# PST or Jays CDT3 Mk3? **URL:** \ **Category:** Audio Components\ **Created:** [November 18, 2024, 11:17am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996 "2024-11-18T11:17:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/21 "2024-12-22T18:26:28Z")
Someone here (Kurt?) upgraded from a CDT2 to CDT3 and I think he found the improvements noticeable but not dramatic. But it was long ago and my memory is…my memory. I look forward to your opinions because I’m going to buy one or the other and as you know, the other is twice the price. ---
**Author:** ![lonson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/lonson/32/249792_2.png) [@lonson](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/lonson)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/22 "2024-12-22T18:32:27Z")
Personally SACD sounds really really good in my system through the Mk II (and modded Mk I) so I’m glad to have the PS Audio transport(s). I’ve not heard the Jay’s but I have no need to with a PST, and a DMP. And they have been reliable for me. ---
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/23 "2024-12-22T19:02:29Z")
BTW—Yesterday I listened to a Luxman CD/SACD player. It sounded really nice. But the thing that I couldn’t get over was the drawer. Even with my ear just inches away, I could hear no sound when it opened and closed. ---
**Author:** ![mark-d](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/mark-d/32/20_2.png) [@mark-d](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mark-d)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/24 "2024-12-22T19:07:00Z")
Ron…didn’t you already own a Jays in the past? ---
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 7:16pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/25 "2024-12-22T19:16:06Z")
I had a CD2 MK2. But I sold it thinking that I needed SACDs. I was wrong. The thing I most remember about the Jays was that it felt like I could throw it out the window and it would still play. ---
**Author:** ![lonson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/lonson/32/249792_2.png) [@lonson](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/lonson)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 7:28pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/26 "2024-12-22T19:28:17Z")
Interesting. I’d rather have SACDs than vinyl to be honest. Sounds better overall to me–due to my system, and I can’t afford to make vinyl sound better. ---
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/27 "2024-12-22T19:48:27Z")
For reasons I can’t explain, I was never impressed with SACD. As Confucius once said “sawzeech hizown”. ---
**Author:** ![lonson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/lonson/32/249792_2.png) [@lonson](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/lonson)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 7:51pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/28 "2024-12-22T19:51:44Z")
That’s cool. I scratch my head over vinyl worship these days, especially at the price of new vinyl. I can’t afford 20,000 plus vinyl playback price point, which is the price point I heard that impressed me as maybe being better than digital. I guess I’m just not destined to be one of those aging hipster doofuses. ---
**Author:** ![mitchb105](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@mitchb105](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mitchb105)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/29 "2024-12-22T20:01:32Z")
I must confess. I have 4 sacd’s out of thousands of regular discs and the sacd’s I have sound not that good. That said I need the front mechanism cd drawer as opposed to top load cd mechanism which would not work for me in my current setup. The PST sounds good though. I had the PWT previous to the PST and the PST is an improvement. I would consider the bigger Jay’s if logistics and finances permitted. ---
**Author:** ![mark-d](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/mark-d/32/20_2.png) [@mark-d](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mark-d)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/30 "2024-12-22T20:10:11Z")
I was not much of a sacd guy either. Just never floated my audiophile boat. 🤷🏻‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![kcleveland123](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/kcleveland123/32/45645_2.png) [@kcleveland123](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/kcleveland123)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/31 "2024-12-22T20:14:57Z")
I will add that the Jay’s CDT3-3 is the best digital reproduction I’ve heard at least through the Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC. I did own a highly modded PSA Mk 1 DS DAC that was a crazy good value. Never heard the PST so can’t comment or compare. If SACD is not planned I’d lean toward the Jay’s. The build quality is outstanding and both my CDT2-3 and the new unit have performed flawlessly. Jay’s support had also been excellent. I guess the reference to the PS Audio DAC is somewhat irrelevant. Anyway Jay’s stuff is great and my experience with their sales channels and support has been great. ---
**Author:** ![aangen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/aangen/32/295709_2.png) [@aangen](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/aangen)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/32 "2024-12-22T21:59:37Z")
I had a PST and a CDT2-MK3 for a time. For Redbook playback there was little if any difference. SACD I never tried as I am an aging hipster who lives to spend thousands on vinyl. I will say that listening to Redbook on the PST or Jay’s rated a 5 and on the Gryphon Ethos an easy 11. It would stun you at how much more info the Ethos pulls out if the same pits. Almost as good as the vinyl. Almost. Hip hip Hipster Al. ---
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 11:56pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/33 "2024-12-22T23:56:08Z")
> [@kcleveland123](#): > > I did own a highly modded PSA Mk 1 [DS DAC](https://www.psaudio.com/products/directstream-dac/) that was a crazy good value It plays every day! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/34 "2024-12-23T00:09:06Z")
> [@aangen](#): > > Gryphon Ethos Aint’ it like $40 grand??? One has to really really really really really really really really really really really really really like cds. Really. ---
**Author:** ![mark-d](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/mark-d/32/20_2.png) [@mark-d](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mark-d)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 12:18am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/35 "2024-12-23T00:18:14Z")
The CDT2-MK3 is not a CDT3-MK3…But at the price of admission for the Ethos it damn well better be at the top of the heap! 🥴 ---
**Author:** ![aangen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/aangen/32/295709_2.png) [@aangen](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/aangen)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 1:12am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/36 "2024-12-23T01:12:21Z")
It is $40k. Much less than a hip turntable. ---
**Author:** ![aangen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/aangen/32/295709_2.png) [@aangen](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/aangen)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 1:13am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/37 "2024-12-23T01:13:29Z")
I love the CDT3. Total Audio Porn. Sadly, an also ran. ---
**Author:** ![adifferentpaul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/adifferentpaul/32/282181_2.png) [@adifferentpaul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/adifferentpaul)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 2:02am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/38 "2024-12-23T02:02:21Z")
> [@RonP](#): > > One has to really really really really really really really really really really really really really like cds. Really. Really? ---
**Author:** ![adifferentpaul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/adifferentpaul/32/282181_2.png) [@adifferentpaul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/adifferentpaul)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 2:03am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/39 "2024-12-23T02:03:27Z")
I think it really is, really ---
**Author:** ![paul172](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/paul172/32/308402_2.png) [@paul172](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/paul172)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996/40 "2024-12-23T02:22:46Z")
The Ethos is better described as a DAC that comes with a disc spinner as a bonus. It is possibly the greatest CD player ever. Lol I’m bias. But it’s also has a fantastic DAC! @aangen has a wealth of DAC’s @ his DAC Shack so his Ethos only spins CD’s. My Ethos is a do it all for my digital front end the MU1 runs thru it and it sounds spectacular. Gryphon is not known for their DAC’s but the Ethos has the best DAC Gryphon makes. So if you look at it as a high end DAC instead of a CD player it’s a bargain compared to some options from MSB and DCS that require a separate CD transport. I compared the SACD playback of the PST to the Redbook layer on the ethos with the same discs and there was no contest of which sounded better. I don’t need SACD anymore and I understand why Gryphon feels the same way. [Previous page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pst-or-jays-cdt3-mk3/39996.md?page=3)