Big source improvement using CD player


I borrowed a friend's esoteric dv50s CD player.  I could not believe the difference between it and streaming Spotify premium.  I am now in the market for a CD player.  One thing, the esoteric does not play DVD-R.  Can anyone recommend a comparable CD player in the used market that does? I'm looking in the $800 - $1500 range.  
puffbojie
If only there was a way of showing what the correctable and uncorrectable error rate coming off a CD rip or similar was available .... oh right, there is.

Fancy words, easily proven correct. So .... let’s have it. I am sure you have lots of data to support this hypothesis given how easy it would be to collect that data?

What, you don’t have any data to support your hypothesis. Color me shocked! Shocked I say!!!

The Reed Solomon error detection and correction algorithms are much more effective for predictable errors like radial scratches and fingerprints than for unpredictable errors like scattered CD laser light and fluttering of the CD whilst playing, for which the laser servo feedback mechanism is not 100% effective.

If only there was a way of showing what the correctable and uncorrectable error rate coming off a CD rip or similar was available

If you were an audiophile which your clearly not, you would probably know Arnie Nudell (rip) and Paul McGowan did such a thing (you find out what) and showed it to you in a numerical error counter on the display.
Frightening seeing the differences between good and bad transports, that the error correction didn’t get right.
The lowest count I saw was the Wadia T2000 transport using it’s AT&T High Speed"Glass Fiber" optical output connections using expensive indexing fluid on both ends.
https://ibb.co/PYGZd7t

https://ibb.co/yNmgR1W

There is a good video on youtube about the ability to pick the higher res source (mp3 and wave file were used). Pretty interesting.....A young lady was used as the listener and I would assume being young,  she had excellent hearing....in a few instances, she was unable to tell the difference and chose the lower res files...I think she scored 4 out of 6...I’m still looking for the link. Disclaimer: I’m fully content with the sound of my CD’s and associated equipment and have no desire to ever stream anything Hi-res. I do own many MA Recordings which in themselves are quite spectacular.