# What transport (not PS Audio) do y'all use with I2S-enabled PS Audio DACs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Transports\ **Created:** [June 19, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547 "2020-06-19T13:54:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chazz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/chazz/32/22326_2.png) [@chazz](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/chazz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/1 "2020-06-19T13:54:54Z")
My PWT has begun to abend more often (and I suspect that the disc is often NOT the problem). My PWT also seems to have gotten louder when successfully playing some discs. (Growling almost - the listening chair is maybe 2 feet away, which doesn’t help, of course.) No disc players in the product line now, either. Personal note: $2k is probably the limit that I would spend on a transport/disc player. My DAC is the PWD, mk II, so I am interested in a player to mate with my PWDII via I2S. But I would also consider other disc players with great bang-for-buck that lack an I2S connection. What are y’all using to spin CDs, etc., these days (non PS Audio gear) that might work well for me? Good advice will be much appreciated. Cheers, Chaz ---
**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:** [June 19, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/2 "2020-06-19T14:04:51Z")
I’m not sure there is another disc transport except PS Audio’s discontinuted ones that will transport via HDMI/I2S. In one system I use an AudioLab. 6000CDT to feed a DAC via coaxial and it is an excellent Redbook transport. ---
**Author:** ![rajugsw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/rajugsw/32/16086_2.png) [@rajugsw](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/rajugsw)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 2:16pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/3 "2020-06-19T14:16:14Z")
Sony UBP-X100ES with HDMI Video -----\> I2S boards feeding a PS Audio DirectStream DAC Sr. It’s that simple. Caveat, for Surround SACD’s only, you need a Sony AVR and will be stuck with it’s “adequate” True DSD DAC’s. FOr PCM Surround/DVD-Audio, the DSSr. will playback the L & R discreet channels no problem, you AVR’s DAC will have to do the rest. For 2 Channel SACD’s, the HDMI board strips away all the Video crap and leaves the I2S intact to feed to the compatible DAC. Oppo owners are doing the same thing. > [@It Works ! - Sony UBP-X1000ES HDMI "Audio" output to Chinese I2S Adapter Board to DS Sr. I2S Input](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/it-works-sony-ubp-x1000es-hdmi-audio-output-to-chinese-i2s-adapter-board-to-ds-sr-i2s-input/15630): > > Ordered this from China, and with a high current 5VDC Power Supply I had laying in box, sweeter audio quality was easily audible. Separating the CLK/Data signals is definitely the best way to listen to Digital Audio. Temporarily had to remove the S/PDIF (RCA) cable because the I2S PCB has a direct male to male HDMI adapter connecting it to the Sony Universal Player. An Optical cable is connected temporarily until I does some careful RCA 75Ω 90° Plumbing to get around the I2S PCB. The Dual HDMI o… and here : > [@Getting Oppo DSD Output to the Direct Stream Dac](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/getting-oppo-dsd-output-to-the-direct-stream-dac/2744/351): > > Looks a little better, Eh nazo2771 ? I wont need to USB ——\> I2S since I access all my PC Music Server files PCM via my Sony Ethernet connected UBP-X1000ES. The DSD files are on USB memory sticks plugged into both my Sony AVR & Sony Transport and are accessible via DLNA (Ethernet). As you mentioned. The Blue Boards I2S Out is DSD only and the Green Boards I2S Out is for PCM only. Coax S/PDIF still need for 5.1 PCM files. There is a newer version of the board that supposedly doesn’t require the blue board. A friend of mine received the new board even though it’s still advertised as the old board. I installed the blue board and it did the correct channel reversal. No mention form the Forum members if the new board correctly does the channel correction now. Just speculation until someone comments. There is a resistor that needed to be removed on the old green boards and I removed it on the new green boards. Don’t know if that was the wrong thing to do but the SACD output works going into the DSSr. using the blue board. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/4 "2020-06-19T14:26:53Z")
Jay’s It’s a gorgeous thing that works flawlessly. > **[CDT2-MK2 | Jays Audio](https://www.jays-audio.com/product-page/cdt2-mk2)** > > Available to ship in 10-14days. ---
**Author:** ![spacedghost](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/spacedghost/32/173182_2.png) [@spacedghost](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/spacedghost)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/5 "2020-06-19T14:26:53Z")
Ive had my eye on Jays-Audio CDT2-MK2 transport. Has I2s, and I believe someone on the forum confirmed that the will set the pin out to match. Pretty close to your budget and gets really good reviews. Ron beat me to it. 😀 Shaun ---
**Author:** ![chazz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/chazz/32/22326_2.png) [@chazz](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/chazz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/6 "2020-06-19T14:52:29Z")
Joe, Thanks for the generous reply, but, to me, what you describe is anything but simple. I’m looking for a one-box solution to the fact that PS Audio’s PWT is becoming suboptimal in my system and the company seems not to have an alternative to market right now. Thanks again, Chaz ---
**Author:** ![gazjam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@gazjam](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/gazjam)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/7 "2020-06-19T16:01:45Z")
Heavily modded Oppo 203 with i2s board connected to DS Dac i2s input. Apollo AV silver plated HDMI 0.5m cable. Details here: [https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?56087-Hey-guess-what-I�m-about-to-do-Major-Oppo-mods](https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?56087-Hey-guess-what-I%92m-about-to-do-Major-Oppo-mods) ---
