Looking To Upgrade to a new CD Transport

@tuberist +1 

I recently purchased an SMSL PL200T transport to use with a second system which I use for both audio streaming as well as CD playback: Amazon Fire HD 8 plus, Schiit Modius AKM, Schiit Lokius, Naim Nait50 and KEF Reference Series Model 101 speakers. 

The PL200T is quite good and built like the proverbial tank. Its all aluminum chassis is beautifully finished and also offers a clock input for further accuracy. IMHO, spending more than the $500 for this CD transport will not get you better performance.  👍

I went from a thirty five year old Sony professional CDP that I used as a CDT.  When it finally died, I bought an OPPO.  It plays everything, but…. I then bought a Audiolab 6000CDT. Neither sounded as good as the thirty five year old Sony!   Then I bought en Arunder N200 streamer.  I still play as many as a dozen CD’s a week, but I’m finding that looking for new to me music with the streamer is bringing back some the excitement I had going to the record store and flipping through all the albums.

Wish to clarify and update my original question.  I already stream a great percentage of my music and am happy with my streaming sound.  My Dac is currently a Weiss Dac 204 which I use with my Lumin streaming transport. I still listen to cd's on an occasion. The new cd transport that I am considering must have AES/EBU digital outputs to provide the best sound with my Dac or with any future dac upgrade. My research indicates an AES/EBU digital output would provide the best sound. Now, I may not be correct as I am sure there are many that might say there is no difference, or that SPDIF is just as good.  In any case, do I need a cd transport with digital inputs as well? Don't think I do, and have not found a cd transport that has both AES/EBU outputs and inputs.  I have read AES/EBU digital inputs would allow more clocking options.  Thank you. 

I’ve never done transort/dac. I am quite happy with my Sony xa5400es SACD Player, it’s DAC.

I gave an Oppo to a friend, he used it as a transport for years, his dac just died, he used the dac in the Oppo, and we both agreed, the Oppo sounded better. 

This just popped up, I thought it might add to the discussion:

"TheSpinningGroove

•2y ago

I don’t use a dedicated CD transport, I use a decent blu Ray player. I can (and do) connect HDMI for native DSD on SACDs, RCA for SACD non-DSD high resolution and coaxial or optical for standard CD.

As far as connections go, RCA is the worst, coaxial or optical are much better, HDMI is really great but you have to have the player for it.

I won’t rely on the DAC within the CD player because most are old and not very good. Modern DACs are much better (good ones)."

I had a great cd transport and it looked smashing. But it stopped working after 5 years. As well as the same company's DAC. Both stopped working after 5 years. I can't name it because this post will be taken off. Great while they worked but they were not in for the lang haul.

If only this company spent 90% of their advertising on the long term quality of their product. For the short term they are great. Sorry for the unasked for rant but I spent a fortune on repairs and it was pointless.

I now have a Jay's Audio which I like very much but with an extra 5k I could probably have done better. I just did not have the extra 5k.