Need to Replace Transport


Moving crew destroyed my Northstar Transport, so, I'm in the market for a replacement.  The new unit will be mated-up to a Chord DAC, Levinson 380S pre-amp, and bi-amped Emerald Physics speakers.  I've been away from the market for a while, so I could use recommendations.  Looking to spend in the neighborhood of $1.5 K.  Thanks!
fixedincome

Get a good used or demo transport like an Oppo and add a Sychro-Mesh reclocker and BNC cable to it.  You can get 8psec of jitter this way, or you can spend $10K+ and probably not get close to this.  Jitter from a typical transport:

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=154408.0

Latest jitter from a Synchro-Mesh:

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=157348.0

SM + BNC cable ~ $1K

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

From the listings:

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis8ieb1-mark-levinson-no-36-levinson-no-37-transport-title-should...

$1650 you maybe could bargain down a bit a good transport built like a brick s***house.

Also

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis8ih68-bel-canto-eone-cd3t-cd-transport-cd-3t-13038-transports

A solid little transport from Bel Canto for well under your budget.

You will find straight transports harder to find as the market moves away from physical discs.
I have an excellent condition CEC TL-1X modded by RAM and maintained by True Sound in CA, which I have not used for years. Price within your range. If interested, let me know and we can talk off-line. The transport is a beauty.

Neal
fixedincome

Consider a ML transport to match your 380S pre-amp.
I have always read excellent reviews on the C.E.C. transports as well.
Happy Listening!
I would say if @nglazer has that CEC transport in your price range go for it. I've only heard the more entry level CEC and it was magical sounding liquid and relaxed and organic. I can't imagine how good that unit sounds!