Cd transport worth it?

TALON1973 · 19 Sep 2019 at 23:22

I'm using my Panasonic ub900 4k player for cd duties atm.

Using coaxial to my sennheiser hdvd800 headphone amplifier.

I'm just wondering if I used a dedicated cd transport, I'd get an improvement?

Looking at the
Audiolab 6000CDT

TALON1973 · 20 Sep 2019 at 08:50

One of my concerns is the fact its a slot loader. They tend to wear out quicker.

I rarely demo anything. The hd800 I heard about for 20 mins 5 years ago. My local Audio-t are pretty good. I've been using them 15+ years. I'll have to check if they can get one in.

TALON1973 · 20 Sep 2019 at 19:33

lucid said:
If you're not keen on demo'ing (and that baffles me, but each to their own) then get hold of a S/H ARCAM CD player, or find one of their better audiphile DVD players. Spend £100, live with it a while, sell it for £100 if it makes no difference.

I literally just sold my arcam bdp300 blu ray player to help fund my hd800 purchase. My ub900 was lying around spare.

TALON1973 · 20 Sep 2019 at 19:37

Kei said:
Regarding a cd transport, isn't the OP treating the panasonic player as a transport already as he is offloading the D/A conversion to a separate DAC?

Yes I am. I'm just wondering if I'd get improved results from a dedicated transport.

TALON1973 · 21 Sep 2019 at 13:26

The audiolab 6000cdt does appeal to me. As much as I’ve got equipment that’s pretty high end ( but far from the very best ) . I don’t really want to be forking out £1000 on a transport.

I’m trying to work out if an outlay of about £500 on one will be of benefit over my ub900 doing the duties?

TALON1973 · 22 Sep 2019 at 11:35

lucid said:
To which the answer is to demo it. Simples, really.

Not that easy to do. I don’t drive. So carrying my equipment is not an option lol. Unless the shop will let me take one home. And that’s assuming my local audio-t ( which in another city ) has it in stock.

TALON1973 · 22 Sep 2019 at 18:43

lucid said:
If it meant enough to you, you'd find a way.

What we're talking about here isn't a 20kg power amp or a 12" sub; it's a pair of headphones and a headphone amp. In fact, it's not even that. If the store have to order in the transport then they could order in the headphone pre-amp at the same time, so all you're doing is going to the store wearing your headphones. That's hardly the height of inconvenience, is it?

If you've got money to burn then just buy the damned transport and get on with it. Seems stupid though to have given a bunch of your money to the "good dealer" in the past and yet work so bloody hard to avoid availing yourself of the services they're actually set up to provide.

I give them my business when I can.... at last check with them ( about 3 years ago ) I’d spent £15000 in that shop . And you haven’t factored in the ub900 for carrying as well

There is also the Cambridge audio cxc

TALON1973 · 22 Sep 2019 at 20:03

lucid said:
Bung a mate £30 + lunch to drive you.

Where the hell did the Cambridge Audio CXC come from? First time you've mentioned it in this thread. We're not mind readers, you know.

I was googling cd transports. Just seen it. The audiolab is my first choice tho.

TALON1973 · 25 Sep 2019 at 16:05

GoRedwings19 said:
Talon1973>Are you talking about audio excellence in Swansea? I know it called audio T nowadays but still I still know them as that. When I have the itch to demo something I have carried allsorts to use in a demo. Generally I find Audio T okayish. They are not as 2 channel orientated as they use to be but they are good enough to allow you to home demo.

The reason I don't use them anymore as they have a very limited of maufacturers they like to push. Stuff like Naim, Chord, wilson benesch etc.

That's the place. The do tend to push certain brands, but stocking everyone isn't really possible. They do know their stuff. And I've had them personally deliver and setup certain equipment for me in the past.