Best CD player under $2000

The best CD player under $2000 is a $300 pro grade CD player, like a Tascam, with an optical feed to your favorite DAC.

As a  DAC/Trans
Here is my latest YT upload,, showing off the SEAS Thor speakers,,but also one gets to hear the Cayin CD17, with mod = SPARKSOLAB Descrete opamps + Mundorf Silver caps.
The one thing holding back jmy system is a more open preamp = the Cayin's musicality is limited by the preamp.
The cayin CD19 mark 2 is avaliable has a   rectifier tube, other than that the board looks identical to the Mark1.
later on next year i will order the Primaluna tube CDP. @ $3K.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Y9WRTjl9c

Used Ayre?

I concur with many of the above replies, but I would throw a marker in for the recommendation of any of the Oppo's ending in a 5.  With one big BUT (no pun intended), send it to Ric Shultz at EVS and let him do his magic to it.  He is an artist!

is Ric still working on Oppo's ? I have his modified Oppo Sonica and it's awesome...