C.E.C. belt-driven CD transport

[DocG]

Hi all,

I still play CDs regularly, and my 15 year old Rotel CDP does the job just fine. However, lately I noticed some noise, coming from the spinning disk (not sure if it's the disk itself, or the motor). It's not loud, but I can hear it during quiet passages. And now that I noticed it, I can't help listening for it more and more!

So I'm considering a new CD-player. Actually a transport with digital out is all I would need, because that's how it will be used anyway. But it needs to be quiet. Now yesterday, I bumped into a second hand CEC TL3 CD-player. It looks a little weird, somewhat similar to the Cyrus Lyric range (see picture).

These belt-driven CD-spinners are said to be very good (and pretty expensive when bought new). The TL3 on offer was designed by Ken Ishiwata. It is a complete CD-player (not merely a transport), with a non-oversampling DAC on board, but I would use the coax SPDIF out to feed it to my Devialet 120.

Anyone on the forum with personal experience of a similar device? How well would it stand the test of time (this particular unit is 20 years old)?

What do you think? Worth a gamble?

 

[ID.]

Only briefly heard a couple of their newer belt driven transports. Sounded great, but to be honest I had nothing to compare them to. It was just a brief listen out of interest as I passed through the store. Funky looks. I'm a bit of a fan of C.E.C. products, even their budget offerings, although they don't seem to make it out of Japan too much.

 

[drummerman]

I think it would only be worth 'a gamble' if you can still source spares ie. laser assembly and or transport and if the price is low.

It is easy to get misy eyed about these classics but if they go wrong (and they all will) ... you'll need spares.

regards

 

[matt49]

I guess there's less to wrong, as it seems to be a top-loader, but drummerman's point still stands.

Spares for some older models are widely available, but I wonder about this. Any way of finding out what the brand/model laser is? You could then check whether spares can be had.

Matt

 

[matthewpiano]

I'm replacing my RCD965BX with a Rega Apollo-R. A home demo quickly convinced me that the Rega is a substantial upgrade over the Rotel and I found its transport to be quiet and responsive (once you get used to giving the player time to initialise the disc). Lovely piece of kit with a gorgeous sound - a safer buy than something 20+ years old IMO, and Rega have good back-up supplies of spare parts too.

 

[Electro]

I would choose any Cd transport or player that uses the Philips Cd Pro 2 mechanism , it is considered to be the strongest and most reliable mechanism ever made .

They are widely available but quite expensive , a new bare mechanism with laser assembly is between £250 and £300 but it should last a lifetime so a second hand Cd player that uses this mech is a very good bet . They are found in many high end Cd players and also used in a lot of professional studio Cd players and professional Cd jukeboxes .

It is a top loading mech with a separate magnetic puck or clamp , the casing is die cast alloy and the laser lens is glass not cheap plasic like most laser mechs , they are completely silent in normal use .

My Electrocompaniet Cd player uses this mech and it has been in daily use for nearly twelve years !

 

[Macspur]

Hi Doc,

20 years is old by anyones standards, but if it's been fully serviced and it's not too much of a financial risk. it's worth considering, C.E.C is a quality make.

Mac

www.macsmusic.blogbubble.net

 

[DocG]

Thanks for all the thoughts and remarks so far, guys. It is really helpful to get a more objective view on the matter! It is a little weird to ditch a 15-year-old CDP and replace it with a 20-year-old one! I can see that clearer now...

First of all, there is another person, who responded first to the ad. He will have first choice (next Friday), and if he doesn't buy it, the seller will contact me. So my problem might be 'solved' by that other guy too, of course!

To summarize, if I get the chance, I will:

- try to get his asking price down

- ask about issues he's had and contingent services in the past

- ask around about spare parts for this particular model (I know a CEC-dealer in Antwerp)

I used the Apollo for several demos, in different shops, and it worked excellently, so that might be the more rational solution indeed; IIRC it loads rather slowly though...

But Electro got me thinking...

I couldn't spend thousands of euros on a new EMC1UP, good as it may be (or even more for a Copland, a Burmester or what have you), and those don't come around second-hand regularly either... Googling the CD Pro2 got me to this website though, where they offer a fully assembled, soldered and tested (Chinese) CD transport, based on a CD Pro 2LF mechanism, for less than 1000 EUR! Anyone heard of it? Anyone with experience or technical background, who can shed a light on that offer? It looks like my transport (but then again, that's what I thought when I first saw the CEC too... *scratch_one-s_head*).

Any thoughts greatfully received (as ever)...

 

[Electro]

I spotted the Aune transport when I was looking for a picture of the Cd Pro mech , it looks very well made with good components but I have no personal experience of it.

They make it in a kit version for those that are good with a soldering iron , they also make a version with an upgraded clock that might be worth investigating .

 

[Electro]

I don't know if you are still looking but this Musical Fidelity AI CD PRO player is going for a good price .

It uses the Phillips Cd pro 2 mechanism *smile*

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351193886522?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2661&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT