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CD Transports

Greetings. I am setting up a second system for the basement and am using a 1978 Sherwood receiver. At first I was going to just use the turntable with it and play the tuner occasionally but then thought I'd like to play some CDs. In my main system I have a Rega Apollo R hooked up to an Exogal Comet/Ion. Clearly I don't need the DAC in the Rega so I reasoned that it may be better to transfer the unit to the basement and get a transport, namely the Cambridge Audio CXC, for the upstairs primo set-up. Does that sound reasonable? The CD format is moribund so I don't see the point of getting a top dollar one--most of my CDs are ripped on the laptop and I just kept some rare European favorites. I was also tempted to buy a 1995 Marantz CC 45 5-CD player for the basement, but it is probably not such a great performer. Do I reason correctly that the CXC is my best option? I think the DAC in their Topaz player is not as good but that sounds like a decent player too. Thanks for advice. rt
128x128rtorchia
geoffrey098
5 posts
 
Someone mentioned the Pioneer Elite DV-09 as a great unit
It retailed for $2.200
It weighs 35 pounds, Really built like a tank!!!

I have one, no scratches on it. Close to mint
I was selling it on e-bay, and got an offer for $179.
I felt that offer was a joke. I took it off e-bay.
 I would like to get $350 or more  for it.

Does that sound like to much?
I have the remote, manual, and original warranty for it.

I see other people on this site selling units, not as good as mine for $450

I would appreciate other peoples opinions..
I now am using a Oppo.
minorl
1,014 posts
 
When I say "Built like a tank" I'm speaking from an Engineering point of view.  I am an Electrical/Electronics Engineer that has designed built amplifiers, filters,  and electronic circuitry over my career. 

I typically mean designed and built very well.

many of these have four DACS two for each side for redundancy.

As I said, i have sat and compared these units to many many other CD player/transports, and I really had a hard time finding any that beat them as transports.

Also, in response to one comment, i have experienced no sound degradation.   No scattered light, etc.

Also, the BDP-09,  DV-79AV and the BDP-95 are very nice as CD players  also because they have excellent internal DACS.  

Just saying.  With people constantly upgrading to the latest and greatest Blue Ray players with the latest bells and whistles.  They sometimes forget that some units (Pioneer Elite, Sony ES, etc.) were very well designed and built as audiophile level units.

enjoy
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Yes, I’m aware you don’t feel as though you experience scattered light. You’re used to it. You would be aware of it by its absence. Same goes for seismic type vibration. You get used to the distortion/noise. Most people believe the CD laser is monochromatic and many believe it’s red. So what else is new? Enjoy the music 🎵
rtorchia's avatar
rtorchia OP
130 posts
 
Just to clarify, isn't it so that the new DACs are vastly superior to what they put in the older CD machines? Thus it makes best sense to get a transport because one is usually bypassing the built-in DAC on older players. So some older players may have excellent DACs but they can't measure up to something such as what I use, the Exogal Comet. To me that't the big advantage of the Audiolab--I'm getting a great transport and not paying for some internal component I don't need and will never use. Of course I do like vintage components and wouldn't hesitate to get one of the older CDPs for an early system, but that is a non-performance issue. 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
The trouble is that for virtually all CD transports the damage is done prior to sending the digital data to the DAC. The damage is done within the first Picosecond as soon as the laser tries to read the physical data on the disc. Garbage in garbage out 🔁 🤗
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