pro-ject cd box rs2 vs jays audio cd2 mk3

I sit my RS2T on top of my LTA, it's a perfect match and makes a double height stacking unit that looks meant to be.  I use some iso acoustic feet in between the two.  I do get some noise right from the CD transport.  It's subtle and not audible when music is playing but I'd rather it not make any noise.  I find the operation of the unit a bit clunky and cumbersome, having to lift the lid and put the puck on the center reminds me of playing an LP and how much trouble that is compared to hitting a button and any music you want is playing.  The thing is my CDs sound so much better than streaming it's worth it.  I also use the Marigo Aida CD mat which is a very good upgrade to the sound and that is one more pain in the ass thing to have to fiddle with to get a CD playing.   I do have an eye on some of the ultra high end transports by Zanden or Burmester.  I'd love to try one of those out compared to the RST2

@acresverde

Thought you might find it interesting that Total DAC is coming out with a new (first for them?) transport fitted with the SU CD Pro 8 mechanism. I have not seen a price so far

Thanks for the info. Wise decision by TotalDAC in my opinion. The Sound Unlimited CD PRO drive unit is a major contributor to the superb sound quality of the Pro-Ject RS2T I believe.

@no_regrets

My LPS (Fidelizer Nikola II) sits adjacent to the RS2T and there are zero issues with this arrangement. There’s a picture on my virtual system page.

Charles

@lak Thank you for your reply!  It's good to know that you can have the LPS next to the transport and not hear any interferences.  I, like you, am running out of shelf space too and was thinking that with the Project being so diminutive in size, it might make sense to have both pieces side by side.

 

Thank you for your help!

Don

@no_regrets,

I'm using Projects own Power Box RS uni, I'm not saying that its better then other power sources because I have not heard them. My Power Box sits 1.5" away from the Transport because I have a full rack and there is no place else to put it, however I don't detect any sonic interference. I have not owned or heard any of the other transports you are considering so I can't help you with sound qualities. If you don't hear back from other people that have posted in this forum that have heard the transports you are considering you might want to message them directly through Audiogon. Hopefully you can get some answers to your questions.

@lak Hello and thank you for your reply!

It's good to know that the transport does not move around at all while operating it's lid.

So are you saying that you are using Project's own upgraded LPS?  

Do you have the LPS siting right beside the transport or is it best to keep them far apart?

Would you be willing to share with me what other transports you have used and how the Project differs in sound qualities from the others?

I have just recently bought the LTA Aero Dac and am in the market for a new transport and am considering the Project, Jay's Audio and CEC.

I am concerned with all of the Q.C issues the Project seems to be having.  I'm not even sure if I can find one in stock at the moment.

Thank you and best wishes to you,

​​​​​​​Don

 

@no_regrets, although the transport is light in weight, it does not move around at all. I do not hear my disc spinning and the unit is absolutely quiet. I have the upgraded transport that the company makes and it sits right next to the transport and I have no issues. I know that’s not the power source you’re asking about, but that’s what I am currently using.

@charles1dad    Thought you might find it interesting that Total DAC is coming out with a new (first for them?) transport fitted with the SU CD Pro 8 mechanism. I have not seen a price so far. 

For those of you who own or have owned the Project transport, I’m just wondering how it is in use?  

For instance, it appears that it only weighs a few pounds. Do you find that it slides around as you are raising or lowering the lid while loading or unloading your cd’s?

When using the LTA LPS power supply, how far away do you need to keep it away from the transport? 

Is the player quit or can you hear it spinning?

Is there anything that you don’t like about it???

Thanks much!

Don

 

Audio Advisor is listing the RS2T as available for sale. They also have a demo model for sale at a decent discount, but I would only buy it if it comes with a manufacturer’s warranty. My warranty repair went well with another dealer. No further issues after gettIng mine back two months ago. Knock on wood.

 

I have had no issues with my Project player since new.  It sounds great and even better when I jumped up to a Synergistic Research Galileo SX AES digital cable.  I've switched my digital from the DCS Rossini to the WAdax Pre 1 that I got to try and ended up liking it better than the DCS.  I also use the Marigo Aida CD mat and have added the LTA power supply to the transport.  I get much better sound spinning the CD than I do streaming from Roon via a Hifi Rose RS130 or even had the Grimm MU1.  No comparison to the sound of the disc playing to my ears.  To bad to hear these Project transports are unreliable.  I hope Project can fix them if they fail.  

