and built to many to not hear a difference!!!

The OP must really appreciate your contribution to this thread jasonbourne52.

I think there should be a grammar thread on the overuse of the apostrophe, just like the one with the comma.