I agree with comments that a 'tube' CD player simply adds a tubed buffer stage.
Now all the tube parts costs money, the extra parts and a better transformer for the tube B+ voltage etc.
So the tubed CD player should have to cost more money for equal sound (in theory the added tubes stuff should jack up the price by $300 to $1000 for an 'equal' CD player)
I opted for a separate 'tubed' stage and bought a used VAC Standard four tube preamp for $1500 to use as my 'tube buffer'. Worked out great. And I can use it with an assortment of digital gear. Not stuck in just one CD player!
(I tried a cheap tube buffer which was worthless IMO, Where in comparison the VAC is really a great device)
Now all the tube parts costs money, the extra parts and a better transformer for the tube B+ voltage etc.
So the tubed CD player should have to cost more money for equal sound (in theory the added tubes stuff should jack up the price by $300 to $1000 for an 'equal' CD player)
I opted for a separate 'tubed' stage and bought a used VAC Standard four tube preamp for $1500 to use as my 'tube buffer'. Worked out great. And I can use it with an assortment of digital gear. Not stuck in just one CD player!
(I tried a cheap tube buffer which was worthless IMO, Where in comparison the VAC is really a great device)

