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looking for the best cd transport only, without dac

I have a Hegel H160 with inbuilt DAC and I'm looking for cd transport recommendation for $1000 or so. I have Harbeth SHL5 + and like an open and transparent sound. I've considered PS Audio PWT and other used options. I'm currently using my $75 Sony bluray player for transport and surprised how good it sounds. I've auditioned transports like Marantz and Cambridge. Options like Primare and Audionote I have't been able to listen to, the latter ones used to get closer to price point. There is also the Oppo 203, but wonder about quality of sound sacrifices in jack of all trades box? When I have compared the few transports I've tried the sound quality differences were quite subtle. So have people here done some serious comparisons of sound quality of just transports and have any great recommendations? Thanks
ckharbeth

Showing 8 responses by charles1dad

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charles1dad
10,227 posts
 

@bigkidz 

+1

I know that you’ve heard a boatload of transports and digital sorces. I have tried to let fellow Audiogon music lovers know how truly good the Pro-Ject RS2T transport is. Some are put off by its by design diminutive size and light weight. Physically small, sonically huge and large scale performance. This is a 1st rate audio component across the board.

Charles 

 

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,227 posts
 
Ronres, 
My good friend replaced the Lampizator Big 5 eventually with the Pandora Eclipse. I really liked the Lampizator but agree with my friend that the Pandora was more refined, harmonically richer and was more full bodied. Overall a more complete or finished product sound quality.  I do strongly believe that the Lampizator Big 7 or the Atlantic models are a step forward and would definitely compete with the Pandora Eclipse and to some ears exceed it. 
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,227 posts
 
It has a memory section so it doesn’t read directly off the disc. When you remove the CD from the tray the music continues to play for another 30 to 60 seconds i.e. it’s ripped and stored then the signal ("bit perfect ") is sent to the DAC. I have one of the early units (6 years) and music continues to play nearly 90 seconds after CD removal.
Charles
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,227 posts
 
Ckhárbeth,
Besides the PS Audio PWT another excellent sounding CD transport I’m very familiar with is the CEC TL-1.
A good friend of mine had this and then purchase a used PWT after hearing one  in my system. Both transports were heard in his system matched with the Lampizator Big 5 and later using the Aesthetix Pandora Eclipse DAC.

Both transports provide exceptionally good, tone, timbre, dynamics musical flow and pace. Both are very engaging and draw you into the music. We felt that both are marvelous sounding. I’d say that the CEC is perhaps a bit fuller toned (very close). The PWT a bit more open and transparent (very close). Both of us were highly impressed by  these 2 transports overall.
Charles
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,227 posts
 
Hi Itzhak,
You are itemizing the the different factors in CD transports which I understand. Essentially we're making the same salient point. Transports very effectively impact sonic quality and character of an audio system. For better or for worse.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,227 posts
 
Toddverrone, I share your observation regarding "absolute " statements.
Charles
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,227 posts
 
If someone wants to claim that transports have no sound of their own,  fine.  My listening experience in mine and other systems have demonstrated to me otherwise. As always, to each their own. 
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,227 posts
 
I agree with rodge827 regarding the PS Audio PWT. It is a superb sounding transport. I disagree with the idea that transports matter less than the DAC. Both components definitely influence the final sound quality. An upper tier transport will make a significant difference when playing CDs. I wouldn’t cut corners with this vital link. To be clear transports "do" indeed vary in sound quality level. 
Charles
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