The best CD Player for the money

I can't claim to know the answer to that, as I've heard only a small fraction of the players out there. Also,the question--"what's the best CD player for the money?"--is highly relative. Best play for the money in what price class?

That said, the best player I've heard in the under $5K class (and the one I own) is the all tube Prima Luna Prologue 8 at $3,500 list. Needs a long burn in time (the manual says 100 hours... but I'd recommend at least 200) and can greatly benefit from upgraded NOS tubes. I used the stock tubes for burn-in, then replaced them with a Phillips/Mullard combination recommended by Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio--and the result was the most analogue sounding music I've ever heard from a CD player. Soundstaging is excellent and the bass digs deep. I'm sure there must be better players out there, but I haven't heard one under $5K that beats the Prima Luna.

I searched for a CDP for about a year to replace a Naim CDX2 in my set up. Home demoed Wadia 381, Audio Research CD5 Krell SACD505 and Sugden PDT4F. I finally settled on the Electrocompaniet EMC1UP.
The EMc1UP gives me everything I was looking for in a CDP... rich texture and detailed sq... the only one to come close was the Sugden.

I know I already said The Ayon cd-2s, I just got the player when I made my last post,For the $6,500.00 class of players and down, I have never heard a player as great sounding as this!, very well worth the money to me!, I have listened to alot costlier digital players that was not this good!, Happy listening!

You can get a great used cdp for 2500 the Ayon cd2

@ Abruce, wow!, I never seen that price on the used market here on the audiogon for a used Ayon cd-2!, I bought a new 2s player, that is a lot better than the original cd-2!,, cheers!