Al
I’m just not a fan of the whole company and their endless models and pricing structures so no desire to even hear it. Inakustik works for me just fine. The jump from the CDT2 Mk 3 to the CDT3 Mk3 is really pretty significant if you hear them side by side and for me the final CD player. Will be interesting to see when the “vaunted” Pro-Ject unit finally shows back up and at what price. Some dealers have back orders dating back to last August.
That pretty much sums it up for me regarding AQ. One local dealer pushes AQ pretty hard, have heard it and think it is fine, but it’s not for me.
Like a modern day Monster Cable.
Once Stealth Audio makes an HDMI cable I will be set.
There was only one Noel Lee, fortunately, the Monster in the cable line IMO. Noel Lee was known to be unduly litigious. I don’t see that in AQ. Still not a fan of AQ in their current form. Looking forward to the Stealth HDMI. It would be great if they’d put it out there just for “grins”. After all as an I2S it is a rather limited market.
The Dragon HDMI cable and anti static record brush is the only things I got from AQ. I don’t really care much for any of their other products. If Stealth or any other compony makes a better HDMI cable, I will get it. I care only for performance, companies not so much.
I’m more into streamers and servers than disc players. The sound quality of files has more potential, especially DSD 256. My Esoteric Streamer’s performance far exceed my PST, both using the AQ Dragon HDMI cable. Now with the new SR UEF Ethernet switch with the included SR Purple fuse, the performance has reach a plateau it has never reach before! I still use the PST, but not for as serious listening.
Vinyl still rule though.
Your not an Apple guy either! Lol
I second dawkinsj; doubt my CDT3 is fully broken in yet, but it is exceptionally smooth, organic, natural, noise-free, and lacking in artifacts; black background, and I am getting oodles of micro dynamics at all listening levels. Bass is still shaping up. Al sent me his bone clamp - thanks Al : ) - too early to say for sure, and maybe this is in my head, but transients may have became a tad cleaner; in fact, everything may have cleaned up a bit. I continue to love how the CD lid slides back - precise and heavy duty. Had a few days working at home in my den, with music playing all day; no fatigue, none, even after 10+ hours. Still using with a Metrum Pavane L3 - this dac has never sounded better. In short, I am digging’ this 48 lb machine! Happy listening : )
You matter!
You must be special to get the clamp made from unicorn horns. Enjoy!
That Metrum Pavane L3 is a nice bit of kit, being an R2R NOS DAC. Great to learn the Jay’s is a good partner with it. Time to reconsider a bone clamp…
I own the Jays Audio CDT2Mk3 and I read the 6moons review of the Jays Audio CDT3Mk3. What intrigued me is that the reviewer stated that it sounded identical to the Denafrips Avatar CDTransport, which sells for ~$1,500. I therefore decided to purchase a Denafrips Avatar (which is no longer being manufactured) from a grey market seller and it sounds better than my Jays Audio CDT2Mk3, which makes it a great buy! I have therefore purchased another one as a spare unit.
Wow the CDT3-MK3 is expensive! I have the Jay’s Audio CDT2-MK3 and the PS Audio SACD player and I was thinking about selling the Jay’s but… it has so little mileage, I didn’t want to take the hit when I sell it. Now with these rave reviews for the CDT3, I’m getting curious… but I don’t NEED IT! Why did I come to read what people are saying about the CDT3???
… and there is a problem with three transports? 
Having tried the Jay’s CDT2 Mk3 I am smitten and considering the addition of a CDT3 Mk3 down the road. Need to let the release dust settle a bit before I add one. Now for a Bone Clamp.
Bone clamp = must have! Just kidding sort of. Spinning a very familiar CD with the recently added isoacoustics feet and bone clamp on the Jay’s CDT2-Mk3 and have never heard digital playback sound so textured and “analog”. Very curious about the CDT3 but this setup is truly magnificent. Could live with this long term but as a true audiophile mental case there’s always that wondering. Oh dear!
You can purchase a Denafrips Avatar for $1,500, which may be as good as the Jay Audio CD3TMk3 (according to Srajan Ebaen of 6 moons).
Interestingly, the bone clamp improved the sound when I use it with my Jays Audio CD2TMk3, but not when I use it with my Denafrips Avatar.
Umm… I will respectfully disagree with the review here… I have/had Avatar and CDT2 as well for awhile. I sold several Avatar in fact. I still have the CDT2.
T
Agree the Avatar’s not the equal of the CDT2 Mk3 and the CDT3 Mk3 is in another league altogether. Pretty obvious from the review that all Srajen was interested in was the DAC and had to do a cursory review of the CDT3 as they were sent to him as a package deal. The review of the same two items in High Fidelity was just the opposite raves on the CDT3 and non committal on the DAC. The review in EAR magazine is the most complete and thorough. Also good luck contacting Alvin about those bootleg Avatar’s as that won’t go well. Same with any other US tech finding parts.
You wrote-: “Pretty obvious from the review that all Srajen was interested in was the DAC and had to do a cursory review of the CDT3 as they were sent to him as a package deal.”
I disagree! He carefully prepared a lot of tracks to compare the two CD-transports, and he could not distinguish one from the other.
You may subjectively believe that the Avatar is not the equal of the Jays Audio CD2TMk3, and like me, you are entitled to your personal opinion.
Yes we are both entitled to our own opinion but I’m also not encouraging people to buy Gray Market/bootleg products from unauthorized sellers in China with no hopes of support or parts replacement.