APL 3910, Exemplar 3910, MF KW, Esoteric X-01?

Within your price range and 2 channel only, I would recommend also including the new Ayre 5x Universal player on your auditioning list. I tried it only briefly within an unfamiliar set up but seemed very good indeed though I still prefer my EMM gear. I am considering a 2nd system and planning on comparing the Ayre vs Esoteric vs dCs P8i (though the DCS is more exp than I really want to spend on in this system) when I get the time...unfortunately where I live the APL and other modded players are not available. Happy hunting!

Smilin, why would APL 3910 not be in price range? I thought that even now with all the latest upgrades, like the AKM DAC board, price is c.ca 6K, which is less than most CDs mentioned in the original post.

Guidocorona,
Thanks so much for your input. I will be looking at the APL 3910 more closely.

I would listen to both,at the same time,(take dealer demo's home to compare to each other, i have done that and bought the esoteric OX-1,and the reason is because,this thing byfar made the best soundstage i have heard,and detail up the wasu,The MF KW-CACD,was a warmer player,but it could not compete with the esoteric,also the kw sacd player i used,had some problems,it took forever to find the next song,and when you load a disc it took forever to track it,horible machine!!,the TRI VISTA wasn't bad but it lacks top end due to the tubes, it rolled off the top, just listen and compare and then buy..

Michael.

I agree with Michael's suggestion. Take the units you seem to like best home for a spin if possible at all.
I personally adore the Teac Esoteric X-01, -- audio-only brother of the UX-1--which not having video output and no DVD support, has been optimized for redbook and SACD playback, and is equipped with 4 DAC chips per channel instead of the 2 per channel found in the UX-1.
Just a word of warning: X-01 and UX-1 do not sugar-coat nor caramelize the recording.
They will give you lots of information, in all its beauty, but also in a lot of its truth. If the recording were terrible, these machines will not hide it.
They will sound their best with revealing but tonally complete power chords like the Shuniata Anaconda VX and the Electraglide Epiphany. Power chords that exasperate treble or bass like the Kimber Palladium may make the X-01 sound unbalanced. To make an analogy, these are like Arabian horses: don't feed them hot chile peppers!