decent CD/SACD/DVD-A Player for 2 channel Audio on

Mrgman, I think that you have chosen a wise strategy. It is better to really enjoy the majority of your music collection rather then compromise by expanding for the sake of formats that you won't use as often. I would look at Jolida JD100 w/ and w/o modifications, Musical Fidelity A5, and Berendsen players. Good luck.

I just pciked up a Musical Fidelity Xray V3 CD and the X10 Tube Output Stage Buffer. They were demos at my hifi shop. I have to say that I'm extremely happy.

I'd never heard of a tube buffrer and asked for it to be hooked in out of curiosity more than anything else. The difference was immediate, significant but subtle. Not sure how to describe it but the individual instruments and vocals popped out and became so much more distinct immediately. No increase in overall volume just greater depth and soundstage and "distinctness" (for lack of a better word). I was sensine ths various instruments in a way that I couldn't with any of the stand alone players on their own.

I spent a lot of time comparing the XRay and Tube Buffer against the Musical Fidelity A3.5 on it's own as well as the Arcam CD73. I found teh XRay and Tube Buffer much more musical. Theo others sounded very nice to my ear but somethign about the Tube Buffer Xray combo made it stand out.

The fact that they were good condition Demo's, fully warrantied and the price was heavily marked down helped a lot as well. Next step, replace the ATI 602's and get a pre-amp to replace the NAD 320BEE that's playing the role right now.

If your going CD only it will be tough to beat an Arcam FMJ 23 or Arcam FMJ 33, both or which show up here time to time in the $1,000 range. I considered a universal as well but with over 400 CD's already owned went with the stand alone as NO universal in the $2,000 & under range came within shouting distance of the Arcam. Ultimately have ended up with the Ayre CX-7, but could happily live with either of the two Arcam units mentioned above. Good Luck!