Cambridge CXC v2 CD Transport
A dedicated CD transport that hands the hard part off to your DAC.
The player is often the weakest link
Most all-in-one CD players cram the disc drive and the digital-to-analogue conversion into one box built to a price. The conversion stage is where a lot of the sound is won or lost, and it's usually the corner that gets cut. If you already own a good DAC, or an amplifier with digital inputs, you're paying for a converter you'll never use and letting a compromised one shape your music.
Why we recommend the CXC v2
The CXC v2 does one job and does it properly. It reads the disc and sends a clean digital signal out, then gets out of the way. There's no built-in DAC by design, so all of Cambridge's engineering goes into accurate, low-jitter disc reading through the single-speed S3 servo mechanism. Coaxial S/PDIF and optical TOSLINK outputs let you feed the DAC or amplifier you already trust, whether that's a Cambridge CXA amp or a standalone converter.
What the specs won't tell you
Your DAC finally gets a clean feed. Reading discs at single speed, with a dedicated servo, keeps errors and timing jitter low. That gives your converter accurate data to work with, which shows up as a wider, more organic soundstage and cleaner detail.
An upgrade path that respects what you own. Because the CXC v2 has no converter of its own, it never becomes the bottleneck. Change your DAC or amplifier later and the transport keeps delivering, so the money you spend here stays useful for years.
Quiet, confident everyday use. The disc mechanism runs smoothly and quietly, tracks reliably, and handles CD-Rs without fuss. Drop a disc in and it simply works.
What the reviewers heard
What Hi-Fi named the CXC v2 its Best Budget CD Transport for 2024, describing an organic, fluid interplay between instruments that can get lost on lesser players, punchy and agile with ample detail across a wide, spacious soundstage. It's the update to a design that has held five-star status since its launch, and reviewers agree it still sets the standard in its class.
The Audio Two verdict
This is the transport we recommend when you already have a good DAC or an amplifier with digital inputs and want to get the most out of your discs. Pair it with a Cambridge CXA amp or any quality converter and it delivers clean, detailed, musical CD playback for well under what a comparable all-in-one player costs. If sound quality is the priority and you've got the DAC to match, the CXC v2 is an easy call.
"There's a real musicality here that can get lost on lesser players, punchy and agile with ample detail in a wide, spacious soundstage." — What Hi-Fi?
Tech you can hear
| What You Hear | Why It Happens |
| A wide, organic soundstage | Low-jitter single-speed S3 servo transport |
| Cleaner detail than all-in-one players | No internal DAC, so the disc reading is the sole focus |
| Works with the DAC or amp you already own | Coaxial S/PDIF and optical TOSLINK digital outputs |
| An upgrade path that lasts | Transport-only design never becomes the bottleneck |
| Quiet, reliable operation | Smooth servo mechanism, CD-R compatible |
Technical highlights
- Dedicated CD transport, no internal DAC by design
- Single-speed S3 servo transport mechanism for low read errors
- Digital outputs: coaxial S/PDIF and optical TOSLINK
- Disc support: CD, CD-R, CD-RW (no MP3, WMA, or SACD)
- Pairs naturally with Cambridge CXA amplifiers or any quality DAC
- What Hi-Fi Best Budget CD Transport 2024
Why choose Audio Two
Audio Two ships across Canada. If you don't have access to a proper high-end dealer in your city, this is your way in, real expertise from people who've heard the system, matched the electronics, and can guide you through a decision this size.