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A phenomenal new CD transport-Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 transport

I have had in-house for the last week Pro-Ject's new CD Box RS2 transport to review for the website Stereo Times. I was very curious to assess its performance because it uses the Pro 8 drive with the Blue Tiger CD-84 servo card. This drive was developed and built by StreamUnlimited a company started by the original Phillips designers that historically built the finest CD mechanisms. Only two other companies use the StreamUnlimited 8 drive and Blue Tiger CD-84 servo card, their pieces cost $16,000 and $39,000 compared to Pro-Ject's sane price of $3,000!

My reference for the last two years has been the excellent Jay's Audio MK-II transport that had out-performed much more expensive highly regarded transports in my system. Well, across every sonic parameter  (transparency/micro-details-overall dynamics/bottom-end extension/purity of tonality- a much more airy sound-stage with wonderful 3D imaging) compared to the Jay's Audio transport.

That's way I titled this thread a "phenomenal new CD transport" because while not inexpensive, it just might be a bargain based on its performance. Mind you, this superlative level of performance is based on using the switching power supply that Pro-Ject ships the transport with. I have shortly coming a custom 20 watt 3 amp linear power supply from Linear Tube Audio and Pro-Ject's own upgraded power supply to see if the RS2 transport performance will even go to a higher qualitative level of performance.

I'll be writing a full detailed review for Stereo Times in the near future. However, I wanted to share this information to GON members who still spin CDs. I have had numerous CD transports in for evaluation and this just might be the best sounding of all of them.

Teajay (Terry London)




amorstereo
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
6,180 posts
 
@amorstereo,
Thanks for the heads up. I will be looking forward to your full review. I personally dig top loading players so kudos to Project for bringing out RS2 T at a reasonable price. When Gryphon’s Ethos (also uses Pro-8 transport) was announced, I got very excited but its price almost makes it impossible to obtain such a beauty.

I have yet to find a bargain like Raysonic CD128, mine is now 15 years old :-)
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,651 posts
 
SACD play is not a concern. Ripped is close enough to a high tariff player SQ. Not to mention more convenient
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,984 posts
 
Why in this day and age would you bother with a cd transport?

You will get far better sound ripping your cds to a dedicated server

When you rip you are storing a bit perfect copy normal errors from spinning a plastic disc do not occur

And you get the ability to stream new content like tidal and qubuzz

We have found the combination of a greatstored library plus streaming to be the ultimate digital music experience

We would love for you to Try one of our 432Evo music servers

https://youtu.be/m_sYbgFvUOg

Currently 432evo is taking over Europe


Their servers are dedicated roon cores

They use the most advanced low noise intel processor on the market

Comes standard 2 tb ssd

Higher end models have both a seperate clock board and sound card with independent low noise custom s booster power supplies

And models are upgradable you can start with a less expensive server and then upgrade later

The 7.5k aeon is considered a competitor to a 14k reference statement server

The line starts a t3.5k for the standard

Dave and troy
Audio intellect nj
Importers 432evo music servers








tweak1
3,766 posts
 
@fred60 

There's a OPPO 105 with EVS modes for sale. I upgraded my 105 power supply, and it transformed the stock player, but EVS mods might be all you need
tweak1
3,766 posts
 
TJ, a link would have been nice
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