Jays Audio CDT3 MKIII and DAC-2 MKIII Evaluate.
By Steve Huff
My Video Evaluate…
I’ve additionally invested in my streaming entrance finish with a really good streamer and DAC and I’ve to say, it sounds mighty good. Higher than I keep in mind my outdated CD’s sounding. With this comfort and high quality, why would I must retailer hundreds of CD’s in my residence after I can simply stream? That’s precisely what my thought was and why I bought my huge CD assortment a few years in the past.
Jays Audio CDT-3 MKII Extraordinarily Good Construct and Model
Anytime prior to now after I would go to play a CD they’d sound somewhat flat to me. Then once more, I by no means did actually spend money on a prime tier fancy audiophile CD transport. I did at one time check out a $3500 excessive finish model title CD participant (was their starter participant) that I believed was over rated and that did nothing to vary my thoughts about streaming vs CD.
I returned it inside per week and determined at the moment to stay with streaming. It additionally developed a skipping drawback within the first week of use. It was irritating to say the least.
Enter the Jays Audio CDT3 MKII and DAC-2 MKIII
This can be a two punch knockout combo that features the transport which spins the discs and am R2R DAC that decodes the content material of them. A two half overbuilt tank like duo that certainly appears the half. These are a number of the finest constructed items I’ve encountered in audio, and if I can say so, they’re constructed a lot nicer than many “made within the USA” merchandise I’ve examined.
Identical to the cellphone or pill or laptop computer you might be studying this on, these items are made in China.
I’ll first speak in regards to the transport as to me, that is the actual star of the present.
Jays Audio CDT 3 MKII Design Spotlight:
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Jay’s Audio Tuned CDPRO2-LF Mechanism
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Schurter IEC Inlet
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Improved Noise Filter with 110v/230v switching
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Talema Encapsulated Transformers
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Multistage Tremendous Regulator with Boutique Grade Caps
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Neutrik XLR
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Oven Managed Crystal Oscillator OCXO
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i2s LVDS Output
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Scientific Digital Output Isolation Transformer
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Native/Upsampling 44.1kHz / 176.4kHz Configurable by way of Toggle Swap
Supported Codecs:
The Construct
The construct is clear, makes use of excessive finish elements and it actually looks like these two items would final by means of the following World Warfare (which can certainly be coming quickly to a rustic close to you).
These look like true finish sport items on your CD playback and whereas there are costlier transports and gamers on the market costing properly into the 5 figures, this one is available in at underneath $5k.
I’d by no means ever spend $20k or extra on a CD transport or participant except I had 20,000 CD’s and that was all I listened to day in and day trip. Even so, if I did have 20,000 CD’s I’d in all probability save critical money and go along with the Jays Audio CD2 MKII as it’s fairly astonishing all the best way round. No hype right here as I’ve zero motive to hype something.
Simply To Be Clear…
I get no money, no income and no commissions from any audio firm. I wouldn’t have audio firms that publicize with me and don’t have any financial motive in any respect to hype any product.
I write about merchandise that are available which are worthy of my time to write down about. Not that my time is that particular, however I’d not sit round writing a evaluate for hours or days on finish if I didn’t like a product. I’m not right here to bash something or any model, however I’ll give reward after I really feel it’s worthy.
These Jay’s Audio merchandise are worthy of some very excessive reward and never just for the appears, construct high quality and magnificence however for the efficiency as properly.
I’ve blown a variety of money in my lifetime on audio as a result of it has been a ardour and typically obsession of mine since I used to be a child.
I keep in mind taking part in Corridor & Oates on an multi function file participant that will make a Crosley multi function sound like excessive finish HiFi. I had the “One on One” single again within the day on 45 and it was on common rotation.
I’ve made errors with audio purchases all through my journey and I’ve made some nice scores as properly. At this stage in life I’ve discovered when and when to not make the leap on one thing, and I’ve additionally discovered how one can discover offers after I can.
Deal or No Deal?
Some will say that $5k for a transport isn’t any deal. Nicely, it is probably not a deal however it’s not overpriced in todays world of loopy HiFi pricing. With the Jays Audio items you do in reality get what you pay for.
I really feel this piece is priced completely for what it presents in todays excessive finish audio world. It’s not a snob piece, that means it’s not one thing that value $4k to place collectively and is being bought for $25k. This appears each inch of $5,000 and whenever you go to raise it, you’ll perceive what I imply. Whenever you look inside, you will note the standard and very good design.
