If the DAC is the same, how different do CD transports sound?


One interesting topic of discussion here is how audible the differences are between CD players when they are used as transports only — or when they are only transports to begin with.

In other words, in a comparison which keeps the DAC the same, how much difference can be heard between CD transports?

This recent video by Harley Lovegrove of Pearl Acoustics provides one test of this question. It may not be the ultimate test, but he does describe the experimental conditions and informations about the qualifications of the listeners.

He comes to the main conclusion here: https://youtu.be/TAOLGsS27R0?t=1079

The whole video is worth watching, I think.

128x128hilde45

@audphile1 

not at all what I was trying to convey.
Also, the number of views on the video is not an indication of how accurate the information is. Not sure why you think it’s important.
Looks like you’ve formed your opinion and the conclusion of the experiment described there just feeds into it.

Sorry to miss your point. OTOH, I thought your point about longer listening as a way of determining differences was valid and something the video did not address. I hope I got that right.

The number of views of the video is relevant because the people cited by name in it have been heard 93k times as holding a certain view about audio. I would not want my name cited 93k times if I didn't believe what the video said I believed. Especially if it was in my professional area of expertise.

@facten Go ahead and believe whatever you want about me, since you've already cherry picked your way toward that conclusion.

Hilde45,

While I am interested in the discussion, and agree and disagree with parts of it based on my experience. For me personally the following are true right now:

(1) My current listening room itself is not optimal for critical listening, and does not have sufficient room treatment.....it's a family room with open concept, and wife is not allowing sound panels/traps in that environment; I fully understand that.

(2) I don't think my current components are not as resolving as some others, my Buchardt S400 MKIIs are warm and lush and sweet and involving with wonderful mids, punchy fast bass, and great soundstage....but not as revealing as say a Focal or B&W. My Denafrips components and tubes4hifi tube amplifier also tend to lean that way, so I don't think the true benefit of say a Jay's transport are able to shine

(3) Right now for me, it's a matter of resources. The biggest impediment is the room itself and sound treatment, and I'm building a new listening room to solve that problem. Second, I think a larger benefit for me would be from a high end streamer such as an Aurender N200 or Innuous Zenith or Lumin U2. While I could continue to use my Node 130/LHY LPS/Denafrips Iris DDC and be happy, there is definitely a really noticeable step up to be had with a better streamer. I tested an Aurender N10 in my system, and WOW!

(4) The Audiolab 6000CDT is a great CD transport for the money, it doesn't have any glaring weaknesses. Though once I am in a quieter, with correct dimensions, and properly treated room; with sound proofing and room treatment and proper power and an optimized network.....I will reevaluate my priorities. I could very well end up with a Jay's CDT2 MKIII transport after the other changes

Best to you

Yes, two different CD transports will sound different!

Any DAC clock recovering circuit has own problems, such as PLL overshot, BW, stability, phase margin, etc. Less clock impurities, aka jitter, in input signal will result in higher accuracy sound.

I haven't watched the video yet but I will later on.Thanks for posting it. I used to have a Vincent (tubed) CDP which I was extremely happy with. It wasn't as resolving as my current equipment,but after some tube rolling I had no desire to ever upgrade. When it bit the dust it was replaced with a CXC and Tubadour, which being quite a bit more resolving and transparent sent me down the path of attempting to working harder on room acoustics,vibration control,etc. since the issues I had were now unmasked. I'm not sure if that was a good thing, lol.Once again I'm completely content with how the music sounds which is several steps above where it was a few years ago.Hopefully nothing breaks so I'm not tempted to upgrade and start the dominos tumbling again. I've considered trying a better/different transport but talked myself out of it several times.

Once you hit a certain level of transport and DAC coupled with very clean amplification, good cabling, speakers, etc...the differences are pretty easy to hear.

Listening and comparing a couple sub $1000 transports probably won't tell you much.