Recommendations for CD Player/DAC Combo

A used EAR Yoshiono Acute 3 is around the $3k budget.  The newest version Acute Classic is excellent, but a used one is above the $3k budget limit.  Probably around $4500 used.  The EAR is the best CD/DAC combo I've heard.  

Stereo5, Not ’mounted’ for sure I agree, but placed immediately in front of the wall for sure (for folks interested they can look at the pictures of your system which you have posted).

Other than the back injury you would have probably incurred had you mounted them on the wall, I’m not sure that there would be much sonic difference, on the floor or on the wall. :-) I pulled mine 66 inches out into the room and they are part of an (almost) equilateral triangle with my listening chair at the apex of the triangle (where else).

@newbee...……………………………..

Are you using the same speakers as I am? Before I bought them, I send Sandy Gross a picture of the room with the Triton Ones location and explained I would be putting the Triton References in the same spot. He said they would work fine and they so. Imaging is perfect. Unless you are using the same speakers, you really don’t know. Since it’s the living room I share with my wife, I had to make compromises. My wife has been very gracious about my stereo taking up half of the living room.   I just looked at the picture posted and need to update.  The speakers are much more toed in now than in that picture from 2017.  Funny thing is, GE recommends the speakers pointing almost straight ahead with perhaps only a couple of degrees of toe in!

While I could argue at some length about speaker placement (and set up) in general, and yours specifically, I see no reason to do so. You are happy, your wife is happy, you are listening to music you enjoy, not much else counts, does it. Peace.

On the Audiogon home page, in the Categories drop down list, click on Digital and then cd/sacd players. There are a number of cd players in your price range.

Bryston products are known for their durabillity. I can’t say for sure that applies to their cd players, but someone can probably advise you on that.