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Resolving CD Transports Crowd Sourcing

Hi everyone! A couple of years ago I purchased my endgame CD transport- a Pro-Ject CD Box RS2T. Loved almost everything about the unit--highly resolving presentation, dead quiet background, balanced placement of instruments in a believable 3 dimensional soundstage, and  the synergy it had with my components. In fact I loved the transport so much I had two of them because Pro-Ject quality control and customer service is the pits. After almost a year of hassles, I'm swearing of Pro-Ject.

I'm in the market for a replacement CD transport that has the same qualities of the Pro-Ject minus the quality issues and customer service.

PS Audio, Jay's Audio, CEC, Audio Research (which are CD/DAC units) come up in my search. What are your thoughts? With all the bells and whistles the Pro-Ject was around $3300, so that gives you an idea of my budget, though I could go higher.

Thanks in advance!

128x128wharfy
jetter
3,033 posts
 

@ghdprentice

You’re among many knowledgeable ARC lovers. But for me, and quoting myself, to calm all doubts of repairability other than hearsay, before I purchased the unit.

Unless you actually purchase an extra transport from Audio Research’s supposed stash of extra discontinued transports, I would find buying an expensive discontinued CD player without surety of repair a fools errand.

jetter
3,033 posts
 

By the way, a CD player or transport are really pretty much the only items I would hesitate to buy used or a discontinued model.

christl
3 posts
 

Hi.  Since some months I have the Rotel DT6000. First I used it as CD Player only. But in parallel I tested my Streamer a Volumio Rivo with the Rotel as DAC in comparison to Chord 2Qute which I used for some other tests before. I preferred the Rotel over the Chord.
I am reading a lot in different forums but I never heard about someone else having this combination.

I have Rotel RA6000 Amp with the DT6000 CD/DAC a Volumio Rivo Streamer with an Farad 3 linear power supply. All of that with B&W 703 S3.

I like it a lot.

Comments?

audiofilo123
78 posts
 

I continue to enjoy the Audiolab 9000CDT, very smooth operation (TEAC drive) and wonderful sound, all at a great price. The Atoll DR200 Signature is also a good bet.

wharfy's avatar
wharfy OP
322 posts
 

Greetings!

I have spent the weekend listening to the Schiit Urd. While it isn’t fully broken in, these are my impressions. For the price it is a terrific CD transport. The Phillips based mechanism presents a deep and wide soundstage. Instruments can be located in space because the unit is very quiet via both AES and USB connections. How were they able to do this at this price point?

As a digital "traffic controller" for my Aurender N200 it was "ok". Even with AES connections, which is one of the features that interested me, I surprisingly lost resolution through the unit, into my Musetec DAC005. Anyone have an idea why?

Now, compared to the ARC REF CD6SE, I am currently using (Thanks Michael!!), this is what I am hearing. Again, the Urd is still burning in. First, I have ARC components and the synergy between the REF CD is obvious. With that said, most of what the Urd does, the REF CD6SE does better, to my ears. The Urd does have a more forward soundstage and the sound in my system, with my ProAcs is bigger and slightly less focused.

I think the Urd is really good, and I have some more time with it before I need to return it, so we shall see.

David

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