@dafox By the way... how have you been enjoying your CDT2MK3?

How long have you had it?

What other transports have you compared with it?

Which transport did it replace?

Thank you,

Don

@dafox I don't owned ether of these transports.  However, I am currently in the market for a dedicated CD Transport and as a result, I have been doing a lot of reading on the Jay's, the Project and the CEC's.

From my readings, if I remember correctly, if people have been able to get a Project that is not defective, they have really loved the sound they get from using it.  But, it sounds like there may have been a lot of faulty Project units, to the point that they had stopped selling them until they could find a reliable fix for the faults that were occurring.  I am not aware that they have yet started selling the Project again.

If anyone knows differently, please correct me if I am wrong, as I think the Project could have a lot to offer for a reasonable price no less.

Best wishes,

Don

I have a Jay's Audio cdt2 mk3, just finished reading thru this thread. Any updated from the Project owners?

These are all very good linear power supplies. Some will sound better paired with certain components compared to others. There are just multiple factors/variables that make this so. It is impossible to declare one LPS superior to all the others based upon individual scenarios.

Charles

Jaymark is correct the LTA power supplies are excellent ,and very natural sounding.

one thing that’s  very important ,the oversized low noise transformer and worlds best 

super low noise Belleson Linear regulators , which are 2-3 x the $$ as what the competition use. The LTA is the best under $1 k LPS unit out there 

and this was against a 2 year old Paul Hines, farad3 Sonore, Sbooster, and a     teddy pardo ,and fidilizer which was very clean but Waay to cold and neutral.

 

While the RS2T is on my WISH list, I have a Audiolab CDT6000 which is really good, especially with a HQ PC, and coax cable. They can often be found slightly used for <$500. I am about to receive the Pro-Ject CD player which uses the same  interStream Unlimited Pro-8 unit/Blue Tiger servo pairing magic as their RS2T. Needless to say, I am very interested to find out, how magical it is

@robshaw

I think that from your narrowed down list of the 3 CD transports you’d have been very satisfied. No dog in this trio. Pro-Ject’s design mission for their “Box” components is small/compact and space saving. Made from aluminum and carbon fiber it’s diminutive yet a dense feel to it.

I don’t believe it is by accident that several very upscale/expensive CD transport manufacturers have chosen to utilize the Stream Unlimited Pro-8 unit/Blue Tiger servo pairing.

The RS2T is probably 1/5 the weight of my former P.S. Audio PWT but simply out performs it across the board. So although light in weight they have obviously been successful in addressing vibration issues that can affect spinning CD drive units. I’ve enjoyed my RS2T immensely as the sound quality is superb.

Best wishes,

Charles

I am so pleased I took the time to do additional reading and investigation. Also, so glad you folks out there take the additional time to investigate too.

    I was soooo close to buying either the Jays cdt2 mk3 model or CEC-TL5 CDT  model. I had read a little on the Project model (CD box RS2) before, and when they mentioned the dimensions and weight,  I was ready and probably did dismiss it totally. However, after reading all the posts and the critical acclaim of the pro-8 drive, I'm almost sold 99%. Thanks so much to all that had done the research. Robert TN     Now I have to decide where to buy. I only hope their service and reliability is as good as their product???  Thanks again!

@ jaymark: Quoting you, "I am blown away (by) the phenomenal sound now emanating from my modded Holo dac."   

Which Holo Audio DAC are you referring to, and what kind of "mod" did you perform (or have done) on it?

Man I really want to hear the Pro-ject! 
 

how does it do with scratched up discs? My new low brow Cambridge will play cds that have issues on most every other player over the years and sounds much better than my streaming system. If it’s finicky with discs it would be a consideration. Being that my Cambridge sounds so much better than streaming or ripped music off a ss drive to me that another transport could be that much better seems crazy (bits are bits right) haha. All antidotal evidence points to that it really does. 

I will not be overly surprised to see China’s Jay’s Audio, sooner rather than later, come ’round to the realization that, as word of the Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T spreads ever wider, they will have to start building their CDT2-MK3 (or its as-yet unnamed successor) around the latest-design top-loading transport mechanism used in the CD Box and elsewhere.

