CD transport under $1000

Have you tried any transports into the DAC-in on your Denon? I'm curious how good that unit is as a DAC-only.
Drubin (Threads | Answers)

I've only used a Squeezebox into the APL's DAC. Sounds very, very good. I believe most of the bang-for-the-buck in the APL is the DAC. I could be mistaken.

It plays 95% of my CDs. I want something fairly inexpensive to play the other 5% of my redbook CDs, and the increasing number of burned CDs it will not play.

I can also likely have Alex replace the laser assembly, but I'm interested in options.

Tvad:
A further on CEC. All of them (at least among the TL0, TL1 & TL2) are TOP Loaders. They all use a suspended drive mechanism with a top loading puck. As far as CDRs, based upon my experience there is no problem.

Took a chance on a modded Music Hall CD25.2.

I strongly considered a CEC, but the price was more than I wanted to spend for a part time, back-up transport.

Thanks for the suggestions.

The Music Hall CD25.2T (Parts Connexion transport mod) sounds pretty good using the APL Denon 3910's DAC. I find it actually has more heft than the APL alone, although the top end is slightly more grainy.

I'm using a Stereovox XV2 digital interconnect and a Volex power cord on the 25.2.

Anybody have a suggestion for a digital cable, or for a power cord that works well on the CD25.2? I have an Oyaide Tunami GPX power cord on the way to try.