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Reference Transports: An overall perspective

Teajay did a great job by starting a threat called "Reference DACS: An overall perspective."
I thought it might be beneficial to start a similar thread on transports.
Unfortunately I really have nothing much to say; I just hoped to get the ball rolling.

I'll start by throwing out a few names and a question:

Zanden 2000
CEC TL-0X
Metronome Kalista; T2-i Signature; and T2-A
Esoteric P-01; and P-03(?)
EMM Labs CDSD
47Labs PiTracer
Weiss Jason
Accustic Arts Drive 1
Ensemble Dirondo
Wadia 270se

I know that there are very few companies that actually make the drives themselves. The few I know about are:
Philips
TEAC
Sanyo/CEC

Do the various Philips drives or the TEAC VRDS transport mechanism each have a particular sonic signature regardless of which maunufacturer uses them in their designs?
exlibris
kana813
956 posts
 
Richard-

Just got a CES report from my friends at the show, they
said the CD1 in the LyngdorfAudio room was the best sounding room at the show. They also said the build quality
was outstanding.

FYI- the CD1 has upsampling and can function as a CDP or transport. The DAC portion is turned off when used as a transport. - Dan
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Exlibris, I believe Mgottlieb uses a Teac X-01 as a transport connected to a DCS stack. He prefers the Teac transport over the DCS Verdi. But I'd rather let him comment about sonic differences.
enjoy_the_music
39 posts
 
Dan - very interesting. Would love to be there!

Will check out the reports on the show asap. Will try out the CD1 asap.

Richard
exlibris OP
438 posts
 
Anyone know what transport sounds good with Zanden DACs (other than the Zanden 2000 transport, of course)?
henryhk
648 posts
 
Is it just me? A disproportionate amount or % of the very best transports seem to be from Japan in origin...steadfast dedication to mechanical engineering & craftsmanship? Zanden, Esoteric, 47 Lab, etc. I don't think we can say the same for SS amps, DACs or speakers though of course there are the exceptions. Or am I just imagining things?
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