If Jay’s Audio continues on its present course, my guess is they will soon find themselves left far behind in the sales dust as customers-in-the-know will no longer voluntarily settle for their beautifully-made CD transport, but one unfortunately saddled with and handicapped by its technologically obsolete and no-longer-manufactured top-loading CD mechanism.

This outcome is all the more likely because the Jay’s in its present form is priced very closely to the CD Box RS2 - and furthermore because nearly everyone agrees that its sound is no match for the CD Box’s.

@charles1dad , Yup. Those big companies have the resources, facilities and egos to match. 😀. I’d be happy if they just came out with a top loader CDT without all the streaming attached to it. The reviews on their latest SACD/streamer are very good and they could conceivably make one.

They already have an all in one mini system top loader with active speakers and (I think) some streaming capabilities. They could easily make a CDT version to a higher standard but like you say, hope springs eternal. 

All the best,
Nonoise

@nonoise 

I hope someone took notice. 👍

Hope springs eternal 😊

Good rationale for why Technics should follow suit  but I seriously doubt that They would. Seems large companies like this with an ample engineering department are motivated to develop via in house resources more often than not.  It is not at all surprising that the higher end boutique companies are more aggressive in utilizing latest technology from a boutique  (But highly capable) developer like Stream Unlimited. 

Funny that someone asked Jay's if they'd go with Streams Unlimited as I recently asked/recommended to Technics that they do a strictly CD top loader using the Streams Unlimited when inquiring as to when they were coming out with their new integrated.

Never heard back from them but I also told them they'd corner the audiophile market if they could come up with one for under the price of the Pro-Ject as they have the massive infrastructure in place to do so and can scale up production making it a win-win all around.

I hope someone took notice. 👍

All the best,
Nonoise

@ejlif 

I also  use the Pro-ject SPDIF output to my DAC via a 1 meter RCA digital cable (High Fidelity CT!-1 Ultimate) and the sound is truly splendid. 

Charles 

I have found I like the sound of the spdif output vs AES with the same cable (audioquest diamond) on each into my DCS Rossini DAC.  I also spent some time comparing the Audio Envy digital spdif cable to the audioquest diamond and was hoping the cheap Audio Envy would be better but unfortunately the Audioquest is better sounding.  I have a 1m spdif diamond and 1.5 m AES diamond and to me the spdif sounds more relaxed and just a touch better than the AES cable.  

I would buy their transport in a heartbeat if they would convert over to the Stream Unlimited CD Pro 8. They responded that no such plans were in the making. Too bad😟

Agree! CD Pro 8 drive system puts CD playback in an entirely different performance tier. Other brands that also have moved to this Stream Unlimited drive system are more expensive (Gryphon, Acustic Arts Audio and Aqua Hifi) transports/CD players (And limited to their very top models).  Pro-Ject puts this latest technology within reach for many listeners.

 

 

@erictal4075     I recently contacted the good folks at Jay's to tell them I would buy their transport in a heartbeat if they would convert over to the Stream Unlimited CD Pro 8. They responded that no such plans were in the making. Too bad😟

I have had my RS2 transport for almost a week.  I found an open box Pro-Ject linear power supply and together the sound is awesome right out of the box.

I will probably go down the AES/EBU cable rabbit hole but don’t believe a cable much over $250.00 will add much if anything to improve the sound.

@erictal4075 

Yes it seems that @jaymark acquired a defective unit, unfortunately it happens. My Pro Ject RS2T has been flawless in operation and is silent while in use. Best quality it possesses is superb Redbook CD playback. The designers/engineers sure knew what they were doing with this latest Stream Unlimited CD Pro 8/Blue Tiger servo  mechanism. Magnificent sound quality.

Charles

@ jaymark:  I am so sorry you had such a disappointing experience with your Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T.  There had to be a reason why Music Direct was selling it "open box."  I live right here in Chicago so I deal with Music Direct in person, and they will stand behind you 100% and get your money back, 

Seems you've given up on the Pro-Ject unit, and I don't blame you for doing so after your experience of it - but if you get a good NEW working example of it, and your experience is anything like mine has been, you won't be disappointed!

