SLOT LOADING CD MECHANISMS - DO THE DAMAGE CD'S?

Just invest in a top loader. Much fewer "wearing and breaking" parts. And no mechanism to blame for disc mishandling.
Your sanity is worth it

there are great players with slot loading. if you still want to use it and concerned about damaging, simply record your original CD to CDR and keep one clean and unused. same can work for any loading mechanism. i use a lot of mega changers especially if I want to play background music around the house and load CDrs of valuable CDs there.

+1 ^  I use CDR'S exclusively for car audio and slot loading situations like computers or DVD/universal players.

I think the reality of the reduction of CD-CDR etc. for anything even computer work has practically gone or soon to be gone. The advent of USB drives for example seems to have killed the CDR for computer use.

DND (Department of National Defense, Canada) has all but removed all CD drives from their computers for example.

Same goes for CD Drives just not many making them anymore so the few manufacturers that are making CD players and CD transports are all using one of the few CD drives still available from the OEM’s.

This is why I always recommend to move to a storage medial like a NAS or a device like the BlueSound vault and store the CD’s for backup.

Alternatively there’s still quite a few multi disk transports out there, (and a few CD players and transports, but less every year). then just add a good DAC.

Buying a used CD player and/or transport is something i avoid unless I know there's parts (CD Drives) still available. 

Not so. The Stream Unlimited Pro 8 drive is new from the ground up, top load. As found in the Gryphon Ethos. Yes Mr. pair of noid, there are parts available. This drive is soooo much better than my 4 year old NAD was. AND you don’t have to wait for the mechanism to respond. Or not.
It takes 5 seconds to load a disc and 3 more to read in the TOC.
Yes I listen to 90% files but most music sounds better on this CDT, with the same DAC.

Slot loaders are usually cheap Chinese transports so are their lasers, and are used in cars and computers.

Just look at what happens to your CD’s that were used in the car, the slot loaders do put many fine scratches across the CD’s.

Tray load or top load the better way for quality transports, and many are Philips, Sony, Teac, Sanyo etc etc

Cheers George

Thanks "FUZZTONE". I am aware of the PRO-JECT piece. Very interesting, but by the time I pair it up with a respectable performing high performance DAC, the total will be beyond my budget spectrum. The AUDIOLAB piece is an excellent performer in it's (my) price class.. But the loading mechanism issue lingers. The suggestion of making "throw away copies" is just not my style. Guess I am still hoping to hear from someone that has an AUDIOLAB transport. Nothing like "hands on" experience.

I looked up audio lab and didn’t see pricing.  I just purchased an ARC CD3 MKII.  It’s solid state and a top loader.  I love the sound it produces.  However it can be a challenge to place the cd and put the magnetic puck on.  I’m getting use to it because it sounds fantastic.  I’m running it through a tube integrated.  

The good news with slot loading is you can toss the CD across the room and see if you can land it in the slot...takes practice but totally worth it...

Greetings from the UK!

I am in the position to own the Audiolab 8300 cd player with its slot loading mechanism and have no problems at all. This is also the case with my Honda Jazz which has the same tech.

As my dear mother says to me if you started today to play all the cds you own you'd be dead before you finished.

Here is a link to Audiolab UK. They will be very helpful get in touch.  Jan Ertner is the designer message him on instagram.

Hope this helps

BhagwanH

I bought the Audiolab 6000CDT a few months ago, after doing a bit of research on-line.  The reviews were good and I saw no concerns expressed regarding the slot loading mechanism.  The only other slot loader I have used is in my Honda and, yes, that slot loader can and does scratch CD’s.  

I have not had any problems so far with damage to my discs with the Audiolab.  The regular price of the Audiolab 6000CDT is $550, but I got mine for $100 off and couldn’t pass up that deal.

I bought a project rs2... Beyond superb. Rather unbelievably the cd layer of a hybrid SACD sounds better of the rs2 than the sacd layer sounds on my Arcam SACD.

I'm hitting charity shops buying cds for less than £1... 

You cannot damage a CD - perfect sound forever.
They told us that in 1984.

I bought the AUDIOLAB 6000cdt a few moths ago and I am very pleased with it. Sounds much better than the CAMBRIDGE CXC i had before.
The slot loader is from JVC. Never noticed any scratches on my cd's. Nearly the same player is also available under the LEAK (cdt) brand from the same manufacturer. The only disadvantage for me is that there is no RANDOM function on the AUDIOLAB. 

I have had the 6000 CDT for about 6 months now and I love it. I have not noticed any scratches on the CDs.

The high end Esoteric, DCS, and MSB tech CD players/transports all have tray-loading mechanisms. They are not slots or tops, but trays which slide out of the machine on which the user places the disk. DCS and many others used to use Esoteric's mechanism, but I am not sure that this is still the case.

