I need to talk about this beautiful cd transport. I have it connected with ST Fiber optical to a Genesis Digital Lens, which in turn is connected with ST Fiber optical to my Theta Gen V-A. At the moment i have Klipsch RP-280 speakers. I listen to mostly rock music, but also hardcore, metal, EDM etc. There is also Adele for my girlfriend ;) For 18 months i was trying to get the Klipsch's to sing. But it didn't fly. Finally after buying this Transport (PS Audio Lambda SE) i was there. Every EDM (audiophile) fan should listen to Amon Tobin. This Brazillian dj is crazy. Listen to his album (ISAM) is like an adventure. You never know what's coming next. Audio Galore. I know this album reasonable well. But listening to this album again was like nothing else. Decays, Soundstage, The pure speed of the music was elevated in such a level. My first thought was 'Klipsch are really awesome speakers" and finally i was happy and audio Nirvana.

I'm still discovering music as i go. But the album Legends of Bob Marley is a classic. This album sound absolutely stunning. You know if it sounds good when your girlfriend is bobing her head along with the music. With for example Fear Factory (Demanufacture) i was in awe. I never knew this album was so "clean". Yet again i'm speechless. I sit transfixed on my couch. I have seen this band numerous times. So i know how they sound live. But with my previous player. The Linn Unidisk SC the sound was always, tame or too bright. As a result i often had listening fatigue..... This is now reduced to a minimal. I know could easily live with this set-up.... Who would have thought, i didn't.

The build quality of the PS Audio is very good. The metal on top and the side is very heavy. Also the lit is damped for RFI with Bitumen. The philips CDM9 Pro is fantastic!! My unit was in new condition from a fellow Audiophile :) I first played with SPDIF, than with AES EBU. Big difference in sound. But then i started playing with a chain of ST Fiber optical (at&t). Wow..... speechless. Remote control works perfectly, the CD transports is very fast. No waiting times :)

This is a true gem from the not so distant past. Don't look at the original price for the level of quality. This is the real deal. Even in 2016 when CD players are obsolete (i don't think so). With the right equipment, you can be in audiophile Nirvana. I'm dreaming about buying cd's...... Not equipment anymore ;) And you know how cheap cd's are 2nd hand. I'm definitely not selling this item, ever.

Threshold T3
Threshold SA 30/S
PS Audio Lamda SE
Genesis Digital Lens
Theta Gen V- A
Klipsch RP-280F
Cardas Audio Crosslink 1s
Oyaide PA 02TR
StarTech fiber optic cable
Belden DIY
Weber Maurer DIY

I used this CD-transport LAMBDA TWO >SPECIAL< for several years. I can only say it is a stunning transport. I have the combo with a Threshold DAC-2 that have the UltraAnalog Chips 2 pieces ! balanced symetric build!! Also PS Audio have stunning DACS; the UltraLink II and the SuperLink Three with that amazing UltraAnalogs and HDCD chip. This Combo with LAMBDA sounds really amazing with a clarity and open stage, stunning bass and a wide performance. I hear the voice of Brian Ferry with his ballads singing; unbelievable pure and true music!! Any importance are the use of quality cables. I use Kimber Select and WireWorld Gold. The weakness in high-end are always the cheapness of connections. The high qualified LAMBDA and DAC Threshold needs also a matching qualified cable. I heard a lot of transports with DAC's or players, I must say the LAMBDA sound in skyhigh levels. A bad thing are the gearwheel of the CDM 9Pro. But that's a thing of Philips. The CDM-9PRO are used in the extremely expensive transport/players on the world as Forsell, Frontiers, Theta, Spectral and some qualified high-enders. It's a amazing transport with lens. If you change the gearwheel for a new with also a new belt you will enjoy again for next ten years. If I make the evedence with a turntable you should also outchanche the belt for new and oiled the gear. So it's all up the time and the frequence by use you play with your music-equipment-chain.

No one has commented for 7 years. Well, I have a surprise concerning the PSAudio Lambda transport. It really isn't very good at all stock. Replace the dime sore diodes with some great quality Shottky diodes and watch the highs come in. The native Lambda is very good at detail retrieval. but is very dark sounding. The diode switch makes it world class, even in 2009. I paid just $200 for this fabulous transport. It is an integral part of my Apogee Scintilla system wonder.

Detailed, heavy, punchy transport that never seems to "get in the way"

Cruddy remote.

