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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!

128x128wharfy
wharfy's avatar
wharfy OP
299 posts
 

@charles1dad 

I'm enjoying the opportunity to audition transports/CD players. My extended loan of the ARC CD6SE is finite (beginning of December) because the owner purchased an Aqua HiFi La Diva M2 CD Transport (an awesome transport, out of my price range), and is going to sell the ARC. 

While I'm looking forward to, and waiting for inventory, to audition the TEAC 701T, I'm going to give the Denon, DCD-D110 110th Anniversary Edition SACD/CD player a listen. The Denon has features I look for-powerful transformers, reduced vibration in both the CD mechanism and circuit boards, along with shorter signal paths. The specs say it weighs in at over 40 lbs!

David 

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,233 posts
 

@wharfy 

David,

I have read very fine things about that particular Denon component. A company that established and that size has the resources to build really special audio components when they want to. I look forward to your listening impressions of it.

Charles

acresverde
372 posts
 

@wharfy I would very much appreciate it if you could post any listening impressions your friend may communicate to you regarding the La Diva Mk. 2. My current transport is now 20 years old (and still performing flawlessly) but I know that time is not on my side. I have the Accustic Arts Drive 1 and their latest reference transport uses the much loved SU CD Pro 8 drive, as does the La Diva, but it’s twice the price of the Aqua so if I have to make a change, by default, the Aqua will be first on my list.

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,233 posts
 

@acresverde 

I have the Accustic Arts Drive 1 and their latest reference transport uses the much loved SU CD Pro 8 drive, as does the La Diva, but it’s twice the price of the Aqua so if I have to make a change, by default, the Aqua will be first on my list.

The upper tier European manufacturers do seem smitten with the Stream Unlimited CD PRO-8   drive mechanism. It's also favored by Audionet and Gryphon for their CD trabsports. I'm certain that you'd be very happy with the Aqua HiFi La Diva transport.

Charles

acresverde
372 posts
 

@charles1dad    I fully expect I would be thrilled with the La Diva. The biggest quandary for me is, knowing that I can get a refurbed CD Pro 2 like the one in my AA drive from ENCO, is the CD Pro 8 that much better to justify the 20x cost to get the Aqua. I do expect it will sound better but <$500 also sounds pretty good compared to approx. $9000.

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