Inexpensive Transport Recommendations

Tbadder1 · « **on:** 20 Aug 2008, 02:59 am »

Hi all

Spent all my money on a DAC, and now I'm looking for a temporary transport. I could probably go as high as 500, but 250 would be better. Thanks in advance to all who give input. Peace.

Dan

GBB · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 03:18 am »

Quote from: Tbadder1 on 20 Aug 2008, 02:59 am

I'm looking for a temporary transport. I could probably go as high as 500, but 250 would be better.

Hi Dan,
Sorry for turning your question into a comment about my spare audio equipment, but I've got a Micromega Drive 2 transport sitting in the closet that might be of interest to you. I bought it used in the mid-90s and upgraded it to include BNC output in addition to RCA, balanced AES, and Toslink. I also added an upgraded LC Audio clock and replaced the CD mechanism to fix a skipping mechanism. It sounds quite good. I've since upgraded and thus it's not being used. If interested send me PM and we can continue to discuss this off thread. If you're not interested then forgive my intrusion.
---Gary

ltr317 · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 04:14 am »

I'm using an OPPO DVD player as a transport with my modded DAC with very good results. It will set you back less than $200 dollars.

EDS_ · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 04:19 am »

+1 on the Oppo idea, I use one through my DAC and the combo works well

Think about using your computer as well or instead of a CD player?

denjo · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 04:26 am »

+2 in favour of the Oppo! I am using the 980 into an external DAC. The Oppo allows you to select "Audio only" which mode bypasses the video section for better sound.

Oscillate · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 04:34 am »

I second the use of the computer as a transport. Rip your CDs to the hard drive as wav files (or FLAC files)
and then play them with FooBar2000 via the ASIO4ALL driver through a reasonable USB to SPDIF convertor
(the 'Digital PC Link' is less than $75 for example) to connect to your DAC. Simple, sweet and inexpensive...

mjosef · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 04:55 am »

Quote from: denjo on 20 Aug 2008, 04:26 am

+2 in favour of the Oppo! I am using the 980 into an external DAC. The Oppo allows you to select "Audio only" which mode bypasses the video section for better sound.

Ummm...if you are using an outboard DAC, does the above features really matter?

ecramer · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 05:09 am »

I could buy a pretty dang good transport for the money it would take me to buy a raid system to store my couple of thousand cd as flack
go with the oppo

Quote from: Oscillate on 20 Aug 2008, 04:34 am

I second the use of the computer as a transport. Rip your CDs to the hard drive as wav files (or FLAC files)
and then play them with FooBar2000 via the ASIO4ALL driver through a reasonable USB to SPDIF convertor
(the 'Digital PC Link' is less than $75 for example) to connect to your DAC. Simple, sweet and inexpensive...

Double Ugly · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 05:58 am »

Oppo for now, unless you already have sufficient space on your computer for storing music files.

If the latter (not an entirely unreasonable expectation), it's conceivable you could spend nothing and end up with a surprisingly good source.

Oscillate · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 06:57 am »

"...a raid system to store my couple of thousand cd as flack..."

"A couple thousand CDs"!? ...Serious about your music huh?

Imperial · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 01:42 pm »

Using a computer as a drive to read original Cd's: (on the fly..just to feed the external dac, as opposed to using the HD via EAC..))
The drive is a Plextor PX-760A IDE DVD multiburner
A really scaled down PC with this as a drive should go under 500 easy! Using foobar and asio4all and that stuff.
The fun thing about this drive is that it analyzes the disc and figures out how to read it the best way.
It then remembers that particular disc for the next time it is inserted in the tray!
Using a spin controller will help it not to spin superfast either, hence making it near silent in operation.
For a cheap really good transport, this one is the best I've come across!
Use win2KSP4 or XP SP3 install and it should work superbly!

Imperial

hmen · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 02:13 pm »

I'm very happy with the Oppo.

Tbadder1 · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 04:36 pm »

OMG guys. I have an Oppo 981. Didn't realize it was a good transport (it's so lightweight). Well, now I've got 250 to 500 to do some transport mods. Know anyone who does such work. Thanks again all--that was great!

IronLion · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 04:44 pm »

I would suggest trying the Oppo in stock form before deciding to mod it. If you still want to mod it, I imagine Ric Schultz at EVS Audio could do some good things to it.

hmen · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 05:17 pm »

Reference Audio Mods also does Oppo mods. I've never done business with them so i have no idea if they're any good.

http://www.referenceaudiomods.com/

JLM · « **Reply #15 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 07:22 pm »

Ric is a good guy. His mods seem taylored to the Oppo. Can't say that about RAM mods. And his mods could be in your price range. Can't say that about RAM mods either.

ltr317 · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 08:02 pm »

Quote from: IronLion on 20 Aug 2008, 04:44 pm

I would suggest trying the Oppo in stock form before deciding to mod it. If you still want to mod it, I imagine Ric Schultz at EVS Audio could do some good things to it.

I agree with IronLion about trying the stock Oppo with your new dac. The combo may sound fine to you, so why spend $ on a mod before even listening to them, unless you want to spend just for the sake of spending. My .02 cents.

SET Man · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 08:32 pm »

Hey!

Well, I don't have lots of exprience with transport.

But I've been using Sony CD/SACD 5 disc changer as my transport for a while now

Yes, I know it is not really an audiophile thing but I'm pretty happy with it

Kindna nice when I could just put 5 CDs that I want to listen that evening and let it spin.

I've tried using my computer as server but somehow I still like to use my Sony changer. Maybe I will need a better digital output device or something.

Take care,
Buddy

mark funk · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 Aug 2008, 08:58 pm »

I use a Philips 3140 and it works well for me only $45 at a big box store near you.

JackD201 · « **Reply #19 on:** 8 Sep 2008, 05:47 am »

Try looking around for old Pioneer CD players that used the stable platter transport mechanisms. You know, the chunky ones where you had to put the CDs in upside down. Same transport mechanism used in Theta's older transports. Pretty good and should cost next to nothing.