CD Player advice request...

Most any recent vintage, decent, jitter resistant vintage transport, CD or DVD player, or other digital source with digital output feeding an mhdt Constantine DAC could meet your requirements. I use a 4-5 year old Denon player/recorder that cost $600 originally with mine and have also used a 6 year old Marantz DVD (see my system listings). A used mhdt Constantine can be had for well under $500 used.

An mhdt Paradisea tube DAC might do it also but might be a tad warm for your requirements with the stock GE tube on many systems. Other model inexpensive replacement tubes can remedy that if needed.

Ayre and Gamut out of my price range...
My CD player is unreliable so a better integrated transport/DAC combo is my preference.

And something that is not at all laid back in the midrange as my speakers have a slight presence dip.

Having watched AudioGon the last few months, has the Gamut cd-3 at or below $3K.

if you all those things try an ilink from MSB you will get everything you want plus all you cd at your finger tips
and with the money you save put towards one of there DAC's
and the DAC with the new filter is as close to tubes its scary. I listen to CD's recorded in the 80's and they sound fantastic
http://www.msbtech.com/products/iLink.php