I need a good transport, but I'm too frugal!!

TIC · « **on:** 14 Oct 2006, 02:03 am »

Hey gang,

I've totally change my system recently and now I need a good transport to connect to my Red Wine Audio Reali-T. So far I've tried using my Sony DVD player and a friend's Meridian 508.24. The Meridian is much better sounding, but I hate to spend $1500 considering I don't need all of the functionality of a one box CD player. I just need a good transport.

Anybody got an idea for a relatively inexpensive transport that sounds fantastic? I would hope to spend under $1000 if possible. Anyone ever used one of the Audio Note CD1-Ts? How about a Camelot Morganna or one of the Pioneer stable platter players?

I have a Resolution Audio Opus 21 which is a fantastic CD player, but it kinda defeats the purpose of the Reali-T (built-in DAC). The Opus 21 is still an expensive player and I'll probably sell it if I can find a decent transport for a reasonable price.

Please, nobody from the "transports all sound the same camp" need apply. I've proven to myself that that's not true, so don't try to convince me..........

Enjoy,

TIC

tvad4 · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Oct 2006, 02:04 am »

What's your budget, oh frugal one?

zybar · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Oct 2006, 02:07 am »

Computer + modified Squueze Box + upgraded PS =

George

TIC · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 Oct 2006, 02:46 am »

I'm really hoping to find something under $1k. Under $750 would be even better. The Meridian 508.24 sounds great, but they still command about $1400. I wonder if there is a Transport only version of the Meridian although I'm not too fond of the asthetics and I really dislike that system remote......

Anybody heard the Camelot RoundTable mkII? Knocking out DVD playback with the same unit would be cool too. But I really dislike the load times of many modern DVD players and the ones I've used as transports with an external DAC left me pretty cold.

Enjoy,

TIC

BTW, computer based is not in the cards for now.

boead · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Oct 2006, 03:49 am »

How about a used Denon 2900 or 3910? You’ll get a good SACD and DVD-A player out of too.

I used a 2900 as a transport for an CAL DAC for awhile. It was real nice, better then my PC with an M-Audio Delta DIO.

Rich Carlson · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Oct 2006, 10:18 am »

I use a Theta Miles CD player, which has the Stable Platter mechanism, as a transport and I've very happy with it. These generally go for $800-900 used; the Theta Pearl, which is the transport-only version, doesn't come up as often but goes for a few hundred less when it does.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 Oct 2006, 11:22 am »

I've used an Onkyo SP502 with decent success. It has a "digital direct" capability that bypasses all the video circuitry to the digital out...it's about $300 new

TIC · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Oct 2006, 02:14 pm »

Rich,

I made an offer on a balanced version Theta Miles that showed up on AudiogoN yesterday for $895! Unfortunately the I was the third full pirce offer in the first hour. I previously owned a balanced Theta Miles and it was very good. Supposedly the balanced version is a bit better because it uses 2 DAC chips per channel vs the non-balanced only version. Anyway $895 for this one would have been a screamin' deal. Heck, if I didn't love it as a transport, I probably could have re-sold it for a nice profit. I still see balanced Miles' listed for $1200-$1500.

You snooze, you loose...........

Enjoy,

TIC

TIC · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 Oct 2006, 07:56 pm »

Anyone heard the Pioneer DV-AX10 used as a transport? There are 2 on AgoN for less than $1k. Seems like a deal considering the $6000 list price. Of course, if it's not great as a transport it's not a good value for me.

Enjoy,

TIC

Rich Carlson · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 Oct 2006, 07:58 pm »

Quote from: TIC on 14 Oct 2006, 02:14 pm

Rich,

I made an offer on a balanced version Theta Miles that showed up on AudiogoN yesterday for $895! Unfortunately the I was the third full pirce offer in the first hour. I previously owned a balanced Theta Miles and it was very good. Supposedly the balanced version is a bit better because it uses 2 DAC chips per channel vs the non-balanced only version. Anyway $895 for this one would have been a screamin' deal.

Indeed it would - I paid about $1100 for mine (also the balanced version, though I use it just as a transport) a couple of years ago, and felt that I got a very good deal.

tvad4 · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 Oct 2006, 09:09 pm »

Steve Nugent likes the Sony DVP-S7700 and Pioneer 47A DVD players as transports. He offers mods for both. For a long time, the Sony was part of his reference system. You can often find these players used for $150-$200. Either mod them, or not.

http://www.empiricalaudio.com/

WEEZ · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 Oct 2006, 10:20 pm »

Ever considered a CEC?

WEEZ

TIC · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Oct 2006, 02:31 am »

I've owned a couple of DVP-S7700s and one was even mod'd specifically as a transport. I didn't care for either.

I would certainly consider a CEC if I could find a decent deal.

