The best CD Player for the money

The Eastern Electric MiniMax is a lot of player for the money, especially if you have an arsonal of tubes to roll.

Looking for your opinions on my next CD Player.( and possibly last CDP)
In my price range I've narrowed my two choices down to the new Cambridge Audio 840C and the Musical Fidelity 3.5.
I don't have any opportunities to compare them side by side, so it makes the choice even more difficult.

I also plan to sell my Pioneer Elite receiver and get the matching integrated amp that goes with whatever CDP I get.

Any advice ?

Just curious, has anyone heard Alex's(APL Hi-Fi) new DAC?

The new dac is not in product yet. I was told this yesterday.

Just curious, has anyone heard Alex's(APL Hi-Fi) new DAC?

The APL forum/website is now saying (in a post from Brent that is more than a month old) that it'll be mid to late summer. Seems like it has lost some production momentum; don't know why. It's a very interesting design, at a decent audiophile price-point.
Ted