[dsavitsk]

Hi, i am looking for advice on an inexpensive transport. i need something to match with a fairly high quality (24/192) DAC, and would really like a changer.

Coax out if fine, though if someone knows of one with AES that would be great as well.

Any thoughts on the differences between the digital outs on Denon, Sony, Pioneer, etc.

-d

 

[dudlew]

I too am looking for something like this. I dont know how much you are willing to spend, but I am looking at the cheaper stuff ($150 - $250). Of those I have seen in this price range with coaxial out, we have:

Harmon Kardon FL8380

Denon DCM 280 and 380

Marantz CC3000 and 4300


I have a Sony CDP-CE575 that I am about to throw out of the window onto the rocks below. It has an optical out, but it is the most buggy thing I have ever used. It has turned me off of Sony's cheaper offerings, of which I think have really poor build quality.

All of the other offerings in this price range, including sony have only optical out,

Right now I am thinking of scrapping the changer idea and going with a Marantz CD5000 which has all the features except the multi disk capacity.

Always a compromise !!!!!


D

 

[bundee1]

Get a used Sony SCD CE775 5 disc cd/sacd changer. Great unit with good reviews and havent heard any complaints about reliablity.

 

[dave-the-rave]

dsavitsk,

I think you're gonna have to choose between quality and convenience. If you're dead-set on a changer, just choose one that's got a good reputation for reliability; but a single-disc player will invariably give you better sound as a transport.

I was using a Denon DCM-370 5-disc carousel as a transport into a Muse Model 2 DAC w/ HDCD. When I switched to a Pioneer PDR-05 CD recorder (single disc with Pioneer's Stable Platter Mechanism), I got blacker background, more bass and more depth front to back. I highly recommend the Stable Platter Mechanism as a pretty inexpensive way to get some quality in a transport. The PD-59 and PD-65 are often available on Audiogon. Good luck.

 

[sacd lover]

The sony scd c-222es is an excellent transport despite being a changer. I used one with a perpetual technologies p1a/p3a setup. Compared to a ps audio lambda dedicated transport ($2200 new) it was nearly as good, just lacking a little bass drive in comparison. The 222es has a coax digital out where the sony ce-775 only has a toslink digital output. These machines originally cost $800 and are well built. Being an es model it comes with a 5 year warranty too. You can pick these up for $325 from Oade Brothers Audio.

 

[Trawlerman]

I'd recommend anything with a Philips CDM12 Transport.

They are in use with most everything from the £100 Marantz 4000 (used to have one of these and wish i'd never parted with it) upto ££££ Krells.

ATM i'm using a Rotel RDD980 which has a CDM9 Transport which is a slighly older version.



Some of the older Krells that can be had for a reasonable amount can produce stunning results. IMHO Transports have tended not to change much over the past few year - excepting SACD ones of course. There has however been some massive advances in DAC technology.

 

[KShaft]

sony bubble period players x707es x7esd x777es x779es etc...same transport used in some of the accuphase transports and cdps.

Pioneer pd-65, stable plater system. Used in lower level wadias(830, 301's).