This transport was my first “transport only” cd player. I bought it with the PS Audio SL Three DAC and am amazed that this unit did not get more critical acclaim. I lent it to a friend with a Conrad Johnson CD-1 for a weekend and the result was him looking for a new transport. I’d always thought that the DAC was the more important of the two pieces, but was very surprised at the difference that a good transport can make. At the time I acquired this, I was using a Rega Planet and doing an “A/B” test between the Planet and Lambda reveled some really remarkable differences. The Lambda Two is very punchy and detailed. Never overwhelming. My only wish is for a little nicer remote. Maybe something more indicative of a $2,000 transport. I’ve read a few people had problems with the mechanics of this unit, and I hope it is not a problem. I think this is one piece of equipment that won’t get “upgraded” any time soon.

Similar Products Used:

Rega Planet

BASS

GAY LORD FOCKER FROM ,,MEETING THE PERENTS

'i now run the ps audio with trichord clock three runnig off battery lovely soundig transport workS well with audio synthesis dacs. STEVE HAS LOADS OF GOOD DEALS, EMAIL ME FOR IS TELEPHONE NUBER, HE TRULY IS HIGHEND HE SWAPS AND PART EX AND HE CHOKES IT TO GIVE YOU A GOOD DEAL

Similar Products Used:

NAD FAD GLAD TO BE OF SERVICE.

Looks and balanced sound

Alghough this unit has been out of production for a couple of years, I was fortunate to find a new in sealed box sample for $600 ($2200 retail)with the optional outputs. The unit is connected to a new Cal Audio Sigma II (24K/96bit) DAC with a Harmonic Tech Copper coax. This combo replaces my trusty Pioneer PD65 Elite (which has served me well). As surprisingly good as the Pioneer sounded, I must admit that this new combo is in another level of sonic accuracy. The instruments are more 3-D, more air, more realistic sound stage...more like a good direct to disc analog recording. I'm very happy with the synergism.

Similar Products Used:

Cal Audio Delta

High frequency smoothness; deep, profound bass; clearly defines complex and "busy" musical passages; Good "punch" to percussion; clean soundstaging. Great customer service and parts availability from PS Audio.

Doesn't play SACD's

I recently took my Lambda to a high-end dealer to audition some of the new-generation DACs. Although the PS Audio Ultralink DAC may not be up to par with the newer DACs, the Lambda CD drive is still "up there" with the best. While auditioning the $3000 plus Parasound AVC-2500u, I compared this unit's DAC with input from the Lambda and a well broke-in Sony SCD-777ES. To my surprise, the Lambda sounded readily better than the Sony, playing 16-bit CD's--the bass was better defined and sharpness of detail was greater (the Sony sounded a tiny bit "blurry" but still quite good). When we switched the Sony over to SACD mode and played some Super Audio Compact Discs, the Sony clearly and powerfully showed the SACD format's superiority.

After listening to the Sony play SACD's and then switching back to regular CD mode, the music actually sounded terrible in comparison. However, after then going back to the Lambda, the same music was fresh and engaging again.

One of the things I have listened for over the years is the sound of well-recored cymbals. On the Lambda, the snap, tone and fade are outstanding. The true test though, is this: Do they sound like BRASS? Many good systems will reproduce bright and powerful cymbal crashes, but they don't quite sound like brass--more like a tin alloy or stainless steel. On the lambda, they sound like pure and natural brass. Brushes, high-hats, drums, all sound great and each occupies a definite place in the soundstage. The Lambda projects exceptional three-dimensionality.

Like another reviewer, the drive mechanism on my Lambda failed after a couple of years. The problem was a nylon drive gear that cost $15 to replace. You don't have to replace the whole drive mechanism if the gear breaks, for goodness sakes! Anyway, with a good look at the gear, it was easy to determine what caused it to fail: the gear being forced to stop and reverse itself before completing its run on a nylon track to open or close the CD tray. Since then, I have been careful to allow the tray to completely open or completely close before altering the mechanism's motion. The mechanism has worked flawlessly ever since. So it may be said that with proper care, there is no real flaw in the drive mechanism, which is actually quite substantial and smooth-operating.

In my system, the analog signal goes from the DAC through a pair of ladder attenuators into a Sonic Frontiers SFS-80 tube amp. It sounds sweet, oh, so sweet. It's dynamic, like the real musicians are in the room with me. I rate the Lambda 5-stars, because as a transport for 16-bit CD's, the unit truly is a giant killer, and in the used market I think it probably will clobber anything new in the $500 to $1000 price range.

Similar Products Used:

Denon PCM, Sony SCD-777ES

Produces good sound.

Uses discontinued Philips transport that it absolute garbage.

This transport sounds great until the transport fails. PS Audio was still in business when my first unit failed. They gave me a mechanical replacement free of charge. Less than two years later, the Philips transport of the second unit failed. I replaced it at a cost of $325(US).

Then it failed. By this time, the transport was out of production and unavailable. My Lamda was then a worthless piece of junk.

WARNING: Do not buy one of these on the used market.

Similar Products Used:

Proceed CDP