What’s the deal with high end CD transports not having the ability to program tracks!?

I have an old Sony XA20ES CD player with an external DAC. It has all those functions and I agree, "why not include them"? I don't think the high cost of these transports are worth it. You don't get much??? Maybe they think extra electronics introduces noise??

I can stay with the Sony till it dies and I can't get parts.

don't think the high cost of these transports are worth it. You don't get much??? 

You are of course entitled to your opinion. Many happy owners of the Pro-Ject RS2T and Jay's Audio CDT transports would beg to differ.The very high quality sound is in fact worth it.

Charles

I haven’t heard these particular transports for myself, but I know from experience that transports do make a substantial difference in sound quality. I’m not questioning the reports of excellent sound from these particular transports, nor the general practice of leaving out features that negatively impact sound quality, just the rationale behind this decision to omit a basic feature that I can’t see having any impact on sound quality.

The Simaudio 260d transport alllows for track programming , and sounds good

I agree with the OP. It should be included in any stand alone transport, but I also agree with Charles. A good transport without that feature is still worth it for the increase in sound quality.

Been using CD’s since their inception. Never once programmed a CD for playback. I don’t get it, never have. Play the CD as it was intended. Maybe an obvious transition from LP’s. 99% of the time, I would play both sides on an LP too. Still do.

My CD transport does not have a programming option either. Can’t miss what you never used, even all the way back to the 80’s.

Never understood why someone would want to use the ‘feature’. Never understood shuffle either, or repeat. 

I've been listening to CDs since they stopped putting everything out on LP, and I have never once programmed a CD, though I can see how you'd miss the feature if you used it. The thing that got to me is that when everyone was manufacturing CD players even the most chessiest junk players would show you total time remaining on the disc all the way to the end of the disc, but in the higher end players it was almost a matter of principle not to include this. Rotel players would have it, but even then it would cut out for the last 3-5 tracks on a disc. As an inveterate clock-watcher I always resented this, and when I had an Audiolab transport I used to keep a timer next to it to try to show time remaining. It was really a delightful surprise that my current Jay's Audio player does show time remaining to the bitter end, and shows the track you're on rather than the number of tracks remaining (as the older countdown players did), which I prefer.

Good question, i guess they figured out that people do not record from CD anymore.

Skip button works just fine but if you want to record on tape it is a drawback. But i guess somebody buys a transport in first place for sound quality.

@bkeske  +1

I programmed a couple times and gave up; wasn't worth the effort ... 

@petg60

But i guess somebody buys a transport in first place for sound quality.

Yes, you’d think that by far this is the major consideration for an “audio “ component. However it’s apparent that some specific features matter to some people. I listen to CDs all the way through so programming tracks has no significance to me. But that’s just me. Manufacturers probably have determined that it is a seldom utilized feature for the vast majority.

Charles

Charles1dad, turned me towards the new Project RS2T transport. As I was comparing two other, CEC TL5 and Jays CDT2 mk3. Currently using a Audiolab 6000 transport with Benchmark Dac 3B and enjoy it very much.

I don't think I ever programmed tracks, nor do I know how to do it, even if I could. I just choose a track, and move to another via remote, and exit when it's time to move to another CD. My main concern is SOUND. Just what I'm accustomed to doing. My 2 cents.  Ps can anyone suggest a good linear power supply if I choose to go with the Project RS2T? Thanks Robert TN

@robshaw 

can anyone suggest a good linear power supply if I choose to go with the Project RS2T? Thanks Robert TN

Ouite a few seem to be very happy with Pro-Ject's own LPS option or the LTA (Linear Tube Audio) LPS. I'm using the Fidelizer Nikola II LPS  with superb results.

Charles

charles1dad,  Thanks so much for the prompt response. Appreciated. Thanks for the directions. Robert

I would be disappointed to purchase a relatively expensive transport and find I can’t program it; but then, I don’t know what’s involved in implementing that function (complexity/cost), either. I’m still trying to understand why disks aren’t indexed, as my Madrigal ‘toaster’ transport has the ability to track them.

how about making a cdr with the tracks in the order you want, and you won’t have to program the transport every time you listen to the cd. you can also put tracks from other cds on the disc.😀 Plus they do have remotes.

I have compared everything out there with the help of our multi state audio. Club 

on the east coast and LInear Tube Audio is the  best sounding LPS of the bunch under $1k very natural with excellent detail. Put a decent Pangea  Power cord the sig mk2 with Cardas best  wire , and a 5 amp T synergistic purple fuse ,but this LPS even better still