**Author:** ![joma0711](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/joma0711/32/277666_2.png) [@joma0711](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/joma0711)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/8 "2020-06-19T16:04:46Z")
Does that board only work with that particular Sony player, or Sony Blu-ray players in general? I will Google later but I’m eating right now (my mother would not have been impressed at typing and eating!) ---
**Author:** ![Elk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/elk/32/1240_2.png) [@Elk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Elk)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 4:07pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/9 "2020-06-19T16:07:13Z")
From your description you need only replace the disk drive in the PWT. ---
**Author:** ![chazz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/chazz/32/22326_2.png) [@chazz](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/chazz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 4:34pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/10 "2020-06-19T16:34:38Z")
Lonson, Thank you for the kind suggestion, which appears to be right up my alley. Best to you, Chaz ---
**Author:** ![chazz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/chazz/32/22326_2.png) [@chazz](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/chazz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/11 "2020-06-19T16:36:11Z")
Elk, Thank you for taking time to reply. Do you have a general idea of the cost of replacing the PWT’s drive? (I’m assuming that would be done at the mothership in Boulder. . . .) Thanks again, Chaz ---
**Author:** ![chazz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/chazz/32/22326_2.png) [@chazz](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/chazz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/12 "2020-06-19T16:41:19Z")
Lonson, Also meant to thank you in my previous reply - I meant HDMI connex (not I2S), although perhaps they are related? I must’ve been flashing back to my Audio Alchemy digital setup, which was I2S, IIRC (never a given these days!). Thanks again, Chaz For the record, I’m not wedded to HDMI connex for my digital rig. I’m also incapable of complicated solutions . . . I’m a one-box guy as far as a transport/disk player goes. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/13 "2020-06-19T16:52:37Z")
It’s been a long time since I tried the HDMI/I2S and the coaxial on a PWT or other transport into the PWD MK2. I no longer have either, but a DMP and DSD. When Ted noted that he tried hard to make every input the same on the DSD I tried different inputs (HDMI, coaxial, AES/EBU) and have to admit. . .there is very little discernable difference between them. It may well be that coaxial into the PWD MK2 will sound nearly identical to HDMI, or that a really good coaxial cable will make differences insubstantial. ---
**Author:** ![rajugsw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/rajugsw/32/16086_2.png) [@rajugsw](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/rajugsw)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/14 "2020-06-19T19:13:40Z")
Any Sony BluRay player that’s SACD playback compatible will work. ---
**Author:** ![joma0711](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/joma0711/32/277666_2.png) [@joma0711](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/joma0711)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/15 "2020-06-19T19:15:23Z")
Maybe I should look into this then 🙂 I now have a grand total of 4 SACDs, but the tech interests me anyway ---
**Author:** ![chazz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/chazz/32/22326_2.png) [@chazz](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/chazz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/16 "2020-06-19T19:20:02Z")
Thanks more fine information, Lonson. That background is a help toward my becoming connex agnostic. It occurs to me (duh) that my backup disc spinner (my attic setup!) is an early/modest Oppo, the 970hd, which has an HDMI port in back. I wonder . . .? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/17 "2020-06-19T19:22:53Z")
+1 on the Jays-Audio CDT2-MK2. When you order tell them you are going to use it with the PS Audio DSD and it will come plug and play ready for use with i2s. Plus it sounds amazing and is built like a brick… ---
**Author:** ![chazz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/chazz/32/22326_2.png) [@chazz](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/chazz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/18 "2020-06-19T19:36:32Z")
If I owned the DSD, I probably would feel no pain ordering the Jay’s equipment that plenty of folks in this thread have all but ordered for me. I appreciate the nudging. (However, $2k is not $2.5k and even $2k is a stretch . . . for my sense of self-indulgence as well as my finances!) Note: My DAC is the earlier and more plebeian PWD (albeit, a Mk II). ---
**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:** [June 19, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/19 "2020-06-19T19:53:49Z")
Chazz, that Oppo will likely be a very good transport using the coaxial output or the optical but the HDMI will be a standard audio/video HDMI output and not the protocol that PS Audo uses to transmit data via I2S, so the HDMI won’t work in this instance with the PWD MK2. But give it a try with the other outputs, it may surprise you how well it sounds. ---
**Author:** ![dawkinsj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@dawkinsj](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dawkinsj)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547/20 "2020-06-19T20:18:30Z")
The Nuprime disc spinners transmit via I2S to the PSA DAC’s. [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/what-transport-not-ps-audio-do-yall-use-with-i2s-enabled-ps-audio-dacs/17547.md?page=2)