I suggest you consider a Sony DVP-S7700 as it makes an excellent CD transport as well as a damned good DVD player. The secret is it has a dedicated laser pickup for the CD and another for the DVD. Stock it is very good; with minor mods (clock upgrade mostly) better.
Used about 250 w/box. You have to spend a lot more to improve on this. As for DACs it is hard to beat the entry level Audio Note DAC 1x and 1x Signature for very good and listenable sound. A new Audio Note 1x Dac is 1500; the Signature version is 2000. I just bought the used DAC 1x Signature Mk II posted on audiogon. I used an original DAC 1 Signature for ten years with no problems and it sounded very good; only moved it along to get some money out of it before it became too old and became worth almost nothing.
If you want a nice sounding CD player and don't care about being able to play CDR discs (this one will only do store bought discs) look no further than a CEC TL51 cd player; about 1600 new. Their tl51x transport goes for just under 1300.
Used about 250 w/box. You have to spend a lot more to improve on this. As for DACs it is hard to beat the entry level Audio Note DAC 1x and 1x Signature for very good and listenable sound. A new Audio Note 1x Dac is 1500; the Signature version is 2000. I just bought the used DAC 1x Signature Mk II posted on audiogon. I used an original DAC 1 Signature for ten years with no problems and it sounded very good; only moved it along to get some money out of it before it became too old and became worth almost nothing.
If you want a nice sounding CD player and don't care about being able to play CDR discs (this one will only do store bought discs) look no further than a CEC TL51 cd player; about 1600 new. Their tl51x transport goes for just under 1300.