Upgrade SACD/CD player from DCS Puccini to better DCS, Esoteric or EMM Labs?

Thank-you everyone for your expert feedback, and please keep it coming if you have recommendations. 

Probably the only way that I am going to know is to buy some home demonstration time. This is going to limit me to DCS products, as my local dealer, Paragon Sound, who are great, only sell DCS products in the niche that I am in...

I meant for the definition of the word "analytical" as the ability to discriminate different instruments, hopefully across a wide dynamic range. I did not mean to define it as "anti-musical", but I realize that this word has various meanings among domains.

caphill - I agree with you in regards to McIntosh versus ARC, but ARC preamplifiers have no tone controls. Having just read a book by Floyd O'Toole of the Acoustical Society,- he judged that the lack of bass was one of the biggest challenges in sound reproduction. 

Three high-end SACD/CD/DAC combinations for sale on Audiogon right now (or maybe they have been sold), including 2 from Esoteric and 1 from EMM. Still pondering...still dreaming (Jimi Hendrix)

I've never had tone control in any of my linestage stereo preamp. My current Naim Statement NAC S1 linestage analog stereo preamp does not have tone control either. All ARC linestage preamps do not have to control. Before using the ARC Ref 10 linestage preamp I was using the Dan D'Agostino Momentum linestage preamp which does not have tone control either. All high end preamps usually do not have tone control. Having tone control has to go through another circuitry and it degrades the signal purity. That's why all high end preamps including those exotic ones do not have tone controls. 

McIntosh makes good amps but their preamps are too syrupy warm masking musical details and nuances somewhat and color the sound and lacking musical presence and musical drive as well as rhythmic drive. ARC linestage analog preamps are way better than the McIntosh stereo preamps they aren't even in the same league. The ARC preamps are quite a bit more expensive than McIntosh preamps though especially the ARC Reference series preamps such as the ARC Ref 10 & Ref 6.
Rogue Audio P7 linestage preamp is better than any Mac preamps. 

The D’Ag Momentum preamp has tone controls.

I suggest you include Marantz SA-10 SACD player into your consideration.

anwar - I have often wondered about the Marantz SA-10 SACD player. I heard the PS Audio DirectStrem combination and they seemed fine, although slightly less resolution than the DCS Puccini. The Marantz, on paper, would seem to represent a good product, but I have not read any reviews, although it has been out for a while, and I have not listened to one.

bar81 - The D'Agistino Momentum preamplifier sounds great, and the cost is not a problem, but I am more of a tube person.

caphill - I agree with you about the McIntosh - but I did get a great deal on it, and it reminds me of my youth. About bass - an instrument I used to play - my listening room is mostly underground or surrounded by 4 ft thick stone walls. Bass is a problem, and after reading Floyd Toole's book (2017) - "Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms (Audio Engineering Society Presents)", I realized the room was not properly reproducing very low frequencies (<40 HZ), a range I can still hear in my dotage. I could have inserted an equalizer into the loop, but I actually like the dulcet sound of the McIntosh preamp, which I can bypass if need be, depending on the music.

I may have found a solution to my search....more to follow...