Systemic Development > Digital Audio Devices

Jay’s Audio CDT2-MK2 CD Transport and DAC-2 Signature and RCA vs BNC vs I2S

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dpatters:
This will be my personal opinion of the transport, dac, and the connection/cable used. I am not by any means a regular reviewer of equipment. There are many professional reviews online. Jay’s Audio is a Chinese Company distributed by Vinshine Audio in Singapore. Alvin Chee of Vinshine provides some of the best customer service I have received in this business. Shipping was less than a week to my home in Central Pennsylvania.

My goal was to get the best sound from my CD collection within my budget constraints. Transports from Esoteric or Aqua Acoustics were out of my consideration due to cost. The CDT2 at 2500.00 and the DAC-2 at 3,000.00 fit my my cost requirement. I received the transport about 4 months ago and it replaced a Woo Audio WTP-1 dedicated transport. I put it in my system along with my Border Patrol DAC SE and was a little stunned by the improvement. I had expected some difference but not what I was hearing. Just better across the board. I just wanted to get through as many CDs as I could. The vinyl rig got a real rest for a few weeks. I then ordered the DAC which I received a couple of weeks ago. Definite improvement over the Border Patrol when connected with the coax/RCA with Acoustic Zen Absolute MC2 cable, but not as large of a leap than the transport had made. I then inserted Empirical Audio cable using the BNC connection. I can’t really say there was much difference between the two as they were extremely close. I then received HDMI cable from P.I. Dave. Now we were really cooking. I much preferred this connection over the other two. It was immediately discernible. I am extremely satisfied with the sound I’m getting from the shiny discs at this point. I also want to mention that I did try the oversampling filters but prefer the dac in NOS mode. The other point I want to bring up is the build quality of the units. Solid aluminum casing and really nice looking in my rack. Also hefty at 35 lbs each. A shout out to Dave for the HDMI cable. I was glad to be your beta tester. I think you have another winner. 

rollo:
 Yes Sir that dedicated transport using I2S connection is just better.  Enjoy !!

charles

P.I.:

--- Quote from: dpatters on September 21, 2020, 05:57:01 AM ---This will be my personal opinion of the transport, dac, and the connection/cable used. I am not by any means a regular reviewer of equipment. There are many professional reviews online. Jay’s Audio is a Chinese Company distributed by Vinshine Audio in Singapore. Alvin Chee of Vinshine provides some of the best customer service I have received in this business. Shipping was less than a week to my home in Central Pennsylvania.

My goal was to get the best sound from my CD collection within my budget constraints. Transports from Esoteric or Aqua Acoustics were out of my consideration due to cost. The CDT2 at 2500.00 and the DAC-2 at 3,000.00 fit my my cost requirement. I received the transport about 4 months ago and it replaced a Woo Audio WTP-1 dedicated transport. I put it in my system along with my Border Patrol DAC SE and was a little stunned by the improvement. I had expected some difference but not what I was hearing. Just better across the board. I just wanted to get through as many CDs as I could. The vinyl rig got a real rest for a few weeks. I then ordered the DAC which I received a couple of weeks ago. Definite improvement over the Border Patrol when connected with the coax/RCA with Acoustic Zen Absolute MC2 cable, but not as large of a leap than the transport had made. I then inserted Empirical Audio cable using the BNC connection. I can’t really say there was much difference between the two as they were extremely close. I then received HDMI cable from P.I. Dave. Now we were really cooking. I much preferred this connection over the other two. It was immediately discernible. I am extremely satisfied with the sound I’m getting from the shiny discs at this point. I also want to mention that I did try the oversampling filters but prefer the dac in NOS mode. The other point I want to bring up is the build quality of the units. Solid aluminum casing and really nice looking in my rack. Also hefty at 35 lbs each. A shout out to Dave for the HDMI cable. I was glad to be your beta tester. I think you have another winner.

--- End quote ---
Don, nice review of the digital system as a whole.  I'm ghlad the Jay's Audio gear has upped your digital appreciation.

Thanks for the kind words about the HDMI cable.  It is an improvement visually with the Direct TV to flatscreen.  Blacks are definitely blacker and the contrast is cleaner... not sharper necessarily, but more consistent.  That is the only way I have to judge HDMI cables, so your opinion is appreciated, as always.

I'm trying to figure out ferule covers for the connector ends that meet my design criteria and isn't too clunky looking.  I'm not satisfied by the heat shrink being the only protection.  Keep me posted on the continuing break in so I'll know how long that period is. 

Thanks again!   :thumb:

Nick B:

--- Quote from: dpatters on September 21, 2020, 05:57:01 AM ---This will be my personal opinion of the transport, dac, and the connection/cable used. I am not by any means a regular reviewer of equipment. There are many professional reviews online. Jay’s Audio is a Chinese Company distributed by Vinshine Audio in Singapore. Alvin Chee of Vinshine provides some of the best customer service I have received in this business. Shipping was less than a week to my home in Central Pennsylvania.

My goal was to get the best sound from my CD collection within my budget constraints. Transports from Esoteric or Aqua Acoustics were out of my consideration due to cost. The CDT2 at 2500.00 and the DAC-2 at 3,000.00 fit my my cost requirement. I received the transport about 4 months ago and it replaced a Woo Audio WTP-1 dedicated transport. I put it in my system along with my Border Patrol DAC SE and was a little stunned by the improvement. I had expected some difference but not what I was hearing. Just better across the board. I just wanted to get through as many CDs as I could. The vinyl rig got a real rest for a few weeks. I then ordered the DAC which I received a couple of weeks ago. Definite improvement over the Border Patrol when connected with the coax/RCA with Acoustic Zen Absolute MC2 cable, but not as large of a leap than the transport had made. I then inserted Empirical Audio cable using the BNC connection. I can’t really say there was much difference between the two as they were extremely close. I then received HDMI cable from P.I. Dave. Now we were really cooking. I much preferred this connection over the other two. It was immediately discernible. I am extremely satisfied with the sound I’m getting from the shiny discs at this point. I also want to mention that I did try the oversampling filters but prefer the dac in NOS mode. The other point I want to bring up is the build quality of the units. Solid aluminum casing and really nice looking in my rack. Also hefty at 35 lbs each. A shout out to Dave for the HDMI cable. I was glad to be your beta tester. I think you have another winner.

--- End quote ---

Thanks for the review. Looked at the Jay’s Audio site and was very impressed. Interesting also that they’re doing power supply modifications. As to Dave’s products, they’re always a winner 👍🎶🎶

P.I.:

--- Quote from: Nick B on September 21, 2020, 10:46:21 AM ---
Thanks for the review. Looked at the Jay’s Audio site and was very impressed. Interesting also that they’re doing power supply modifications. As to Dave’s products, they’re always a winner 👍🎶🎶

--- End quote ---

Thanks, Nick! :)

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