I watched the video on transports by the Steve the Audiophiliac. He was reviewing the TEAC CD transport with a Tambaqui DAC. He did say he preferred the Jays Audio CDT 2 over the TEAC I’m not surprised the Jays is built like a tank and has been bettered by the Jay’s CDT 3 as mentioned earlier. I have the oppo 203 Steve mentioned when I was running a complete PS Audio system including DAC I was able to compare the PST, Jay’s MK2, and Oppo 203. My Oppo 203 has the full Oppomod.com modifications the other two transports were stock. In my comparisons the PST sounded the best with SACD over my modded oppo but it was very close. With Redbook I would give the advantage to the PST again but it was super close between all three. I guess your question for yourself is how good is your current DAC? If it’s a Tambaqui like Steve then a transport makes sense. If I were shopping the three I just mentioned I’d find the best deal on the preowned market. The Jays and PST can be found for $2500 or less and the Oppo is a video player that isn’t worth the time do to its supply and demand cost. A Jays’s CDT 3 recently sold at TMR for $3200. If you are looking for a decent entry level DAC you can’t go wrong with a MK1 DSD.
I made the jump to the PS Audio MKll DAC in January of this year and I couldn’t be happier. Steve’s video was what prompted this thread in the first place and his contention that the Teac made a difference kind of was counter to what I believed was true. It might be a good transport but I doubt it’s in PST territory. Certainly not in the same price bracket. I think, all considered, he may have ventured a bit into snake oil territory on that one. But, what do I know, I haven’t heard it.
The PST makes the most sense for you imo. If SACD doesn’t interest you I’d look for a Jays CDT2 the Redbook performance was so close i chose the PST due to the performance being close but it will also play SACD. If there is no interest in SACD I’d look for a deal on a Jays CDT3 which from what I’ve heard betters the PST in CD playback.
Correct. DMP good, PST better, Jay’s CD3 best, if you do not have SACD layer.
My experience as well, and the Jay’s CDT-2 Mk3 fits in there nicely as well. IME the Jay’s is the more reliable transport, and sonically equivalent to the PST for red book playback.
Avoiding the upgraditis bug is the best way to enjoy what you currently own. Even those who own rigs in the upper stratosphere range can come down with a bad case of upgraditis, which can rob you from enjoying what you presently own. Hard to enjoy the music when you’re constantly focused on the next best thing.
Got to admit I’m curious to hear what my MKll could do with SACDs. Right or wrong I would choose the PST over the Jays simply because it’s from an American company. Though I believe I have read posts here that PS Audio has been unable to repair earlier generations of their transports due to unavailability of parts.
Those opinions have merit. My PST worked flawlessly. Would not have the Jay’s if my DAC accepted I2s.
The PST is made in China. It is nowhere near the build quality of the Jay’s. It does do SACD though. As I said, when I owned it I never tried that. I didn’t have a PS Audio DAC in my system at the time. But all the reviewers here said it was stunning with Redbook CDs. I found that to be an exaggeration at best. The Jay’s Audio CDT3 is the choice I would make in that price range.
Sadly, Oppo is no longer in the silver disc player business. Weird.
Look at this review to see the Jay’s inside. It is absolute Audio Porn!
PS Audio has a 30 day return policy so give it a go. Return shipping is on the buyer, and be certain to pay attention to PSA’s return policy fine print. It is likely I would still have a PST here, however it was not meant to be. My NIB PST didn’t survive a long weekend’s 72 hour burn in and took out my DSD Mk I DAC in the process. AA most unfortunate situation. Some here report problem free experience with the PST, some note quirks and return it or out it on the used market.
I believe it is untrue that the PST is “made in China.” I believe this company statement is still true:
PS Audio is still led by Paul McGowan and owned by the McGowan family, and continues to grow, year after year. Products are proudly designed in the same Boulder , Colorado, facility where all premier PS products are built. All PS products are available directly from the factory with a 30-day money-back guarantee—just as they were at the company’s beginning in 1973.
Yours was certainly a very unfortunate experience. The only real issues I had with the PST was a cd stuck in the transport, which PS Audio took care of for me gratis. I find the SACD (and Redbook) playback in tandem with the DSD Mk II to be the best audio playback I’ve ever had in my home. That was why I kept it past the trial period, and haven’t regretted that decision. It replaced the DMP which was the “apex predator” beforehand.
The only part that is not built in Boulder from the PST is the Marantz transport, which may be from Japan. The DMP’s Oppo transport is from China.
Good to know.
On page 11,019 of the MK2 thread it was clearly stated that I would think it’s made in China. So there!
I stand corrected. But luckily, so far, you can’t think things into reality. I rue that day!
Stealth cables for all!
I hadn’t played CDs in a few days and tonight you inspired me to turn my PST back on.
Need to say it sounds really nice! Really really nice indeed!
Even without SACD, nice!
I’m comparing a few songs between PST and Streaming. There are differences but I can’t say one is better than the other. Just not the same sound. More strength and impact from CDs. More lifelike and realism from Qobuz.
Both of them really pleasant indeed! Big smile on my face.
I have reached the same conclusion SACD has a more meat-on-bone impact, but streaming is more lifelike and pleasant to listen to.
I cannot wait to see what my future Grimm MU2 can do (hopefully before Christmas, and there is a delay in production already), but PST/DS 2 will feed into its analog pre so it will be interesting to find out.