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

I received my RS2 transport a few days ago. I'll give you my initial impressions (well, mine and my wife's).

Out of the box, I was ready to send it back. Pretty disappointed really. At the same time, I didn't have a solid cable option nor did I have a LPS but dang this box had no bass and sounded entirely disjointed. It felt like an amplifier or cable that needed severe maturing, but for some reason I dismissed that. I mean, it a Transport right?

So I figured it was placement and cable issue. I don't have many options, no AES cable so I substituted a very good balanced cable, the right one I think... I got a generic optical and a Coax from long ago, but a good one.

Next day it still sounded weird but a few songs played well. Wife liked Jesse Cook but Frank Duval was lifeless and completely uninvolving. I was also disappointed that Pro-jects i2s doesn't mean i2s in the Holo May world. I use a Holo May KTE and tried all 4 configurations. No bueno. 

It was further troubling that there are so many audio stars in this thread, teajay, Charles1dad and others, that have such a positive "spin" on this transport. What am I missing?

There was something else though. Behind the confusion of the music there appeared to be a lot more information emanating from the silver box compared to my stellar streamer system, which was was destroying the RST-2 in sound quality. I had moved the RST-2 to maple but didn't get a sense of improvement. Maple was game changing on my Lindemann Musicbook.

Day 3. What happened? I now had lower end. Music had become organized. Textures were being realized and space now had a representation of location. But way more than that. There is a palpable suddenness, an explosion of sounds that come so fast that it takes us by surprise. I look at the Allnic and say, "you little devil you, you're a part of bringing what the RS2 has brung". I would say that there's not the accurate front to back layering (room issue?) I had experienced with the very best of systems and perhaps a not so smoothness, digital glare maybe, whatever the heck that is. But here I am with perhaps not the best cable that my system deserves given where my system is at. Now my streamer is nervous, very nervous. Who's this new kid in town?

So we sat and replayed Duval and other CD's that basically sucked @ day one. 20 hours in it's is a completely different sonic picture.

Busy in the yard, busy at a picnic, today I wanted to spin more discs. I want to hear even more. My CD collection is not only reinvigorated, it's looking forward to more friends.

OK so I'm going to ask, which one of you, or all of you, thought the RST-2 sounded good out of the box? Am I the only malcontent?

Thanks to the forum members for putting me on the right - track.

@desalvo55

Thanks for sharing your early listening impressions of the RS2T. I’m glad you stuck with it, gave it a few days and avoided an impulsive conclusion. Well I for one can honestly say that my out-of-the-box listening impression was terrific! Within the first 30 minutes of listening I recognize it was better sounding than my cherished P.S. audio PWT. It clearly improved within just a few hours of play.

And this was realized using the standard wall wart power supply. It’s only got better with additional hours of use. When I added a LPS, another noticeable step up from an already high performance level. I’m glad to read  ythat you are very pleased with this CD transport. It is fantastic as far as I am concerned.

Charles

It seems like us Audiophiles learn and relearn about break-in over and over again in the forums. But it’s still always good to see:)  
If we had an audiophile rules 101, I’d want *do not evaluate or draw conclusions about a new out-of-the-box component at all for at least 48 hours. 

It’s now 2022 !

I to am thinking about getting a really good (yet somewhat affordable) CDT - so how are we all getting on with our choices here. Is the Pro-Ject still king of the hill? Is it still performing above and beyond or are we all getting complacent with it?

There’s also a stupendously good review on a very budget CDT - the Audiolab 6000 CDT here: I doubt it’s in the same league though whatever the review.

Great video on the Audiolab.  It would be great if someine has compared the 6000t with the pro-ject.