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I got the Geshelli J3, my first outboard DAC and probably my last. It is everything they say it is. With the stock opamp, TI OPA1656, it is excellent. I opted for the Sparkos SS2590 but after installing it, I was a little disappointed. Better sound, yes but not a dramatic difference. Had I only heard the TI, it would still have made the J3 a wonderful addition to my system.
Right now it is coupled with the digital output from a Rotel CD11 Tribute. Based on feedback here at Digital, a Shanling ET3 was purchased. However, it is unlikely to become a long-term part of my system due to the remote, and transport, which is only able to move one track ahead. It can move two or three if the button is pushed quickly. That still fails to satisfy. Many times I don't listen to a complete CD, and when CD has 10 or 20 tracks, jumping 2 or 3 tracks at a time doesn't cut it.
As a result, my fellow audio nut-cases, the search for another transport has begun. The used market is fine, although new would be good, given that a new unit could be returned, should it prove unsatisfactory.
Please offer any suggestions. Price range up to about $1k, although the price could be more or less. The sound, of course, is the thing. It wouldn't have to be a transport, provided the output of a CD player would best a dedicated transport. Is that possible?
The Cambridge CXC v2, Audiolab 6000DT, or Leak CDT can be had new, of course, but don't interest me. The Shanling is supposed to be better.
As a final note, I have no interest in switching to a streamer. I like fondling shiny disks, as perverted as that sounds.
Thanks, gang, for any input.
I heard the Onkyo 7030 was a CDP that worked well as a transport, so I got one cheap on Amazon. But it was dull and lifeless to me.So, I found a Cambridge CXC for sale locally for $280 and snatched it up. I liked it a lot. In fact, I liked it so much I bought the Audiolab 6000DT for $300 and sold the CXC. I really liked the Audiolab. It sounded great, a tiny bit better than the CA.
So, if a little is good, a LOT could be better, right? Sold the 6000CDT and spent $2200 on a Jay's Audio CDT2-MK3. Wow, better yet. But do I need a $2200 CD Transport? Nah, it was good but not that much better than the Audiolab. So, I sold the Jay's and bought the Shanling CDT-3 for $900.
Here's the way I looked at it.
I like the CXC and liked the tray load. I loved the sound of the Audiolab but didn't prefer the slot load. I like the Top Load of the Jays, but not the price. The Shanling has the top load of the Jays and pricing closer to the Audiolab.
If I were to do it all again, and start over I'd buy the Audiolab 7000CDT to avoid the slot loader.
But, in every case these CDTs sounded better than any CD Player used as a transport.
Edits: 03/02/25
NT
.
Thanks for your comments. You may have saved me a lot of money because the Jay's, either the MK2 or MK3, was tempting. I feel like you, however. Is a $2k transport really needed? Obviously not if the sound isn't incredibly better than units for far less than half the price.
The Audiolab transports do have the slot loading and that's a deal breaker for me. Even the 7000 has it according to pictures.
I'm going to see what's available on the used market. As you know, waiting for the right unit can take some time.
Thanks again.
Pretty sure the 7000 Audiolab has a drawer loader mechanism.
Copied from their website:
"The low-friction loading tray, sturdy aluminium base and chassis of the 7000CDT work to tackle vibrations"
You're right. I'm used to a larger face on the CD drawer. A slot would simply be black, not matching the silver color of the unit.
The Tascam CD-200BT is the current model. Click the link at the bottom of this page. It uses the same Teac CD-5020A transport mechanism as found in the pricey Teac PD-505T. The transport is the main mechanical assembly found in a CD transport. Makes sense. Of course it also houses the motor, tray, and laser pickup. The Tascam is not marketed as an audiophile product so there's no audiophile tax associated with it. But it also lacks audiophile cred if that's important to you. For the price, I say it's low risk and worth a try at $420 USD.Teac CD-5020A Transport Assembly as found in the $1400 Teac PD-505T and the $420 Tascam CD-200BT. Hmm?
From the Tascam website: "All models in the CD-200 series accommodate the same highly-regarded and reliable TEAC
designed CD drive mechanism, the CD-5020A. By undertaking development ourselves and including our drives in the player,
we have achieved higher dependability, quality and reputation."The main difference between the Tascam CD-200 and CD-200BT is that the newer "BT" version has Bluetooth capability which you don't have to use. Just use it as a CD player (RCA outs) or as a transport using the Optical and Coaxial digital outputs. The remote control includes number keys for quick access to a specific track.