Whenever you gaze over the machine you’ll discover it makes use of the most effective laser ever identified to man for dependable efficiency (Jay’s Audio Tuned Philips CDPro2-LF Mechanism). You’ll notice it will and will final you for probably the remainder of your life. It might simply be the final CD playback system you’ll ever want to purchase.
The laser used on this piece is not made, however because it is likely one of the finest there’s, Jay’s Audio have hoarded a whole lot of them simply in case a future restore is required. That’s fairly cool.
I’ve had CD gamers from a sure USA model that value me $3500 and lasted solely months till the skipping began or the failure to learn a CD began. I’ve had client priced CD gamers from Sony, Phillips, Teac, Onkyo that additionally failed and whereas these had been client fashions priced to be inexpensive, they had been typically noisy, janky and had points.
I as soon as had a pleasant $5k Yamaha CD participant that was very good and sounded very good, nevertheless it had a DAC within it that turned outdated slightly shortly because it was made in a time when DAC’s had been continually being improved.
At present Yamaha sells a CD participant that is available in any $7,000. Sure, that is the place we’re in excessive finish audio as we speak. Whereas it’s a tremendous participant certainly in appears and sound, it’s $7k and isn’t as sturdy because the Jay’s.
The Transport
Proudly owning a CD Transport is an excellent concept when you have a pleasant CD assortment that you just hearken to typically. With a transport you possibly can change out the DAC anytime you want however the transport will at all times be with you. It’s the transport that’s liable for the ever so vital digital bits to be despatched to the DAC with as little hurt as attainable (Jitter, and so on).
This Gryphon CD participant is $39,000
I’m glad to report that in my time with the Jay’s Audio CDT3 MKIII it gave me not one single challenge. It was silent as a mouse and at all times did what it was imagined to do. It additionally sounded…properly…higher than any CD playback I’ve ever heard in my residence when paired with the companion DAC. It’s beautiful on this regard.
The Jays Audio DAC 2 MKIII
Whereas one can use any DAC of their selecting the brand new DAC 2 MKIII was made to go along with the CDT3 MKIII. They go collectively so properly, it’s like peanut butter and jelly or like bacon with eggs.
Whereas I examined the CD Transport with my DCS Lina DAC there was certainly a synergy there with the Jays DAC. The sound was virtually alive, electrical, and had an vitality about it. The readability was very good and the bass and fluidity was one thing particular as properly.
Actually, it made my CD’s sound slightly superb. There have been discs I heard a thousand instances nevertheless it was prefer it was the primary time. There was nothing about it that was flat, sterile or digital sounding.
This DAC isn’t a heat one slightly it’s about element, instrument separation and a fluid presentation. Sure, I do know these phrases like “fluid” are laborious to know for some however the music simply flowed like water out of a model new kink free hose on a sunny summer time day. That is additionally an R2R dac however doesn’t have the often heat and laid again presentation that a few of them have.
I used to be jamming out to rock, steel, jazz, bluegrass, ambient and every kind of music (I like ALL music) and it was connecting with me.
I then sat and regretted promoting most of my CD assortment two years in the past earlier than our transfer. I began to appreciate there was one thing particular about it aside from the construct, the sound, the appears.
It took me again in time to 1986 after I would hearken to CD after CD in my room whereas I hid away from the world as a clumsy teenager. Which will sound like a detrimental, hiding away, nevertheless it was my selection. I had pals however on most nights I most popular to take a seat and hearken to music. I’d lay in mattress after loading a CD and hearken to it in its entirety. I’d then stand up and cargo one other.
I did this not less than 4 nights per week and I liked it. Listening to the Jay’s Audio combo at night time had me going again to that point when life was peaceable, life was easy, and life was totally different.
Like Vinyl, it’s virtually like a ritual and typically that is good.
The CDT MKIII additionally comes with a stable steel distant that you possibly can use to defend your self if want be. Every thing right here appears to be of you high quality and whereas I can’t converse to the longevity for years to come back I can inform you it seems that it’s going to final for many years.
I liked this skilled and if I nonetheless had all of my CD’s this could be my CD resolution inside my reference system. You could get 5% extra by spending 5X extra however the query at that time could be…why?
MORE INFO
Take a look at the Jays Audio CDT3 MKIII and DAC2 MKIII: https://www.jays-audio.com
US Vendor: https://www.tekaudiospecialties.com
Worldwide: https://www.beatechnik.com/store
