Seeking advice for a new top loading CD transport

[Yuhasz01]

Seeking recommendations for a new *top loading* cd transport in the $500-$1,000 range. I had AudioLab 6000 CDT, slot loader, for awhile then electronics malfunctioned. Audiolab has sketchy customer service and unreliable products in my opinion.
Currently using Onkyo C7030 tray loader as transport(my old backup). I have +1500 cd collection, mostly classical and acoustic jazz. . Transport feeds into RME ADI-2-DAC FS using an optical cable. Key is new technology, no interest in older legacy machines, and a reliable top loading disk mechanism.

 

[Mikig]

The SMSL PL200 seems nice: it does a bit of everything, including CD player, MQA, Bluetooth and DAC, AKM. It seems well made, modern and reasonably priced.

but you can now find good ones in that price range in every brand. Yamaha, Marantz, Denon, etc etc
However, since you already have the DAC, and a very good one, I would look for the one with more options and with a good and precise reading mechanism.

 

[restorer-john]

Key is new technology, no interest in older legacy machines, and a reliable top loading disk mechanism.

Top loading is an excellent decision. You remove all the loading related gearing, belts, laser mech repositioning and chucking mechanism. Downside is potential dust/dirt table damage. A magnetic table/disc clamp is best- I don't like the three sprung ball type clamps- they damage discs. A simple lid that can be left open or closed during play.

Possible digital inputs to access the internal D/A converters is a bonus.

The SMSL PL200 ticks most of the those boxes, but we have no idea how it performs with RBCD. All their specs are for external inputs. I'd want to thoroughly test one on CD before committing.

 

[Yuhasz01]

The SMSL PL200 seems nice: it does a bit of everything, including CD player, MQA, Bluetooth and DAC, AKM. It seems well made, modern and reasonably priced.

but you can now find good ones in that price range in every brand. Yamaha, Marantz, Denon, etc etc
However, since you already have the DAC, and a very good one, I would look for the one with more options and with a good and precise reading mechanism.

Thanks for the comments. I will do some reading and check reviews about the new SMSL. Has few more features than I need but meets other factors I seek.

 

[Yuhasz01]

Top loading is an excellent decision. You remove all the loading related gearing, belts, laser mech repositioning and chucking mechanism. Downside is potential dust/dirt table damage. A magnetic table/disc clamp is best- I don't like the three sprung ball type clamps- they damage discs. A simple lid that can be left open or closed during play.

Possible digital inputs to access the internal D/A converters is a bonus.

The SMSL PL200 ticks most of the those boxes, but we have no idea how it performs with RBCD. All their specs are for external inputs. I'd want to thoroughly test one on CD before committing.

Thanks good comments regarding technical aspects, appreciated. As mentioned above I will give close look at new SMSL device. It has more features than I need but maybe some have greater appeal than I realize at this time..
When I bought RME DAC I did not realize how appealing the peq, headphone amp, volume control and auto reference features were. I went for the quality DAC and reliability factors initially.

 

[Salt]

I ripped all CD, stored on NAS and internal SSD in streamer. Long time ago putting a CD into the player ...

 

[amix]

There is also the Shanling ET3. It also can be used as a transport for streams with support for the most important protocols.

Found a review! (but he, clearly, is not an ASR Guy )

@restorer-john might like the magnetic fastening.

 

[restorer-john]

There is also the Shanling ET3. It also can be used as a transport for streams with support for the most important protocols.

Found a review! (but he, clearly, is not an ASR Guy )

@restorer-john might like the magnetic fastening.

Shanling are being deceptive if you ask me.

The CD mechanism is a very cheap Sanyo not a Philips CD Drive. The Philips IC is basically an entire CD player on a chip, including a two channel D/A converter they are not using.

 

[Roland68]

Seeking recommendations for a new *top loading* cd transport in the $500-$1,000 range. I had AudioLab 6000 CDT, slot loader, for awhile then electronics malfunctioned. Audiolab has sketchy customer service and unreliable products in my opinion.
Currently using Onkyo C7030 tray loader as transport(my old backup). I have +1500 cd collection, mostly classical and acoustic jazz. . Transport feeds into RME ADI-2-DAC FS using an optical cable. Key is new technology, no interest in older legacy machines, and a reliable top loading disk mechanism.

Maybe you'd like to take a look at the Cambridge CXC?

I was also fixated on top loaders for a long time, CEC, and for a while Sony, among others. I also still have a complete set of parts, including the dual TDA1305 converter, from the old Sanyo belt drive (the basis for well-known CD transports and players in the 5-figure range) in the basement for a DIY project.
And then a year ago I bought a used CXC drive, actually to try something different. And three things convinced me. Super quiet, super fast, switch it on and you can immediately press play or pull the drawer out. The speed of the drawer is also impressive. But the most important thing is that it leaves no marks on the CDs.
Very high-quality remote control and V1 and V2 only differ in color.