TASCAM CD-200BT. $420 at Crutchfield. Download the Tascam CD-200BT Manual PDF file.
P.S. TASCAM is owned by TEAC Corporation. TASCAM is the professional audio division of TEAC.
Edits: 03/01/25 03/01/25 03/01/25 03/01/25 03/01/25
I have one. As a CD player, it is OK. However as a transport, it is poorly. They don't even bother to use an isolation output transformer.
I only mentioned the Tascam CD-200BT because someone else mentioned the $1400 TEAC PD-505T transport. They both share the exact same Teac transport assembly and the Tascam is nearly $1000 less.Personally, I don't believe that the transport contributes much at all to overall SQ as the DAC makes a much much bigger difference. But audiophiles will be audiophiles.
Got rid of my Accuphase CD a few years back along with my CD's. I couldn't be happier with the music server and streaming services.
P.S.
How is that a schematic for the Tascam CD-200BT ? It shows an old iPod interface that the Tascam doesn't have. And why would it require an output isolation transformer when the schematic shows isolation via capacitor coupling for the SPDIF output? If for some reason you don't like it there's Optical TOSLINK out as well.
Edits: 03/03/25 03/03/25
You don't want to pass digital signal through the dirty ground connection. A capacitor won't work.
" You don't want to pass digital signal through the dirty ground connection. A capacitor won't work."
One man's opinion. If it didn't work I'm sure everyone would be up in arms about it getting a refund. Besides, as I already mentioned there's the Optical TOSLINK output if the Coax output is 'broken' and doesn't work.
Or your amp can't tell. My goodness.Never heard about "pulse transformer"?
Because I know how important they are. When I found them on ebay, I bought them all. Sorry, not for sale.
Edits: 03/03/25 03/03/25 03/03/25 03/03/25
RE: ePay pulse transformers: "Sorry, not for sale."
No worries, I retired anything to do with ancient SPDIF and Toslink over a decade ago.
Wow! Great information, Abe. Thanks."Audiophile cred" means little to me, although I do have biases. I pride myself in finding low-cost gems that contribute to great sound. As long as the Bluetooth can be disconnected, it looks as if the Tascam could be a low-cost gem.
But am I being an audiopile snob regarding the power cord? The CD-200BT doesn't use an IEC cable. How much does limit the sound? Swapping IEC cables has made a difference with the CD11, albeit not a dramatic one.
My CD11 came from Crutchfield, which means the Tascam could be returned if it offers less than stellar performance. Some serious thought will be given to your suggestion. The Tascam may have jumped to the top of the transport list.
Edits: 03/02/25
Good call! You can buy 5 of those for the price of TEAC's top line transport, the 701T.
The track selection button is your main concern with the Shanling. I don't know of any CD "Transport Only" units that have that feature in your price range.Your Rotel CD11 Tribute "CD Player" has a "Direct Access" button on the remote. That's a feature that's pretty much standard on all "CD Players". I recall my old Sony "CD Player" having programmable tracks as well.
With current popularity of CD Transports, perhaps something may soon be available with "Direct Access".
By the way, your Rotel CD11 Tribute is a nice looking unit.
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Edits: 03/01/25
I'm not sure if my post was clear. Programming isn't the problem with the Shanling, since my habit is to jump tracks, not program a CD.The Shanling has no numbered buttons, thereby only allowing tracks to advance one at a time, unless the button is pressed quickly two or three times. That still is not satisfactory.
Part of my dollar limit is because it seems a bit silly to spend $2k or so to feed a $650 DAC.
And you're right. The CD11 looks good and is a fabulous bargain at $600.
Thanks.
Edits: 03/02/25
Oh geeze, my reply could have been a little clearer.
I titled the subject line with "Direct Access Track Selection Remote" which is numbered (1-9, 0). You press that number and it will skip directly to that track. Programming was just an afterthought (oops).
"Direct Access Track Selection" is the terminology to look for to meet your needs when looking for alternate units. You'll note your Rotel unit mentions it in it's manual while of course absent in the Shanling.
Some of the upgrade options mentioned through the thread do not have the direction access option either. So just a heads-up.
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Thanks for the correcting me. I hadn't read that part of the CD11 manual and didn't know the terminology. Now I'll know what to look for, especially if a picture of the remote isn't available
Never used it but seems to work fine.
But again, it is a slot loader.
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
I have a an Audiolab 6000cdt. It's a transport only with a remote but no direct track selection. Some are wary of the slot loading mechanism but I've never had any issues.
