It seems to me that there is a complete lack of concensus as to which transport (or DAC) sounds best versus the more easily (at this time) ranked single box CD players. Perhaps this is one reason for the uptick in sales of single box players vrs separates.
Anyway, this thread was fun - getting to google Goldmund 36s, old Teacs and CEC TL0s. Personally, I am looking foward to more of these CD/SACD/DVD players becoming available. If they also accept analog in (i.e. serve as a basic preamp), then people can get rid of 3 then-redundant components (DVD player, Preamp, and HT processor) and get much better audio with their video setup in the bargin.
-Mike.