 

[Platypus20]

I have 3 of the Cambridge Audio CXC transports, one in each of the stereos, not a single issue with any of them. Just a solid well built unit.

 

[40th Anniversary]

CXC owner here. Good unit. I will be adding some damping material to the case work as per a review in the audiophiliac; this to note any improvements.
I also have a slightly used Marantz CD6007 on the way that I want to use as a transport. And finally I've got my eye focussed on obtaining a Shanling ET3 spinner: I plan to compare them all.

 

[NormB]

Maybe you'd like to take a look at the Cambridge CXC?

I was also fixated on top loaders for a long time, CEC, and for a while Sony, among others. I also still have a complete set of parts, including the dual TDA1305 converter, from the old Sanyo belt drive (the basis for well-known CD transports and players in the 5-figure range) in the basement for a DIY project.
And then a year ago I bought a used CXC drive, actually to try something different. And three things convinced me. Super quiet, super fast, switch it on and you can immediately press play or pull the drawer out. The speed of the drawer is also impressive. But the most important thing is that it leaves no marks on the CDs.
Very high-quality remote control and V1 and V2 only differ in color.

I bought one of those a year ago and it’s worked well for me, but I’m feeding optical output into a Topping D90LE ES9038PRO LDAC I find is fine for my needs at the time, but I’ve been considering upgrading the DAC (denafrips 15th ed. Pontus or something like it) until I came across this today:

USB Type B (White): 44.1 kHz to 768 kHz – 16 bit to 32 bit
BNC Coax (Red): x 2, 44.1 kHz – 384 kHz – 16 bit to 32 bit
Dual data mode input (using both BNC coax inputs together): 44.1 kHz to 768 kHz – 16 bit to 32 bit
Optical (Green): 44.1 kHz to 96 kHz – 16 bit to 24 bit

Now, I don’t know if those are the absolute limits of the conductors or the particular DAC I was looking at (Chord Qutest), but it has me looking into cd transports with USB output FIRST.

YMMV. Feedback appreciated (although a little off-topic, I know), but from what that information is telling me - if accurate in general regarding connectors - I won’t be able to take advantage of a higher quality/performing DAC with the CXC.

The OP - and others, at this late date - might want to reconsider.

 

[Roland68]

I bought one of those a year ago and it’s worked well for me, but I’m feeding optical output into a Topping D90LE ES9038PRO LDAC I find is fine for my needs at the time, but I’ve been considering upgrading the DAC (denafrips 15th ed. Pontus or something like it) until I came across this today:

USB Type B (White): 44.1 kHz to 768 kHz – 16 bit to 32 bit
BNC Coax (Red): x 2, 44.1 kHz – 384 kHz – 16 bit to 32 bit
Dual data mode input (using both BNC coax inputs together): 44.1 kHz to 768 kHz – 16 bit to 32 bit
Optical (Green): 44.1 kHz to 96 kHz – 16 bit to 24 bit

Now, I don’t know if those are the absolute limits of the conductors or the particular DAC I was looking at (Chord Qutest), but it has me looking into cd transports with USB output FIRST.

YMMV. Feedback appreciated (although a little off-topic, I know), but from what that information is telling me - if accurate in general regarding connectors - I won’t be able to take advantage of a higher quality/performing DAC with the CXC.

The OP - and others, at this late date - might want to reconsider.

Please don't be mad at me, but I think you need to get to grips with the subject first.

Your Topping DAC can already do up to 32bit 768kHz via USB.
Which CD transport or player could you use to get more than the 44.1 kHz / 16 bit of normal CDs?
It doesn't matter whether you use USB, coax, i2s or anything else, you can't get more than 44.1 kHz / 16 bit from a normal CD. And the fact that upsampling or resampling doesn't help is nothing new anymore.

And just for better understanding, if you only drive on a bad and winding road where it is not possible to drive faster than 80 km/h, does it make any difference if your car could drive 100, 200, 300 or 400 km/h?

You can download samples from 96 kHz up to 768 kHz for free from Sound Liaison.
Do your own honest blind test with your Topping D90LE and the different formats and then please explain what difference it makes.

I can guarantee you two things from decades of experience.
The quality of the recording and mastering is x times more important for the sound than anything else, including your DAC or your CD transport.
Many people don't understand something simple. Your source, CD, file, record, etc., are your 100%. You can't make 101% out of that. But you can reduce it, and what's gone you can't get back, that's impossible.
Your DAC and your CD transport are likely to cause the least loss in your system.