The newer 7000cdt is a drawer loader and
has direct track access on the remote but some reviews have complained about truncation of the very beginning of songs when selecting a track this way.
The higher model 9000cdt is apparently better all around, no truncation problems, but is double the price.
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Used they run $1100-$1200. It reads the disc until there is a bit perfect match and the actual music plays from a digital lens.
There's one available at The Music Room but it has no remote, which is absolutely essential.
Any suggestions to solve that problem?
There are a couple on EBAY now with remotes.
Thanks. I'll take a look.
Over budget, but to my ears it is stunning.
Check out Herb's review below.
I hope you get a chance to audition it.
For me, it was a whole new CD collection.
I use it with an ABBA's DAC.
/Mats
I have been running one of these for about a year and really like it. It feeds a Denafrips DDC and thence to a Laiv Harmony DAC. Best sound from my CD collection that I have ever heard.
Thanks for mentioning the DDC.
I was unaware of this technology.
Reviews are impressive. With so much
going on, do you ever get the feeling
something has been taken away from the
original sources? Or is the recording simply
presented without artifacts? Did you gain
emotional impact?
My Abbas is pretty old school, with lovely tone.
Knowing what you know, might the Hermes be
something to explore?
/ Mats
I initially bought the Hermes DDC to reclock the USB output from a Bluesound Node streamer. The signal from the Hermes travels via an I2S output to my Laiv Harmony DAC. The sonic improvement in streaming was immediately evident. I experienced the same thing when I ran the COAX output from the TEAC transport to the Hermes. Both sources were much improved: streaming sonics from the relatively cheap Node going thru the DDC and DAC are almost indistinguishable from CDs, but CDs still sound the best to my non-professional ear. The Hermes is a little pricy at $1200, but I like what it's doing in my system. I would characterize the improvements as an increase in midrange clarity and better spatial definition of instruments and singers. Music overall seems more precise with the Hermes in place.
.
KP
I'm always contemplating a similar move as my CXC is getting a bit long in the tooth. I've looked at both your Shanling and the SMSL PL200....another top loader that can double as a CDP. It's over your budget, but the Schiit Urd looks fairly interesting as well.
I had forgotten about the Urd. It may get some serious consideration. The $1k isn't hard and fast, plus the Urd could be returned should it prove less that outstanding (albeit for a 10% restock fee, I believe).
Thanks for the reminder.
You bet.
Check out the unit offered by PS Audio. It does both CD and SACD and it is light years better than any of the cheaper units.
Lack of skill dictates economy of style. - Joey Ramone
TEAC has a cd transport, PD-505T, currently priced around $1400. Despite being released months ago, supplies have been said to lead to some delays in shipping. Part Time Audio has a complimentary review.
While you're perusing the information on transports and CDPs, take some time to visit iFI pages and look at the SPDIF Filter 2. First of all, it offers galvanic isolation between your CDP and DAC. Next, it reclocks your information before it gets to the DAC. It handles information up to 24/192. The unit, very small, comes with a power supply that iFi says is quieter than battery power. Amazon offers a thirty day trial period with purchase. If you like what it does, you would save some serious cash.
I use one with my twenty year old Rotel RCD-1072 and find it's a worthwhile tweak priced around $200.
Thanks. More audio fun.Unfortunately, it's not offered on the iFI website. Is it no longer made? Both Crutchfield and Audio Advisor show it as out of stock or on backorder. Crutchfield does offer it as Scratch and Dent for $179.
By the way, does it plug directly into the DAC?
Edits: 03/02/25
The spdif filter is small, about the size of two cigarettes laying side by side. It's light enough to plug into a DAC's rca input jack and not fall off. Amazon shows that Audio Advice has six in stock tonight if you want to try ordering through Amazon or you can skip the middle man and go straight to Audio Advice.
I saw a used one yesterday offered by The Music Room. I wasn't aware that Teac made an audiophile unit. It is on the list of possibilities.
Thanks for the review reference.
The $450 Tascam CD200 series of CD players use the exact same Teac CD-5020A transport assembly found in the $1400 Teac PD-505T.
Not that I'm in the market for a CDP or Transport but for my money I'd go for the $450 Tascam.
That's really interesting. $450 isn't much for and audiophile-grade CDP, but sometimes there are hidden gems, cost be damned.
What else goes into a transport that makes for good sound? I'm not that familiar with the internal electronics.
Thanks for the tip.
Alas, the Tascam website says that the CD200 isn't available in North America anymore. Maybe used?
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