help a Die hard ANALOG guy choose a budget CDP

Check out ModWright Oppo if you want analog sound from a CD (SACD) player. Not in your price range but maybe nice to know about it anyway.
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/modwright-oppo-bdp-105-with-truth-modifications/
I've got one and I ordered another. :)

I'll second (or third) the Emotiva.
I have switched to digital from a server these days, but still wanted a stand a lone player and bought an ERC-3, which I run through my DAC (a Hegel, that does indeed sound better than the on board circuitry on the player).

I had the Emotiva ERC-1 and it was underwhelming(I'd stay away from them since the ERC 1 and 2 both had issues).  I upgraded to the Oppo 95, which though an improvement, seemed somewhat harsh at higher volumes, and not organic but too detailed, at least in my system.

After upgrading the speaker cables and pre, I tried the Nad C565BEE, their top of the line from a few years ago.  It has a richer lush sound that the Oppo can't compete with.  I paid 450 for it used.

I'm sure the 105 is an improvement over the 95, but a cd spinner is not exactly new technology.  There is no need to spend 1300 to get top shelf sound, and I'm betting you don't really need a swiss army knife universal player that the 105 is.

Streaming is done for convenience, it is not superior to CDP playback!  You can get many devices that will allow streaming.  I bought an Apple TV device that does just fine in this regard, $100.  


The streaming choice just depends on what inputs your receiver or preamp has.

Fjn04, try the Rega Saturn. 

Hifiman5, which Arcam CDP where you using?  The CD37?

@fjn04 I have the Arcam CD-192.