Recommendations for CD Player/DAC Combo

@tyan42-- interesting perspective from today's vantage point, you said "It seems like building a cd player into a DAC makes a lot of sense, like an integrated amp...."
When the consumer products first hit the market, they were integrated. Today, it's like asking for " undecaffeinated" coffee. 
For what it's worth, after many years of this hobby, i am only now taking digital into my main system. Using a modest DAC, the Border Patrol, i first used an Oppo universal player as a transport, while awaiting a Redbook CD transport. The Redbook transport (the current, entry level CEC) sounds better. Not to diss Oppo- great product for the money. 

I have a ModWright OPPO 205 with the best tubes available, 1960's Philips Miniwatt D-getter, RCA rectifier with silver getter, and while this system is excellent nothing can really equal vinyl on a really good system. 

However if you can find a used OPPO ModWright with the right tubes
you will be well served.

"while this system is excellent nothing can really equal vinyl on a really good system. "

I agree 100%  My Technics SL1200G TT sounds better at half the price of my Esoteric UX-3 SACD player.  The TT just sounds right.

The the old vinyl is better than digital refrain.  Ugh.  When I listen to digital the music leaps out my speakers.  When I listen to an lp if sounds as if it is embedded in petroleum.

newbee,

"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)."

The practical problem is that many people cannot pull speakers that much into the room. They do what they can, often not ideal. You are just lucky in that sense.