Reference Transports: An overall perspective


Teajay did a great job by starting a threat called "Reference DACS: An overall perspective."
I thought it might be beneficial to start a similar thread on transports.
Unfortunately I really have nothing much to say; I just hoped to get the ball rolling.

I'll start by throwing out a few names and a question:

Zanden 2000
CEC TL-0X
Metronome Kalista; T2-i Signature; and T2-A
Esoteric P-01; and P-03(?)
EMM Labs CDSD
47Labs PiTracer
Weiss Jason
Accustic Arts Drive 1
Ensemble Dirondo
Wadia 270se

I know that there are very few companies that actually make the drives themselves. The few I know about are:
Philips
TEAC
Sanyo/CEC

Do the various Philips drives or the TEAC VRDS transport mechanism each have a particular sonic signature regardless of which maunufacturer uses them in their designs?
exlibris

Showing 1 response by arkapp

Tottally agree - XL-Z999ex is really one of the greatest. But there is sth much better on the market - XL-Z1000. I have both of them (100V version), so I had possibillity to compare. Based on my observation, using digital (RCA) connection between both and DAC from XL-Z999ex. Sonically huge difference - bigger, quiter, more stable sound, wider sceene, much more details. Even power cable - integrated version gives possibility to use separate one (NBS Monitor0), in transport case - there is one built in.