 

[raindance]

To the OP - what's wrong with the excellent Onkyo you are using as a temporary measure?

 

[NormB]

Please don't be mad at me, but I think you need to get to grips with the subject first.

Your Topping DAC can already do up to 32bit 768kHz via USB.
Which CD transport or player could you use to get more than the 44.1 kHz / 16 bit of normal CDs?
It doesn't matter whether you use USB, coax, i2s or anything else, you can't get more than 44.1 kHz / 16 bit from a normal CD. And the fact that upsampling or resampling doesn't help is nothing new anymore.

And just for better understanding, if you only drive on a bad and winding road where it is not possible to drive faster than 80 km/h, does it make any difference if your car could drive 100, 200, 300 or 400 km/h?

You can download samples from 96 kHz up to 768 kHz for free from Sound Liaison.
Do your own honest blind test with your Topping D90LE and the different formats and then please explain what difference it makes.

I can guarantee you two things from decades of experience.
The quality of the recording and mastering is x times more important for the sound than anything else, including your DAC or your CD transport.
Many people don't understand something simple. Your source, CD, file, record, etc., are your 100%. You can't make 101% out of that. But you can reduce it, and what's gone you can't get back, that's impossible.
Your DAC and your CD transport are likely to cause the least loss in your system.

“Getting grips with the subject first” - you mean “the basics.”

Got it.

I’ll take this under advisement and continue to enjoy what I’ve got.

 

[Roland68]

“Getting grips with the subject first” - you mean “the basics.”

Got it.

I’ll take this under advisement and continue to enjoy what I’ve got.

To make this a little clearer, the signal that your CD player, no matter which one, outputs after reading the CD is i2s and is then converted to SPDIF for output.
This is absolutely lossless.

USB 2.0 was never made for audio and is a dirty interface. The fact that it now works so well is thanks to developments such as XMOS, Amanero, Xing Audio, etc. and many tireless developers who have perfected these USB interfaces despite the poor conditions.

So why should you convert digital audio data that is already in a perfect format for the DAC into a USB data stream and then transport it from the CD player to a DAC via USB? That really doesn't make sense.
The data then has to be converted back into the original i2s format for the DAC.

General information on Chord DACs, Amir has already tested some of them, take a look at these tests and compare. I have heard a few DACs from them, including the one you mentioned, and I wouldn't spend my money on them.
The people who brought the Chord DACs for comparison were very disappointed themselves, as they preferred both cheaper ones and one of my 30-year-old DACs in a blind test.
It's always best to compare yourself, blindly and without bias.

 

[NormB]

To make this a little clearer, the signal that your CD player, no matter which one, outputs after reading the CD is i2s and is then converted to SPDIF for output.
This is absolutely lossless.

USB 2.0 was never made for audio and is a dirty interface. The fact that it now works so well is thanks to developments such as XMOS, Amanero, Xing Audio, etc. and many tireless developers who have perfected these USB interfaces despite the poor conditions.

So why should you convert digital audio data that is already in a perfect format for the DAC into a USB data stream and then transport it from the CD player to a DAC via USB? That really doesn't make sense.
The data then has to be converted back into the original i2s format for the DAC.

General information on Chord DACs, Amir has already tested some of them, take a look at these tests and compare. I have heard a few DACs from them, including the one you mentioned, and I wouldn't spend my money on them.
The people who brought the Chord DACs for comparison were very disappointed themselves, as they preferred both cheaper ones and one of my 30-year-old DACs in a blind test.
It's always best to compare yourself, blindly and without bias.

I appreciate the feedback, Roland, really, I do.

Of all places on the web and in the “audiofool community” I thought, briefly, erroneously apparently, that ASR might, MIGHT be one place a novice could post and not be brow-beaten into submission by some techno-geek with an eidetic memory and little to no patience for anyone who would DARE not understand the intricacies and mysticism of the clear to anyone with half a brain world of digital sound.

Mostly I stick with tubes.

That and sticks, hollow logs, raw meat tossed on dying embers and a wife I drag by the hair into my cave from time to time.


I am SO tired of those ED and Peyronies’ disease carrot commercials; someone should have a site where people can ask open-ended questions about tech stuff and get honest, unbiased, less than arrogant condescension.

 

[Yuhasz01]

To the OP - what's wrong with the excellent Onkyo you are using as a temporary measure?

I prefer higher quality build and long term reliability. It plays fine..... for now. I use an optical cable connected to my RME Dac.

Previously, I have had cd players fail on me. One a sliding drawer mechanism(drawer failed), another slot mechanism(electronics failed).

[Not a top loader but, I am researching new TEAC PD-505T CD Transport ]

 

[40th Anniversary]

I wonder about that TEAC CD transport and how it would compare to my Cambridge CXC V2.