Enjoy,

TIC

tvad4 · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 Oct 2006, 02:39 am »

If the idea of a transport is precision, then a transport using an imprecise belt drive, which is subject to stretching and slipping, makes no sense to me. I know CEC transports were popular, but I don't subscribe to the principle.

Ask this question of Alex Peychev of APL HiFi, and he'll explain the problems of belt drive transports in a nutshell.

Personally, for a low cost transport, I'd choose a Pioneer 47A or 47Ai because they play CD, SACD, and DVD-A, and the Pioneers have been recognized for their low jitter (along with the Sony's).

Perhaps you might raise this question over on Audiogon where there is likely a larger pool of users of esoteric transports.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 Oct 2006, 04:29 am »

Another member here had posted this link in another thread.....spotted a few player's on their website......
Other than that....I know nothing about the site.

robert1325 · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 Oct 2006, 08:52 am »

I ordered an amplifier last week on that site(ornec), I just got a notification my order is being shipped

ChuckT · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 Oct 2006, 08:40 am »

Hi, if you don't mine a little work to extract the wav files to harddisk. I use the TVIX media module. My friend compare its spif out to the expensive Sony 777 (modded with Blackgate caps too) spif out and the Tvix has a smoother sound but lost a bit in the bass area.
Pair with a 250G disk and it is still very cheap. Need to connect to TV to select songs however. But I think the newer module comes with LCD display.

http://www.tvix.co.kr/eng/

JLM · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Oct 2006, 10:49 am »

As Zybar stated, if you're computer savy, the stock or modded Squeeze Box as a transport would be hard to beat.

Frankly it seems that we're at the end of the age for inexpensive CDPs. Market forces are pushing universal/DVD at the lower price range with PC audio is hitting at the convenience sector and when modded at the high-end of the audio only market. There will probably always be a purist interest, like vinyl has been the last several years, but chip and laser pick-up production has been shifting from supporting CD to universal players.

boead · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Oct 2006, 12:27 pm »

These ar GREAT deals. This player is build like a TANK!

Denon DVD-2900 cd, sacd player
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1166217004

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1165601087

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1164752562

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1164077415

Denon DVD-3910 cd, sacd player
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1163903951

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1166037875

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1166308124

TIC · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Oct 2006, 06:48 pm »

First, I would like to say Thank You to everyone that has taken the time to respond. As always, you are a wealth of knowledge. However, All of the outside knowledge in the world is no replacement for "just try it", so that's what I did!

As I stated in the original post, I recently acquired a Red Wine Audio Reali-T with all the upgrades and a built-in Scott Nixon Tube DAC. For the last 6-7 years I've owned relatively high end CD players, all of which has remote variable volume control so I could use them CD-Amp direct in a single source system. Well, the built-in DAC and volume control of the Reali-T kinda made an expensive CD player w/built-in volume control redundant and costly.

Anyway, I first tried the Reali-T using the Sony DVP-NS775 that I use for video. It sounded pretty darn good! I was amazed that the $100 DVD player used as CD transport connected via digital cable to the DAC in the Reali-T ($600 used) sounded so good for so little money. BTW, Speakers are DIY Hemp Acoustics bass reflex boxes. Well I figured if it sounded this good using a cheap DVD transport, it would likely be even better using a dedicated quality CD transport. I've not enjoyed any of my past Sony DVD players (DVP-S7700, transport specific modified Sony DVP-S7700, DVP-NS9000) when used as transports, so I figured I could do better with a purpose built transport.

Unfortunately my Resolution Audio Opus 21 does not have a digital output. Since I couldn't try the one quality piece I own, I asked a friend to borrow his Meridian 508.24 to try as transport. I've always liked that player and it has the cool drawer mounted transport mech and laser pickup. Well, the Meridian was WAY BETTER that the Sony DVP-NS775 as a transport. Most everything was significantly better, except the bottom end seemed to loose a little weight.

This was where I was when I posted this original request looking for recommendations for a good cheap transport.

Yesterday I figured I might as well try the Meridian connected via analog outputs to the Clari-T amp built into the Reali-T and bypass the SN DAC. HOLY $HIT BATMAN!!!! Using the Meridian as CD player connected to the amp (bypassing the built-in SN DacKit) is a huge improvement. It ain't subtle either. Anyone (and I mean Anyone) could hear the difference. The overall sound is much more musical. The soundstage has expanded and filled in. The bottom end got much fuller and more extended. It sounds like I'm using a subwoofer! This is the best bass I've ever heard in my room with any combination of equipment.

I've reached a new all-time high quality of sound in my room. It's da bomb! So, I think I'm gonna try my Opus 21 today commected to the Reali-T/Clari-T. I was hoping to get away with something cheap since I had the SN Dac in the Reali-T, but if the Opus 21 improves my sound over using the Meridian 508.24 I'm perfectly willing to keep the more expensive player. I'll throw frugalness to the wind if the sound is great!

Thanks again to everyone that replied and to everyone who read this windbag message!

Enjoy,

TIC