Looking for a CD Player

You only need SACD Capability (super audio cd, read by a different laser) if you have or plan on buying SACD Discs. I had some and bought some more, but no longer, they aren't really worth it after the itch is scratched IMO. A standard CD, via great player, can sound terrific.

Lasers get old/weak relative to hours played, use caution buying used. And, they can go out of alignment, many used units play CD, but errors when trying to play the SACD version.

I went from a surprisingly great sounding Sony changer that died, CD only, to a Vintage Sony Single SACD/CD Player XA5400ES (learned about it here). I was playing almost all vinyl, until I got the xa5400es, now I am still re-discovering my many CDs, and buying used cds, used vinyl, trying not to buy anything and listen to what I inherited.

IF you do not need SACD, you might consider a CD Changer, I had two changers that sounded terrific, the Sony that died, and I kept an Onkyo Integra CDC-3.4 in one of my systems, they still sell it new, Crutchfield has good info about old stuff, Amazon has it, dual wolfson processors was why I tried it, found out how great is sounded compared to 9 others I tried (none high end expensive).

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-LESwRLiMqtt/p_164CDC34/Integra-CDC-3-4.html

My search's conclusion, it's a salad of ingredients, chosen processor(s), over-clocking, anti-jitter, proprietary filters, ... you hear and prefer ......, 

comments and help I got here

Sony xa5400es discussion here

note: they keep going up in price, I was shocked I had to pay $1,000 nearly 3 years ago

DSD Processor, not conversion to PCM

Better CD Sound, the search

A DVD Changer can keep you rocking

some play Blu-Ray DVDs, SACD, CD,

often not mentioned, just look for the SACD Logo on the face of the unit

no mention in description, but it plays SACDs

400 disc dvd plays sacd/cd, seller says FLAWLESS

GET A BAD BACK AND KNEES LOADING IT, THEN A FAT ARSE NEVER GETTING UP

your 1st question, need a DAC, yes, somewhere

a CD PLAYER has a laser to read the 1’s and 0’s and a DAC to convert them to analog line level signal.

a CD TRANSPORT just spins, it’s laser reads the 1’s and 0’s, sends the digital out to an external DAC.

some, not all, CD Players with their own DACs, let you choose to send the digital signal out to an external DAC, i.e. you can use the PLAYER like a TRANSPORT.

@smerk I am a retired audio guy who has a vinyl set up but listen to CD/SACD's amost exclusively.  I don't stream.  I have had players from multiple companies over the decades.  You don't need an SACD player unless you have a bunch of SACD disks.  Get an all in one player with the DAC built in.  I have had multiple  players that were modified by Modwright: Sony 999es, 5400 and Marantz. My opinion is if you can get an upper end Marantz that is newer such as the  SA-10 or Ruby that would be great.  Also, The TEAC CD player is reported to be very good but slightly above you price range new.  I  own a current Esoteric player which is my end game player at a significant cost.  Good luck!