Jumping ahead to late December 2021, I can say from personal experience that the Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T is STUNNINGLY better-sounding than the Jay's Audio CD2-MK3 transport, even when the Jay's is linked to my Holo Audio MAY KTE DAC via its i2s HDMI-style interface! 

My Pro-Ject CD Box is connected to my Holo Audio MAY DAC by the best-available method, AES/EBU, using a Shunyata Research Alpha Digital v2 AES/EBU 2-meter cable, and "this combo beats the pants off" the Jay's. 

What really gets to me is that before I ordered my Jay's Audio MK3 CD transport, I did a LOT of searching-around on the Internet for the best value-for-money CD Transport out there, and the Jay's Audio unit was the only one I could find.

Later, quite by accident, I chanced across a reference on Audiogon.com to the Pro-Ject CD Box. Before, I had NO idea it existed! As it happens, during my search for reviews of the CD Box, I found one for sale here in Chicago, at Music Direct, so I grabbed it out of sheer curiosity, knowing i could return it if I didn't like it. 

I've had the Pro-Ject CD Box unit for just day, and I'm already literally overwhelmed by the detail I am hearing from my large CD collection, detail no other player or transport I have ever owned has been able to retrieve.

Now I'm in the regrettable position of knowing that I'm going to have to sell my Jay's Audio MK3 transport. It is a beautifully-made piece of audio gear - so it's a downright SHAME that Jay's didn't opt to use the new cutting-edge Philips-based-design CD mechanism used in the Pro-Ject unit. The build-quality of the Jay's Audio CD transport is exemplary - so it's unfortunate indeed that they based it on an obsolete, no-longer-manufactured CD drive and optical mechanism. Seems Jay's Audio scarfed up all the world's remaining stock of this obsolete drive, so they're good to go for a while to come, but the SONIC RESULTS the Jay's Audio MK3 produces come in a distant second to the CD Box RS2 T's. 

Hard to believe a humble CD transport mechanism can make THAT much of a sonic difference, but the proof of that is right here in front of us.

I bought an open box RS2 transport from Music Direct and it was a lemon.  It had great trouble locking on disc's.  The problem was present when it came in but got progressively worse to the point that I had to return it.  Jays audio transport is built much better.  It is also available while the RS2 is not.  My compromise will be to get another Jays audio transport and have my modder upgrade it including building a state of the art linear power supply.  I will sell my excellent linear tube audio power supply for the RS2.  

So, I've beed following this and other Pro-Ject CD Box threads. What I have read convinced me to purchase one. I ordered last Sunday from Upscale Audio (terrific customer service, btw). They promptly shipped, and I awaited a Friday delivery. 

It arrived! I rushed home from work, doing my best to obey speed limits and full stops at stop signs. Took about 20 minutes to set-up. Tete Montoliu in the tray. First impressions-Incredible!

PRAT-best I have experienced

Depth of the soundstage.

The speakers disappear. 

Attack and decay-wow!

Presence and the "weight" of the instruments-the space between instruments has dimensionality. I am in the room with the musicians. 

The drums have full presence. And this is just one CD out of the box.

Compared to my Cambridge transport (which is very good at its price point), what an upgrade!

If you all could see the smile on my face.

Stay tuned...

That's interesting.  Mine is absolutely silent even if standing right over it while it's playing.

Charles 

One slight gripe on the RS2 T is that you can actually hear the transport making noise when playing the disc.  I sit sometimes at the computer which is about 5 ft away from the transport and it's actually pretty annoying when you are playing something quiet.  I can't hear it when in my listening chair.  

if anyone is interested, an open box RS2T just popped up here:

 

@ejlif ,

With the stock wall wart SMPS the RS2T still  has a larger  (More authoritative dynamics and bass weight/impact) and  more open sound than my excellent P.S.Audio PWT which is 25 pounds and has an internal linear power supply.

Yet via unanimous owner feedback I'm told it sounds noticeably better with an external power supply in place of the wall wart. I have ordered the Fidelizer Nikola 2 LPS. I know this Pro-Ject transport feeding your Rossini DAC is heavenly 😊.

