CD / SACD players and transports — Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T

Pro-Ject Audio Systems placed the CD Box RS2 T, a top-loader that reads only Red Book CD-DA discs, in the RS range of its Box Design series, and it outputs only digital data, leaving conversion to an outboard DAC. Pro-Ject says it developed the model because good Red Book players had become rare. The drive is a customised CD-Pro 8 mechanism made by StreamUnlimited, a company formed largely from the former Philips CD development department, and Michael Jirousek of StreamUnlimited helped with the project, which was developed jointly with Pro-Ject. The UK list price was GBP 2,199, and the model is no longer available in the UK.

Key specs that matter

Four digital outputs are provided - AES3 balanced on XLR, optical Toslink and coaxial RCA S/PDIF, plus I2S with master clock on an HDMI socket. The mechanism pairs a SANYO HD850 optical pickup with a CD-84 servo board. An outboard 20 V supply rated at 3000 mA works from 100 to 240 V mains at 50 or 60 Hz, consumption is 600 mA DC and standby draw is under 0.5 W. The chassis measures 206 x 78 x 200 mm, or 210 mm deep with sockets, and weighs 3000 g without the supply. It came in silver or black.

Engineering and use context

Loading means lifting the lid, setting the CD on the spindle and fitting a magnetic clamp made of a new aluminium alloy, which holds the disc for steady rotation. The drive has an aluminium chassis with a carbon fibre cover and a carbon fibre platter, while the turntable itself is lathed from chrome-plated steel. Its suspension combines a rigid carbon fibre plate, carbon fibre tubes, springs, silicone dampers and screws, and the dampers mount on that plate before the whole assembly is fixed firmly to the main body. Pro-Ject calls the layout a gravity design with a central mass point intended to lower resonance. Pro-Ject machines the outer case from one solid aluminium billet. The I2S link carries data and clock on separate lines, which some DACs accept as an alternative to S/PDIF. An LCD shows time, track number and CD text, and an aluminium infrared remote powered by a CR2032 or CR2025 cell is included.

Pairing

A DAC with an I2S input on HDMI can use the dedicated link, provided its pin assignment matches, while the XLR, coaxial and optical sockets serve every other converter.

Alternatives

The Pro-Ject CD Box DS2 T is a slot-loading CD transport with optical, coaxial and AES/EBU outputs in a lighter chassis.