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Resolving CD Transports Crowd Sourcing

Hi everyone! A couple of years ago I purchased my endgame CD transport- a Pro-Ject CD Box RS2T. Loved almost everything about the unit--highly resolving presentation, dead quiet background, balanced placement of instruments in a believable 3 dimensional soundstage, and  the synergy it had with my components. In fact I loved the transport so much I had two of them because Pro-Ject quality control and customer service is the pits. After almost a year of hassles, I'm swearing of Pro-Ject.

I'm in the market for a replacement CD transport that has the same qualities of the Pro-Ject minus the quality issues and customer service.

PS Audio, Jay's Audio, CEC, Audio Research (which are CD/DAC units) come up in my search. What are your thoughts? With all the bells and whistles the Pro-Ject was around $3300, so that gives you an idea of my budget, though I could go higher.

Thanks in advance!

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ghdprentice
6,409 posts
 

@jafant 

 

+1 ARC CD9 / SE

Post removed 
jetter
2,958 posts
 

ARC CD9/SE

Unless you actually purchase an extra transport from Audio Research's supposed stash of extra discontinued transports, I would find buying an expensive discontinued CD player without surety of repair a fools errand.

I find the theory that ARC discontinued this CD player because the manufacturer of the transport quit producing the the transport fishy as why didn't ARC just purchase enough supply of the transports before the manufacturer discontinued them to continue producing the CD player?

ghdprentice
6,409 posts
 

There is nothing fishy here. My dealer had a close relationship with owner at the time and heard about this straight from him. ( my friend is very savvy in manufacturing and has good EQ, so he was not being deceived.

Audio Research keeps a stock of parts to service discontinued products. Many very very old products can still be serviced. It is one of the many reasons to own ARC products.

 

I own a Ref CD9SE and have no worries at all. Also, had I not owned it when it was discontinued, I would have unhesitatingly bought one. Now, if it was made by a lessor company, I might hesitate.

jetter
2,958 posts
 

@ghdprentice

You’re among many knowledgeable ARC lovers. But for me, and quoting myself, to calm all doubts of repairability other than hearsay, before I purchased the unit.

Unless you actually purchase an extra transport from Audio Research’s supposed stash of extra discontinued transports, I would find buying an expensive discontinued CD player without surety of repair a fools errand.

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