recommended CD-transport

CButterworth · « **on:** 24 May 2006, 05:50 pm »

Hello,

At the moment, I am suffering from the desire to upgrade my audio system. It is primarily (entirely) used for two-channel audio - mainly CD's (classical, folk, rock, new age, etc.) and stereo audio for DVD movies.

My amp is an AKSA 55+, speakers Polk rt600's, transport (unmodded) Toshiba 3960, via a slightly modded Art di/o DAC. My interconnects are reasonable (Jon Risch design spdif cable, wireworld Oasis interconnect, TNT-audio speaker cables).

Once, the temps cool in my outdoor workshop (I do live in central Arizona), I plan on building a pair of GR-Research floorstanders.

So, in order to satisfy my desire to upgrade, I was thinking of investigating possible replacements for my Toshiba 3960.

I will route the signal from the transport to the DAC, unless I can find a good alternative that is better than the DAC that I am using. Of course, I want to keep the price down as far as possible.

Any ideas?

Charlie

Soundbitten · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 May 2006, 06:17 pm »

I use an Adcom GCD700 changer as a transport with a Scott Nixon tube dac . I like the convenience of loading up to 5 discs and it has a nice smooth sound . You can pick one up used for about $250 or less .

Grover · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 May 2006, 06:50 pm »

I don't have this, but it's something I've been thinking about.

The Cambridge Audio Azur 540D DVD player

http://www.hometheatersound.com/equipment/cambridge_audio_azur_540d.htm

Available at Audioadvisor.com for $259. You get a nice transport for your ouboard DAC, ability to play DVD-Audio, plus plenty of other formats, and pretty good movie quality from what the review says.

It seems like it would be a good, low cost, upgrade to your Toshiba player.

warnerwh · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 May 2006, 09:50 pm »

There's a guy selling brand new Sony Dvpns 555ES cd/dvd changers for 275 on Ebay. These are of very good quality. SACDMODS claims it's better than the 999es which costs double the money.

It's been discontinued or is about to be if it isn't. Joshk in another thread elsewhere said the low end Pioneer's have well made transport mechanisms in them.

Like the poster above I like having a changer. I seriously doubt I'm losing any sound quality to speak of using one.

Eric · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 May 2006, 10:32 pm »

I am using the Stello CDT-200 transport to good effect

wimj · « **Reply #5 on:** 26 May 2006, 01:45 pm »

Don't you think the Stello is a bit slow in reading TOC's, loading the disc, etc,...
I have the Stello DA220 DAC but the transport was to slow for me.

WJ

Marbles · « **Reply #6 on:** 26 May 2006, 01:56 pm »

Go the PC as a server/transport route and you'll never look back....

CButterworth · « **Reply #7 on:** 26 May 2006, 05:11 pm »

Hmmmm.

A lot of food for thought, and I like what I have just read about Cambridge. As it happens, our DVD player - a four year old Phillips is beginning to have some issues, so maybe a player that can handle it all would be good.

All our music CD's are on the computer. As a Mac user, I could use iTunes and combine it with the Squeezebox. Can the Squeezebox upsample? Does the system sound good over wireless - our Mac is in the home-office, not in our sitting room, where our music system is.

Thanks for all the info, I'll keep reading to pick up opinions of the going the server route.

Charlie

Eric · « **Reply #8 on:** 26 May 2006, 05:20 pm »

Quote from: wimj

Don't you think the Stello is a bit slow in reading TOC's, loading the disc, etc,...
I have the Stello DA220 DAC but the transport was to slow for me.

WJ

I have owned several transports. Some were quicker to read them some slower. But that is not an isse for me. I like the sound

Inscrutable · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 May 2006, 10:45 am »

Quote

All our music CD's are on the computer. As a Mac user, I could use iTunes and combine it with the Squeezebox. Can the Squeezebox upsample? Does the system sound good over wireless - our Mac is in the home-office, not in our sitting room, where our music system is.

I don't think there's anything distinguishable in wireless vs hard-wired. If you are happy with your DAC, there's not much (but a slight) difference in using a SB digital out vs straight from the computer.

I have a friend with a Roku wireless into a Benchmark DAC, and he also has a $4k Cary 303/300 ... I hear very little difference, and he himself said if he didn't already have the Cary, there is no way he'd buy anything beyond the computer-based solution. Also, have some local members here whose system(s) I've heard with compouter and/or SB vs good CDP/transports ... same results.

The extraordinary convenience, and access to forgotten parts of your collection, far outweigh the marginal sonic difference, at least in some of our opinions, FWIW. Which is why I have 2 SB's and a 300GB Seagate awaiting my attention.

That said, there is something about the visual and tactile ritual of picking out a disc and physically putting it in a player that is a part of the experience, which is why I have an analog rig as well ... which of course is a far more satisfying ritual than a CDP.

Loftprojection · « **Reply #10 on:** 28 May 2006, 01:22 am »

Quote from: Inscrutable

I don't think there's anything distinguishable in wireless vs hard-wired. If you are happy with your DAC, there's not much (but a slight) difference in using a SB digital out vs straight from the computer.

I have a friend with a Roku wireless into a Benchmark DAC, and he also has a $4k Cary 303/300 ... I hear very little difference, and he himself said if he didn't already have the Cary, there is no way he'd buy anything beyond the computer-based solution. Also, have some local members here whose syste ...

My experience is a little different! When you say there is no difference using the computer versus CDP, which soundcard or USB card do you use to convert from your computer into digital? I have an Arcam CD23T player and I did some a/b testing using it as a transport into my DAC versus using my computer with an Audigy 2zs soundcard. Well, the Arcam is much better, somebody may argue one or the other being nicer because of personnal taste but for sure nobody would say there is no difference. Maybe it's the soundcard, I plan on trying a SB soon but I have a feeling an expensive CDP transport will be difficult to beat with the cheap computer solutions.

Inscrutable · « **Reply #11 on:** 28 May 2006, 11:51 am »

In the second paragraph (referencing the Cary) my friend had a wireless connection from the computer to the Roku (taking the soundcard out of play), and a digital coax cable to the Benchmark Dac.

In the comparison to a transport, it was a bargain basement Dell, with an M-Audio Revolution 5.1 card and digital coax out to a TacT preamp/Dac. Compared to a Bel Canto PL-1 used as a transport to the same TacT.

In both cases there were small differences. You can read some comments at this thread here at AC starting on page 3.

tanchiro58 · « **Reply #12 on:** 31 May 2006, 06:06 pm »

I just got a modded Sony DVP-S9000ES by Reference Mod Audio. I use as a transport so Kyle at RMA replaced the Superclock 3 and its power supply. When I hooked up to the CJ DA1 the sound is like day and night compare to original Sony DVP-S9000ES (I use Harm Tech Cyberlink, XLO 1.2 Signature, Home Grown Audio Veritas and Stereovox HDXV digital cables). It sounds more transparent, more sounstage, detailed and musical than before. Good luck