Sparkler Audio model S515t “ballade II” CD Transport

Stereophile March 2025

https://www.stereophile.com/content...ransport-beyerdynamic-dt-1990-pro-mkii-and-dt


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$1,575.00​

Standard Specifications​

  • Power Supply: Worldwide, depend on market (IEC 3 pin AC inlet), AC110~120V, AC220~240V (factory assembled)
  • Mechanism: Top loading mechanism
  • Disc Format: CD-DA, CD-DA format CD-R/CD-RW, CD layer of SA-CD (HD layer of SA-CD, HD-CD format is not supported)
  • Digital Output 1: coaxial (S/PDIF), isolated ground, 2.5 Vp-p / 75Ω
  • Digital Output 2: optical (TOSLINK)
  • Digital Output 3: AES/EBU (AE3, AES3-1992), isolated ground, XLR connector (male, 3p), 3.6Vp-p / 110Ω (balanced)
  • Operations: by remote controller
  • Playbacks: stop, play/pause, previous/next, fast reverse/forward playback (x10), timecode (elapsed/remain, track/disc), repeat (track/disc)
  • Other Operations: open/close top lid to load TOC, turn off/on LCD backlight
  • Main Unit: Size W264 × H62 × D172 mm - B5 notebook size, Weight 2.3 kg (without power cable)
  • Materials: Stainless steel, hairline finished.
  • Accessories: power cable for IEC 3 pin AC inlet, disc clamp, remote controller, userʹs manual
 

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Last edited:
I have been running CD's through the Sparkler transport for a week or so now, after years using an Oppo 95 as a transport. The Sparkler is a big change and big improvement from the Oppo's transport. Not just a little brighter and noticeably more detailed, but just a more real presentation of voices and instruments. My wife even noted "that new thing" was different and better on hearing the first CD I played, which is an unusual event around here. The rest of the system in this chain is a Wyred4Sound DAC2 DSD, ARC VSi75, and Joseph Audio Perspective 2 Graphenes.
 
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