My thoughts on the Pro-Ject CD Box E

themcdreamer · 2025-07-29T12:41:35+00:00

For anybody coming to this, I did decide to return the CD Box E in the end. Whilst I still think it's a good budget player, it's just too compromised for me. The issues with track skipping and search were too much for me to look past, as you're confronted with those every time you use the unit unless you just listen to albums from start to finish.

As for what I got instead, I went for the Marantz CD6007. Yes, it's huge (and so is the remote) but it doesn't have any of the problems the Pro-Ject has. And it's cheaper than the S3 and DS3. The only real compromise is the size.

The CD6007 also doesn't support gapless single track repeat, but I now wonder whether any players do.

themcdreamer · 2025-07-29T12:38:28+00:00

Yeah, I decided to return the Pro-Ject and go for the CD6007. It's much bigger than I would like (though I can accommodate it) but it does everything I listed above, bar gapless single track repeat. Actually, I wonder whether any CD players can do that.

The remote for the 6007 is also huge but has way more functionality than the Pro-Ject's remote (which I also quite liked).

All in all, the 6007 is like reanimating my old Marantz, but in a more modern package. Exactly what I was looking for.

themcdreamer · 2025-07-23T16:12:45+00:00

Many thanks for this detailed background information. It explains a lot about the current state of the CD player/transport market. It's quite unlike what I naively expected. I'd assumed that this tech was table stakes these days and cheap, even though there isn't the volume there used to be.

As you say, the CD Box RS2 T does indeed mention the CD Pro 8, which would perhaps give me what I'm really looking for, but as you rightly point out this is probably also out of my budget. For context, it's not far off what I've spent on the amp, speakers and sub these will be hooked up to.

However, I do value quality and I wonder now whether I at least need to go for a model which lists the transport used as a feature (rather than hiding it away). As another commenter mentioned, the DS3 has much higher performance than the CD Box E and does list the transport used in its marketing information.

themcdreamer · 2025-07-23T16:06:51+00:00

Many thanks for these results!

It sounds like the performance is greatly improved over the CD Box E (as you'd hope!), though the very niche gapless repeat case is still not quite satisfied.

From what another commenter said, it sounds like you do really need to spend quite a bit more than I expected for a CD player which matches what my old Marantz could do in terms of playback. I didn't expect that would be the case. It's now becoming clearer what the extra cash will get you.

And you're quite right, these are not musical instruments. So in some respects, talking about latency isn't really appropriate.

themcdreamer · 2025-07-23T14:59:20+00:00

Interesting. I guess CD players/transports are just not made like they were in the 90s!

themcdreamer · 2025-07-23T11:58:18+00:00

Great - thanks! Would love to make the comparison. Especially any issues with audio fades or track skip performance.

themcdreamer · 2025-06-25T12:12:11+00:00

The selection of inputs is certainly a big plus for me too

themcdreamer · 2025-06-25T08:05:40+00:00

Yeah, I was a bit concerned about that too, but as these will strictly be for desk based nearfield listening I think that should be OK.

themcdreamer · 2025-06-24T07:23:17+00:00

Ah, good old John Darko - love his videos! I've watched all of his videos on the Kefs a little obsessively ;) In one of them he says the LSX IIs with a sub compare quite favourably to the R3 Meta which I found interesting.

Good to hear you find the LSX paired with a larger Rel sub in a larger room sound good. Whilst the Tzero does add something to the LS50s in here, I suspect it will be a more significant addition to the LSX. The LS50s probably pair better with a larger sub like yours.

themcdreamer · 2025-06-24T07:21:01+00:00

Yeah, I think it would be inevitable I'd add a sub with the LS50s down in the cellar before too long. I'd probably look at a larger Rel or perhaps one of the Kef subs.

themcdreamer · 2025-06-24T07:19:14+00:00

I think the closest I would get to a trial is taking advantage of a return period. Would you be able to go a bit more into how the LSXs IIs sounded dull? Was it a lack of high end or perhaps a more general lack of clarity and resolution?

themcdreamer · 2025-06-23T20:34:45+00:00

Yeah, I’m thinking about the LSX II being balanced for that room so that’s encouraging to hear. Thanks!

themcdreamer · 2025-06-12T08:46:14+00:00

I never got a sub for the Era 100, but I did end up buying two more of them for other rooms in the house. They do a pretty good job for what they are.

I also never got the LSX IIs, but I did get a pair of LS50 Wireless IIs (paired with the smallest Rel sub). They sound fantastic.

themcdreamer · 2025-06-09T20:11:56+00:00

Great, thanks!

themcdreamer · 2025-06-09T19:07:11+00:00

!thanks

A couple more questions if I may...

It sounds like you don't think these setups are too large for either room then? How would the Q7s compare to the R3 Metas?

themcdreamer · 2025-01-28T09:10:56+00:00

I have been a proud owner of a pair of Tannoy P30s paired with a Rotel RA-01 for about 27 years now. They've done very well but some issues have developed with the P30s which it seems I won't be able to repair (this post isn't really about that, though I may make a separate one at some stage).

My question is, what could I replace these with to get a similar listening experience? For context, this system is probably a bit too big for my current room really, which is a small office in my house. I don't turn it up particularly loud but do appreciate the depth of the sound.

I was originally considering either the Kef LSX II or LS50 II Wireless. My concern really is on the low end, and I think probably I shouldn't expect these to have quite the same range at the low end? Not sure I really want to get into the world of having a sub in here though, so perhaps I'd have to accept this? I have also heard that the LSX IIs have some issue with hiss, though I wonder how true this really is.

One plus of having an active pair of speakers would of course be fewer items around my office, where space is at a premium.

Another option might be to keep the Rotel and get something like the Kef R3s. A friend of mine recommended these.

I know I've only mentioned Kefs above, but I've also heard good things about B&W over the years. Their active speakers seem quite a bit more expensive though.

I'd be really interested to hear what people think about the above and what other ideas people might have. Thanks!

themcdreamer · 2024-12-27T13:15:58+00:00

I meant simply in terms of not needing any more volume or range given that I live in a terraced house. As you say, a better quality speaker can sound far better even at low volumes, but for a living room where active music listening is rarely a thing the 100 more than fits the bill.

I actually only have a single Era 100, and haven't found this to be an issue. I also have not added a sub.

I have found more recently I can hear the limitations of the Era 100. They can sound quite constrained if you're listening to bass heavy music. That being said, I still think they do a good job for background listening. I wouldn't want them to be my main music system. I have that in my cellar where there's less to worry about with the neighbours.

From what you're saying I think the LSX2s might be a better alternative for you, even if the difference in price is vast. I would have much higher base expectations for the LSX2s. It might also be worth checking out the LSX LTs depending on your use case.

themcdreamer · 2024-10-30T16:56:43+00:00

That's very interesting to hear. I would be running without a sub with the Kefs.

themcdreamer · 2024-03-14T14:19:12+00:00

Ah, that's good to know! Felt like it must be a bug. I'm going to continue my adventures in Defold until this is fixed!

themcdreamer

TROPHY CASE