I've had cases where ripping cd's using EAC sometimes creates these parts in song where it disrupts, like crumpling up tin foil for a about half a second. It almost always happens in the first track.

I love my Sony xa5400es but I understand its flaws as:

1) There is no DSD (SACD) output via optical/coax/HDMI possibility for a outboard DAC other than expensive/un-necessary Sony receivers.  Output through the digital methods is purely PCM redbook only.
2) The analog output is subject to the limitations of the CDP's internal DAC which was revealed some time ago to be nowhere near the level the marketing literature would suggest it should be
3) The XLR output is not a true balanced output; but rather an afterthought in the player and likely on par or maybe worse than the RCA output.

Admittedly I have not gauged its performance of the xa5400es against the cheaper vintage CDP's I own but I am afraid it seems that its value as a transport is likely equal to any other decent CDP.  Is this a poor conclusion?  What am I missing?

Anyone heard of this one? Seems interesting. Not a CD transport, but plays all music via SD card; it's basically a computer designed specifically for audio play back.

The vital aspect of single threaded software framework is running different programs one by one in serial processing mode, and audio program is on the highest priority level. Anytime if the audio playback program calls for reading and decoding audio files on the SD card, the audio playback program overrides all other programs in running for the call right away. Once the audio data length decoded from the audio files reached a set point, this data segment then is sent to the I2S buffer automatically with overriding all other microprocessor commands. The microcomputer system reserves 200%more of the normal audio playback program running time from system for sending the audio data segment to the I2S buffer according to the precise calculation by our engineers. In order to providing enough time resource for audio playback program some other functions such as remote control are kept out from the main microprocessor, and carried by other independent chips. The whole process therefore providing a significant improvement in reducing jitters and streaming music data flow accuracy.

http://www.qlshifi.com/en/wzcapi/qa660.htm

My hard drive broke on my laptop with all my music on it so I started listening to my CDs through the optical output on my PS3 straight to my DAC.  I was surprised by how good it sounded compared to the USB output from my laptop.  Went back and tested it against an old laptop I have.  I preferred the beat up old PS3.  Better soundstage and depth compared with USB.  I am not sure if this is just the limitations of my laptop to DAC setup (using JRIVER) via the USB connection.  I knew that there were a bunch of you who still had CD transports so I went back to read this thread.

I am torn between between getting a CD transport (~$500?) or going for an OR5 and perhaps a more dedicated music server.  Maybe I am just annoyed at my hard drive right now but buying a cheapish transport and modding seems like a pretty good idea, at least as a backup.  I am thinking that getting an OR5 may be pointless if I am going to be using a laptop and surfing the web while using the laptop to listen to music anyway.  From a convenience point of view computer's are excellent, but price to performance ratio seems pretty killer for transports.  I can't help but feel I would be better off saving my OR5 money for a better DAC instead of messing around with the USB implementation if a CD transport can provide similar sound quality at the price of convenience.  Any thoughts or suggestions on which transports to look for?