CD Player Under $1.5k With Vinyl Sound


After getting exposed to vinyl I begin to feel that I am not enjoying the sound from my CD player anymore. In comparison to the lush, organic and liquid sound from my vinyl rig, the CD player sounds mechanical, compressed and congested as music doesn't seem to flow out in 3-dimensional scale. Whenever I switch from CD to vinyl I often find myself completely immersed into the music. Since I got a turntable I have not found enjoyment in listening to CD's anymore and have been spending considerably less time with the format. In fact, the CD player was left untouched for more than 1 month now. I did try to listen but everytime a CD goes into the player the listening session will be less than 5 minutes before I go grab my records and start spinning some tunes.

My question is, are there any good and musical CD players in the current production around the $1.5k bracket that sound close to vinyl? I am not interested in extreme detail, resolution and transparency. I am more concerned on musicality and an overall toe-tapping factor. I want a sound that is full, natural, lush and organic and yet cast a wide soundstage without any trace of harshness and sibilance often associated with digital. I am aware that some good CD players, often in the higher priced bracket sound extremely close to vinyl, so my interpretation doesn't entirely apply with all digital.

For the record, my CD player is a Krell KPS-30i and turntable a Rega P5. The only aspect I like about digital is on its quietness in the lack of pops, crackles and clicks often associated with analog(dirty or less than perfect records). Other than that I am truly smitten with the vinyl sound. I hope a special CDP could salvage things and bring some life back into my CD collection.
ryder
Rather than looking for something that sounds close to vinyl, an alternative is to decide whether your Krell CD player is neutral/musical in other systems. I suspect it is...and there is something else on the edge in your system that the LP glosses over or smooths out (ie. certain poorly recorded CDs, the room, the placement of speakers and listener in the room, the speakers themselves or the preamp/amp.
I JUST bought a Xindak DAC-5 demo for $700 (list is $900). Not sure what you'd partner it with as a transport & digital cable) to meet your $1500 price point, but it is the most analog like digital I've ever heard.
Digital has advanced quite a bit. Vast majority of digital players sound mechanical and clinical up until a couple of years ago. Most recent designs are much better. The latest Sony XA5400ES sounds rich and lush. Not a hint of clinical or lean sounds. Or old PS1 is very smooth and rich, and easy to try at less than $50.
no experience with Krell cdp's but read on more then one occasion they are cold and clinical sounding. My Eastern Electric tubed cdp is around $550 used and it's definitely not 'digital' sounding.

I would say something with tubes is a good place to look.
I second Rega Apollo, for vinyl-like sound. Older Meridian CD players like 506 or 508 can be obtained under 1K, and they would surprise you. At least, they are fabulous transports. Njoe Tjoeb with 6922 tube output sounds natural as well.