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A phenomenal new CD transport-Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 transport

I have had in-house for the last week Pro-Ject's new CD Box RS2 transport to review for the website Stereo Times. I was very curious to assess its performance because it uses the Pro 8 drive with the Blue Tiger CD-84 servo card. This drive was developed and built by StreamUnlimited a company started by the original Phillips designers that historically built the finest CD mechanisms. Only two other companies use the StreamUnlimited 8 drive and Blue Tiger CD-84 servo card, their pieces cost $16,000 and $39,000 compared to Pro-Ject's sane price of $3,000!

My reference for the last two years has been the excellent Jay's Audio MK-II transport that had out-performed much more expensive highly regarded transports in my system. Well, across every sonic parameter  (transparency/micro-details-overall dynamics/bottom-end extension/purity of tonality- a much more airy sound-stage with wonderful 3D imaging) compared to the Jay's Audio transport.

That's way I titled this thread a "phenomenal new CD transport" because while not inexpensive, it just might be a bargain based on its performance. Mind you, this superlative level of performance is based on using the switching power supply that Pro-Ject ships the transport with. I have shortly coming a custom 20 watt 3 amp linear power supply from Linear Tube Audio and Pro-Ject's own upgraded power supply to see if the RS2 transport performance will even go to a higher qualitative level of performance.

I'll be writing a full detailed review for Stereo Times in the near future. However, I wanted to share this information to GON members who still spin CDs. I have had numerous CD transports in for evaluation and this just might be the best sounding of all of them.

Teajay (Terry London)




amorstereo
tyray's avatar
tyray
562 posts
 
Hey nonoise,

Here’s something on a cheaper version of a Pro-Ject CD player in their line up and the reviewer just loved it.
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0621/Pro_Ject_Audio_CD_Box_DS2_CD_Player_Review.htm
I don’t know if it uses the Tiger platform that the top loader uses but it’s way cheaper and really impressed the reviewer.

All the best,
Nonoise

I really appreciate you bringing to our attention here on the Project CD Box DS2. A lot of us here on agon are needle dropping for there main form of playing music and the Project CD Box DS2 just maybe the entry point for some of us here that don’t have $4000 to 6 grand to upgrade to a pure transport only with an outboard dac configuration. Nicely done sir.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,589 posts
 
Thanks, and opps! Just noticed that the Burson power supply won't work with the Pro-Ject CD Box DS 2. I just read the part about 12V-3A from a previous post on another power supply and inferred that it too, would work. 

Anyway, not a bad power supply to use where applicable.

All the best,
Nonoise
voodoochillin's avatar
voodoochillin
61 posts
 
Teajay,

Have you found a difference in sound quality when using the different outputs of the Pro-ject? This is always a concern when considering a pairing with a specific DAC. 

Thanks.
98117
1 posts
 
Is anyone familiar with Pro-Ject CD Box RS CD Transport ?

Worth consideration?
Many thanks, 

Paul (98117)
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,589 posts
 
To those who are on the fence with the two Jays models (MK2 & 3), there's a new youtube video of The Audiophiliac (Steve Guttenberg) on the differences, and he feels the Mk3 is that big enough a difference to warrant getting it over the Mk2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hRMl4oAYNA&t=818s
I asked him about the Pro-Ject and how he felt it compared to the Jays and although he felt the Pro-Ject sounded better, he never warmed to the feel and use of the Pro-Ject. Different strokes for different folks.

Oh, and there's a bit of a discount (not for long) if you use the code he shows towards the end of the video. It's only $168 but it's something.

All the best,
Nonoise
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