Slot loading cd players in themselves do not harm a cd. It is the dirt present on either the cd surface and/or the periferal lips located on the cd slot. If all is clean, then no scratches. I’ve not seen any harm caused to my cd’s while using the Audiolab 6000 cdt. Presently it is in storage, as I'm currently using my Marantz hd cd-1 with cd tray as my transport into a Border Patrol dac.

+1 audioguy - I've owned an audiolab 6000 transport for a year now and have seen no damage to any of my CD's. Just keep everything clean.

You can't get away from it slot loaders are usually cheap Chinese made computer/car transports, and their laser are also, as the come as a complete package.
And it only takes one grain of dust on the insert bush wiper to put a fine scratch right across the cd.

Cheers George

"And it only takes one grain of dust on the insert bush wiper to put a fine scratch right across the cd."

Which the error correction will correct.

If you're that against the slot loaders, you should try the Cambridge CXC, which is in your price range.  I've had one for over a year and there are many satisfied owners here.  One person above posted that he felt the Audiolab was far superior in sonics to his CXC, but there is the slot-loader issue.  Personally, if my CXC craps out I would probably try the Audiolab.  It's supposedly very good. 

The AudioLab 6000CT "is" that good, especially at its price point. I've owned one for over a year now and have had zero problems with it or any concerns with the slot loading. What I like most is its SILENT,, really black background, like NOTHING. I would not consider myself an audiophile as I have never had the time or sensitive hearing to hear what audiophiles confess to be able to hear, but what I hear is pretty dam good.

I do not understand why you believe a cd polisher makes matters worse. I have about 1000+ cds and my economy model JFJ does a fantastic job of removing any skip causing scratches.

I bought an Audiolab 6000CDT a couple months ago. I loved the way it sounded... solid bass and details I had not noticed before (stepping up from an Oppo 103 previously used as a transport). However, I did notice scuff marks, not scratches, on my discs. I used a new blank CD-R inserted several times to verify and noticed new scuff marks on it as well. They are a line of marks that are aligned in a row which indicated to me to be a loading mechanism issue. No way am I going to allow a product to degrade my CD collection. I returned the unit and got a Cambridge CXC v2 that uses a tray loader. No issues with the Cambridge, but I still prefer the sound of the Audiolab just a little bit more. First-world problems.

Hello,
What about Jays. It even has i2s. This is a nice top loading transport at a great price. https://www.jays-audio.com/shop
I am the same way with all of my media. Clean as a whistle. 

I think it highly unlikely that Audiolab would produce a CD transport that scratches discs. It would damage their street cred for good. I guess the only real way to resolve this issue is for owners to provide feedback, rather than indulge broad speculative debate.

I am  in the market for a transport and am very close to getting the CDT6000 until I came across scratch incidents from customers. Some even found the same phenomena on replacement units from their dealers.
Check out posts by caesar94 and hero in this thread
https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/audiolab-6000cdt-cd-transport.860164/page-10

I am hesitant now.

As a "follow up" to my original post, I'd like to mention that since my original post, I made contact with customer service engineers at AUDIOLAB. (At least they were supposed to be). The responses I received back were cryptic to say the least. In turn, I can't honestly say that any plausible answers to my inquiries were forthcoming. I felt that they were just "dancing around the issue". That can only tell me one thing; - - - - - - - there is a lingering issue with slot loading mechanisms.
Some of you have pointed a finger at dirt and debris attaching itself to the the actual slot pads or, failing to insure that the CD being played was properly cleaned or at least, inspected before loading. This all makes perfect sense. especially when much of the reported damage took the form of "scuffs" as opposed to prominent scratches. I too do not proport having to make back-up copies so that the original can be preserved without flaw. I too, have several thousand discs. I have developed my own cleaning process that I have proven to myself, works better than all of expensive chemicals on the market (and I've tried them all). So taking that into consideration I would have to assume that what I am doing would pose a much lower "hazard" To the integrity of the disc surface.
BUT, nobody's perfect. One slip up and you might "drag" a particle of dirt or debris that will become imbedded in the slot window strips. So assuming that issue is a possibility, how does one inspect, or for that matter, clean those slot port strips that the CD's pass over. I agree with the gentleman that cited that he had too much invested in his collection to take that kind of risk. If there is even the slightest chance of damaging a disc, I just can't justify that.
Top loading mechanisms are my preference. The good ones are expensive and are currently out of my budget range. The REGA would be a good starting point. AYON would be my choice if I could justify the expense. 
I believe that AUDIOLAB has done some excellent research and development incorporated into the 6000cdt. They have addressed most of the historic issues associated with CD mechanisms and tracking accuracy. Was the slot loader a necessary compromise to keep costs down. ? I'd really like to see what they could do with a top loading mechanism, employed into the 6000CDT product. That could be something to really brag about.

