Wadia think about expensive CD Players ?

Well, as much as I think speakers (and the amps used to drive them) are ultimately the most critical part of a system, 2nd only to the room in which they are used, I sure can't buy into minimizing the differences in CD players. But I will agree that amoung many of the best players many of the differences that make them great will not be apparent unless you have the rest of it pinned down. So if you can't hear the differences in digital playback units, the real question is why you don't hear them, not if they exist at all.

By the way, I think your "abstract assumptions" may be my observation realities.

Life can't get better than owning both a Corvette and a turntable.

I wouldn't discount the importance of the CDP. A harsh CDP gets magnified many times over by the amp. Any speaker that masks that is going to lie about everyhting else too.

hello again,
Well, not quite broadsided.....perhaps fender-bendered a bit :>).
Seriously though, the only point I was trying to make was there definitely is a law of diminishing returns at work here. I have been a self-defined audiophile for years and have gone through three decades of "progress"! From "Pink Triangle" turntables to Nakamichi Dragon cassette decks.

The quality of music from the same music system can vary depending on ambient noise, ear wax status, and a full stomach.
Not to mention the distortion changes in atmospheric temperature and pressure can produce. People argue about changes in sound quality from merely changing interconnects. So I am sure changing the source, i.e. a CD player can make a profound difference.
All I am saying is, it may be time to challenge conventional wisdom...and instead of first picking the best source money can buy , one may be better off spending that money on quality speakers and amplification equipment (with a standardised CD source). And then for the final link compare different CD players (source) and pick the best value for money.