Charles 

organic presentation is a good description.  Please do share your findings on the LPS, I will be trying one too but am going to enjoy the ride as it goes for now. 

 

BTW I’m still using the included wall wart SMPS as I express my listening impressions. By all indications a linear power supply takes sound quality even further upward. I will soon find out 😊.

Charles 

 

“I got the RS2 transport and wow it's fantastic”

Agree!😊 Its sound quality is the strength of this CD transport. I thought it would work in excellent fashion with your dCS Rossini and happy to know that this is the case. 

I know that there are some who have some concerns with its small package form and ergonomics (I understand that and nothing with suit everyone all of the time). However one will obtain superb sound (As you’ve discovered) for a price within reach for many. 

I. have had mine for a few weeks and it’s been very difficult to bring listening sessions to an end for the night. This transport allows a deep musical-emotionally involving experience. For me a splendid combination of a very organic presentation with exceptional resolution and nuanced clarity.

Charles
 

 

 

I got the RS2 transport and wow it's fantastic.  It's a nice step up from the Audiolab 6000.  I'm not in love with the build quality or clunkiness of inserting and playing CDs with the puck but I'll take it for the sound.  I'm really thrilled.  I will eventually try a better power supply as well.  This thread was very valuable and I'm glad I got this over the Jay's CD transport.  New CDs are showing up daily in the mailbox.  

@ejlif,

congratulations! I believe this transport will pair brilliantly with your Rossini DAC.I will be ordering very soon the Fidelizer Nikola Signature LPS to pair with my CD BOX RS2 transport. If you have the time or desire to do so, I look forward to reading your listening impressions.

I'm going to get the Project RS2.  I found a place to buy one.  It will go either spdif or AES.  I have both options on the Rossini.  I have audioquest Diamond cables here for either of those as well as the Audio Envy spdif cable.  Audio Envy cable seemed really good in another system I use it in so I will compare all of these sertup and see what sounds best.  Probably get the LTA power supply after I get a handle on the sound of the RS2 as it comes stock.  It will be going in place of an Audiolab 6000.  

@jaymark, 

Light years better with the LPS. That dramatic of a difference?

Charles 

@ejlif, 

The latest Rossini transport is a hefty OEM tray mechanism built by Denon that plays both CD and SACD. The Pro-Ject CD BOX RS2 is top loader CD (No SACD but plays the hybrid CD layer) utilizes the Stream Unlimited CD Pro-8 drive.

The Rossini has an internal chassis linear power supply.  The Pro-Ject transport has a supplied wall wart and a  linear power supply is optional. The Pro-Ject even with an optional linear power supply is much less costly. Keep in mind despite the lower cost it was selected as the CD drive mechanism for top model Gryphon Ethos player and Accustic Arts Drive II transport.

How important is SACD playing capability to you?  Otherwise in  terms of Redbook CD I just can't see either as less than excellent solutions. You're in a no lose situation in my opinion. 

Charles 

 

 

I got the LTA power supply and it is light years better than the stock wall wart on the RS2 transport.  I got the Sbooster power supply for the Project DS2 transport but have not yet hooked it up.  

Hey all you CD transport experts been reading this thread.  I have a DCS Rossini DAC and clock that I added an Audiolab 6000 CDT to.  I had a few discs I could not stream or even find to play on youtube.  I am pretty floored how good this sounds and I actually like it better than streaming to the Rossini from my Roon Nucleus +.  I'd like to take a step up and am kind of wondering if I should go for the CD box or try and get a Rossini with the built in CD drive? I should have got the Rossini player  but at the time I wasn't at all into playing discs.  Now I prefer it and enjoy the ritual of collecting and owning the physical media like I used to, vinyl of course too.  

Teajay did compare the LTA LPS and Pro-Ject LPS and he did prefer the LTA (Linear Tube audio). Another well regarded LPS is the Fidelizer Nikola Signature. Generally speaking LPS are usually considered a clear upgrade to SMPS wall warts. It's impressive the Pro-Ject is praised for superb sound quality even with the stock wall wart power supply. 
Charles 

Jaymark, I have the LTA power supply and am very happy, but I haven’t compared it with the Pro-Ject power supply.  I believe that Terry / Teajay may have compared the power supplies.  Check out the thread he started a while back on the CD Box RS2.