Best CDP in the $4k to $8k range

I owned the Levinson 390S and Wadia 850 as well as Accuphase DP 65. All three of these were embarassed by the 47Labs Shigaraki Dac and Flatfish transport. Don't get me wrong, they are all fine players in their own right, but music is simply rendered in a more organic and human way with the non oversampling/filterless combo. Audio Note also has some exceptional DACS. BTW, the Levinson was not finicky.

Compare the more expensive units to a Vecteur L 4.2 which is something like 2500 new. You may be surprised.

At various times, I have owned the following CD players.

(1) Arcam FMJ - don't remember the number (32?)
(2) Arcam MCD (CD changer)
(3) Sony SCD-1
(4) EAD Ultradisc 2000
(5) Sony - some complete piece of crap!
(6) Audiomeca Keops
(7) SimAudio Nova (same as you)
(8) Electrocompaniet EMC-1 (UP) and/or (SE)

Not all of these are in your price range (most are, in fact, below your price range). There is no doubt which worked best for me for redbook CD's

The Electrocompaniet.

It is a truly special CD player - the only annoying thing is how they keep "upgrading" the name. It is a truly special CD player. You can pick up one at Audiogon for somewhere in the neighborhood of 2.5 - 3K. I still have it and can't imagine ever disposing of it (I also like the EAD; it is extremely highly resolving and detailed and likely more "accurate" than the Electrocompaniet, which is just so much more "liquid").

I have also heard the Ayre - though not in my system and not for an extended period of time - and I quite liked what I was hearing.

Good luck in your decision

I owned the Ayre, Sony SCD-1, Resolution Audio Opus 21. But the best yet is my current player- the Exemplar 2900. Best digital I've ever heard.

You may want to look into the Exemplar or the APL players.

Enjoy!

A great redbook CD player is the Edge Electronics G Series CD player. If you have a chance to listen to one, it will be well worth it.