Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T silver from Demo

Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T silver from Demo

The next generation of ultimate CD transport

Pro-Ject has always made products and investments that weren't particularly mainstream. When everyone jumped on the CD trend, we started with turntables! Now that everyone is starting streaming, we're investing in a new revolutionary CD player.
We believe in listening to music consciously, and there are also many people who deeply share this feeling with us. Much like analog records, people want to have the physical medium in their hands. And the same goes for the CD! Most of us will still put the majority of our CDs on a hard drive or store them in the basement, as was the case with our analog records. But many want to keep their best CDs and have a proper CD player for them. Very good quality, but not too expensive.
Current RedBook CD players have become rare, true high-end mechanisms no longer exist. Today we know that the precision of the drive is essential to read a CD correctly. Due to the mechanics in many CD players, CDs often cannot be read accurately, so audio interpolation and sound degradation can occur. The CD medium may have gained an unfavorable reputation as a result, so it's time to re-establish perfect, top-of-the-line CD transport.

Emphasis on transport: this is important because many already have a very good DAC, so we don't need to add a DAC, raising the cost. So we focused on making the best CD transport possible.
We are originally from Vienna and we are lucky that Philips had a development department here. Many CD players and mechanisms were developed here. The gentlemen who were involved in this epoch-making invention are still active in the StreamUnlimited company. We are proud that the pope of the CD player today - Mr. Michael Jirousek - was involved in the development of this ultimate CD player.
The CD-Box RS2 T is the latest development in our series of ultimate top loading CD transporters, based on the StreamUnlimited CD mechanism CD-Pro 8 and the servo system CD-84. With the RS2 T CD box, you can play standard RedBook audio CDs perfectly.
With the CD Pro-8, the servo system is integrated directly into the aluminum chassis. The entire chassis is suspended from a proprietary anti-vibration system that allows us to control the level of external vibration reaching the inside of the unit. The CD mechanism is stabilized and secured, regardless of external influences.

Vibration dampers are mounted on the very rigid carbon fiber chassis, which isolates the CD loader from the outside. In addition, the entire chassis is firmly connected to the housing of the CD Box RS2 T. Such a design gives the whole system excellent rigidity and at the same time excellent isolation from the whole spectrum of vibrations acting from the outside. The CD mechanism has an improved clamp made of a new aluminium alloy. It is perfectly balanced and ensures perfect contact between the disc and the drive. This results in smooth rotation and perfect reading of the disc.

With the optical and coaxial S / PDIF outputs, you can connect your favorite high-end DAC. The AES / EBU digital output via XLR goes a step further than the quality of optical or coaxial signals, and the CD Box RS2 T offers the ultimate I²S + master clock output via HDMI. This standard provides the perfect digital connection, and is the ideal solution to bypass the limitations imposed by other forms of digital audio connections. This makes it the perfect companion for our Pre Box RS2, which takes full advantage of this digital transmission standard. The output options ensure that the care and attention associated with the CD drive design is not wasted.

The omission of built-in converter and pre-amplifier electronics ensures that these parts do not interfere with perfect CD reading functions and allow the use of high-end DACs.

Pro-Ject is the first manufacturer to use the new high-tech CD-Pro 8 drive with the Blue Tiger CD-84 servo card. The drive, chassis, suspension and servo board are new designs and offer unprecedented CD performance at this price.

The solid chassis can never misalign or deform at high temperatures. The gears for the carriage run on precision steel axles. The chassis is machined to the highest accuracy from a solid block of aluminum. This is important for transportation and ensures that it will last a lifetime.

The suspension system consists of a rigid carbon fiber plate, carbon fiber tubing, springs, silicone dampers and screws. The suspension, lid and turntable are made of 100% real carbon.

The CD Box RS2 T has advanced, high-precision, new mechanical features to read out a bit-perfect data stream.
The rugged chassis and electronics surrounding this drive carry the perfect signal jitter-free to its multitude of outputs. We can proudly say that it is the best CD transport ever and the perfect partner for so many premium DACs currently available.
The RS2 T CD box is available in a precision-engineered, beautiful and elegant aluminum enclosure in silver or black. A classy remote control, also completely housed in aluminium, is included.

Features

• Top-loader CD drive
• Aluminium CD clamp
• Supports CD Audio, CD-R, CD-RW, Hybrid SACD
• Blue Tiger CD-Pro 8 module with suspension system and CD-84 servo board
• I²S + Masterclock via HDMI connection
• LCD display shows time, track, CD text (if available)
• Gravity design with central ground point
• Aluminium remote control included
• High-quality and noble full aluminum housing, available in silver or black

Specifications
Supports CD, CD-R, CD-RW (finalized) and Hybrid-SACD
Digital outputs
AES3 1 x balanced (AES/EBU) XLR
S/PDIF 1 x optical (TOSlink®) 1 x coaxial (RCA)
I2S + Master Clock 1 x HDMI
External power supply 20V/3000mA DC; 100 - 240V, 50/60Hz
Power consumption 600mA DC, < 0.5W in standby
Spare batteries for remote control 1 x CR2032 / 3V or 1 x CR2025 / 3V
Dimensions W x H x D (D with sockets) 206 x 78 x 200 (210)mm
Weight 3.000g without power supply