$2,000 Used CD Player or Modified Oppo 105

You don't need to spend $2000 to make the 105 sound way better....even my $650 mod is super (zero feedback fet buffer output stage, shunt regulators, femto clock, soft recovery diodes, WA quantum stickers, mucho damping, etc.). Please see the thread on the EVS modded 105.

Dbphd,
Can you please provide some feedback on how the Ayre/Sony improve on Oppo's sound. Especially the Ayre, since it costs almost five times the Oppo. Did you use RCA or XLR on these players? I plan to replace my Marantz in the next 6 months or so. Hence looking for upgrades.
Thanks!

Bullitt-

I would venture to suggest the new Rega Saturn-R or Naim spinners. I like both, but would choose the Naim- very musical for red-book cd only. This player can be bought for $2K or less. I concur on a Sony ES cd player as well.
Happy Listening!

I bought the Ayre used, but it was still more than twice the price I paid for the 105 new. The 105 sounds etched, especially compared to the Ayre, and is unable to deliver quite the sense of transparency of the Ayre -- the Ayre has an uncanny ability to make jazz trios, quartets, chamber groups and soloists seem as though they might be sitting around the KEF Reference 107/2 speakers. Neither the Oppo or Sony possess that ability. The Ayre uses XLR, the Oppo and Sony RCA, but I've used both the Oppo and Sony with XLR. The other XLR input of my JC-2 is devoted to a JC-3 phono stage.

db

Dbphd
You nailed exactly why I am having such a hard time deciding the best course of action. I have no interest in computer orientated source material at this particular time and HT has taken a back burner as well. I thought I might be able to upgrade my HT set up and 2 channel rig together using the 105 as a one source unit. I currently use a Oppo 83SE, but find the audio section much too sterile and actually use an Arcam DV29 for 2 channel. The Ayre C-5xeMP is at the top of my list for a pre owned CD player. I suspect I might be happier picking up a pre owned Ayre and keeping the 83SE for HT for now. Then possibly upgrading the HT set up down the road.