Dedicated cdps that excel in vertical soundstaging

Phasecorrect, I will agree with you that CDP's can make a difference and had you asked for recommendations without the expression that "few add height" I think you might have gotten a few more responses on point, as opposed to the discourse on speakers & rooms. At least now you've defined what you were referring to perhaps you will. Personally, in that price range I'd look at something with tubes as having the potential to deliver what you're looking for.

Newbee, I am with you with the tubes cdp.

I never experienced a realistic soundstage until I added tubes into the system. A tubed CD player and tubed preamp does the trick. A tubed amp adds a touch more if you want to go "full tube". My experience is that any of the modified tube CD players will present a more 3D soundstage versus their solid state counterparts.

realistic soundstage? realistic imaging? I never quite understand that. the only way a soundstage can be judged as "realistic" is to have a recording of a live (acoustic) performance, and know exactly where all the muscians were playing on the stage. Seems to me, other than that, soundstage/imaging are as "realistic" as the sound engineer's mixing board....

Warrenh, I define realistic exactly as you have described it...listening to a
recording of an acoustic performance and being able to close one's eyes
and visualize the musicians placement on stage. Tubes have enabled
me to do this better than solid state.