Recommendations for CD Player/DAC Combo

I would say buy just the DAC. and as mahler 123 mentioned , go for dedicated DAC and spinner separates.
And stick to used CD spinners for the spinner. I bought an expensive SACD/DAC but really to 'save' the built in spinner and use cheap spinners I bought used. Schiit Yggdrasil is under your price point, plus money for a spinner. And a cheaper used spinner, you will not be crying as much if it breaks. Unlike the current typical five years out no parts no fix for 99% of all CD players (including big buck ones) anyway. Oddly there ARE some old players that just never quit. Unlike most of their counterparts.

Why would anyone buy an expensive CD player and just use the dac portion with a cheap player.?  It’s like buying a Corvette and putting retread tires on it.  I have an 8.5K Esoteric SACD Player which I use daily and wouldn’t think of attaching a cheap player to it.  Of course Esoteric builds their own transports was Which in my case is the VRDS NEO transport and they don’t wear out.  To each his/ her own but you are defeating the purpose of superior sound.  What are you saving the transport for and when do you feel it will be ok to use if ever?

Like Liz I use a cheap spinner(s) plugged into my Marantz' DAC. The reason is simple - My system operates all day but I only listen to it critically for a few hours in the evening. Why burn up a built in spinner for 'background' music? It has two inputs - one I use for a 6 CD player and one for a 1 CD player. Works for me.

Agree with newbee. those are exactly the reasons. BTW the cheap changers I use sound pretty good. You just have to find the right ones that sound good via digital out. Who cares what they sound like analog out.I am retired and listen to music all day every day.. using up $40 changers (which btw last for many years ,even running all day every day) is a no brainer. Plus I can load five discs and play for hours... And like newbee, I also have a separate single disc player via SPDIF when I want that.

@stereo5 

one reason to have more expensive spinner is feature set.  I used my Oppo 105 as my everything, including DAC, but eventually upgraded the DAC.  The Oppo was mainly a transport then but still came into use for SACD, DVD-A, usb drives and network use