Another example of scratched CDs by Audiolab 6000CDT slot loading CD transport: I found this issue completely by accident when I was playing with CD play back to my R2R Ares II DAC and noticed click sound not heard from my Delta Sigma DAC (Gustard X-16), both DACs are connected to PSA BHK preamp via balanced connections.

Upon examining a couple of brand new CDs, they are shown scratches (sorry I don’t know how to upload photos here). The Audiolab CD transport was purchased in 2019 and has been trouble free otherwise. I have since decommissioned the Audiolab and switched to a Rotel CD player.

 

I bought an Audiolab 6000cdt 6 months ago and a couple of months ago noticed that it is lightly scratching my cds,  I really like the sound of this transport and after reading many comments about it and similarly priced transports belive that it is best in its price range. I'm not going to keep the Audiolab, I'm in contact with the company that I bought it from, listenup on line, waiting to hear what they can do for me. After reading reviews and user comments I bought a Jays Audio cdt2 mk3 but so far prefer the sound of the Audiolab, the Audiolab has a fuller richer sound. Jays says it needs 400 hours of burn in so thats what I'm doing now.

If you use logic, any slot loader has the potential to cause tiny faint scratches in the cd surface. There is friction, albeit minor, involved in the loading process. Any dirt, however minute, on either the disc or lips of the transport opening will cause scratches over time. It is virtually impossible with a tray or top load design. The issue, if one exists, is not exclusive to an Audiolab product. I own the Cyrus cdt and I’m sure the same issue could ocurr over time, as it also  incorporates  a slot loading mechanism.

@axpert Project has a DS2 transport that is around 8 to 900 bucks.  Much cheaper than their RS2 transport.  The DS2 is a slot loader.  I've both Project transports.  Personally, I like the functionality and build of the DS2 over the much acclaimed RS2.  So the RS2 slot loader is a touch more than the Audiolabs.  

Interesting thread I just happened to see a couple days ago, as I just took delivery of an Audiolab 6000CDT. Trying to stay within a certain price point, it was really between the Audiolab and a Pro-Ject transport, also slot loading. To be honest, that concerned me when I was researching what to buy, but decided to move forward regardless based on the reviews I read.

One thing is certain, this transport sounds very very good, and along with my Denafrips DAC, a very nice combination.

For years I used CD’s in my slot loading car players, and really didn’t think twice about it, so……

Right now I’m thrilled with this transport for the $. I can always buy CD cleaner/polisher if it becomes an issue in terms of doing any real damage, but I have a feeling it won’t be a problem regardless.

I found out whats the problem. Its not that slot mechanism is making scratches...entrance is very narrow, so if CD is tilted a bit down when going in, the lower part of the entrance scratches it...im thinking to add some thin tape on lower part of the entrance or I’ll just have to be more careful (tilt cd a bit upwards when inserting). Hope I helped...enjoy your 6000cdt :))

@sfxjura 

The Audiolab 6000CDT has a nice felt type surround at the loading slot. So, unless you really try to put a CD in poorly aligned with the slot itself, no protective tape or similar should be needed.

I’ve had mine for a while, and although it was a concern for me, not really any longer. Just be careful, and if you remember to do so, take a micro fiber cloth to the CD and wipe it before inserting.

Hi, 

I see in one of your replies that you mention Denafrips DAC and Im just about to buy one, that is..I’m thinking if I should buy Bifrost 2 or Denafrips Ares 2...still reading reviews etc. but leaning towards Denafrips. I have Audiolab 6000A and Klipsch rp 600M, I also plan to upgrade speakers in the future. Can you please tell me more about Denafrips, which one do you have etc. This is my first system so I’m still exploring.

Thank you :)

@sfxjura 

I have Aries II, and think it’s great for the money. Very detailed and clean to my ears. Some call it ‘analog like’. Maybe, but not like my TT and LP’s. Nice soundstage and imaging. It replaced a PS Audio Digital Link 3. I like it better than the PS Audio, still a very good DAC for its age, which is now in my bedroom system. 

Schiit makes nice stuff too, but I’ll tell you, right now, you can easily sell the Denafrips for what you paid on the used market. They not only hold their value, but at times, increase in value.

Just something to think about if you want to try something else in the future.

@bkeske

Thank you,

What Amp do you have? Is Denafrips Ares 2 going to be much better than the DAC in 6000A? I might give it a try...EU dealer told me I even have 14 days trial period.

I mainly plan to listen CD’s through 6000cdt.

@sfxjura 

I have two Belles MB-200 Mono amps, and a Belles Aria Signature preamp.

Yes, in all likliehood the Denafrips will be much better than most all ‘built in’ DAC’s. I prefer a separate DAC as the technology can change quickly over time, so why pay for one within an integrated amp?

 

I have the Ares I I felt it’s bigger sounding than his big brothers, Trelja thought so too. We both love the Ares I.