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

@charles1dad TBH your post has tipped me towards taking the plunge. Let's see how this gamble pays off.

I guess another way to evaluate the subjectiveness of a forum member's opinion (or even a reviewer) is to look at their gear, and if you have heard them and liked them or better yet owned them, then some measure of certainty can be gained. I loved the Coincident Dragon, Frankenstein when I owned them, also the Linestage (which not as much, but I was told that I should tube-rolled before flipping it).

 

Will place an order today, I heard that Pro-Ject is updating the software (firmware?) of the Transport so shipping is delayed till January for fresh units. Will buy one of those.

 

Cheers, and thanks for listening me out, patiently, everyone. Fingers crossed on this.

. I received my Pro-Ject CD BOX RS2 transport yesterday,  thus my proclaiming that it sounds stunningly good! And sounding better this evening. 

Numerous testimonials on this thread from very happy users of this unit. @esstrand no hyperbole , the RS2 transport is simply superb.

1. I'm using the supplied SMPS wall wart. 

2. It's sitting on a rack shelve rather than a Star Sound Apprentice platform for vibration/resonance management. 

3. It no way near being broken-in yet.

Despite these factors it's undeniably a top tier CD transport. Most impressive to me at this very early stage is it accomplishes being quite resolving and beautifully organic in character with spot on vocal and instrumental weight and tonality. 

@esstrand I feel very confident in predicting that you will be very pleased with this Pro-Ject CD BOX RS2 in your audio system. 

 

Someone had earlier in this thread asked if this transport was noisy.  I can say that my unit is absolutely silent. It's compact but very solidly constructed and sturdy. Aluminum and carbon fiber, no cheap plastic.

Charles 

 

@ charles1dad

Congrats on your Pro Ject purchase! It's a phenomenal transport and brings immense listening pleasures to my daily sessions.

 

Wig 😁👍

 

 

@wig,

"immense listening pleasures to my daily sessions"

Thanks @wig. .Anyone who believes that the transport doesn’t matter or has modest impact is profoundly mistaken. This Pro-Ject transport is just wonderful! 3 days in and it has exceeded my expectations. Does  it really need a linear power supply?😃

Charles

 

@ charles1dad 

A linear power supply takes the beauty further in musicality and dimensionality...

Wig 😎