CD Player or DAC

CD player unless you already have an excellent transport.
I had a Bel Canto 1.1 DAC.
Not bad, nothing special.
For $1500 you have many options new and used.

IMHO adding a DAC is a better option. IMHO the digital cable is way more important then the transport. I tried six different transports and the bigger system improvement came from a better digital cable. That being said, there is a CAL Alpha tube DAC on the Gon now for $600, offer $450 and get some NOS tubes, or find an Electrocompaniet DAC or better yeet find a used older Audio Logic tube DAC. These will better any CDP in the $5000 range with a good digital cable and your current CDP.

Happy Listening.

Shimanole, I just recently posted a review of the sonic differences between reference DACS here on the GON, which you might find helpful in your search. I have also listened to many DACS at your price range and believe that the Bel Canto DAC II offers a wonderful blend of warmth/musicality with details/dynamics and more extension on the top/bottom then the tube DACS at this price. Match it up with Acoustic Zen E=MC2 and an inexpensive transport, the Bel Canto is pretty immune to jitter, and you would have a great digital front end that would have the type of synergy that you are looking for. Of course you have to audtion this in your own system to really know if it is what you are looking for. Good luck.

Meridian 508.24 or a Gamut CD1R (or a CD1S, but not the CD1) both are excellent front ends, don't bother complicating you system with separates at this price point you will just be compromising your system.

The Meridian is very detailed with great bass response, the only thing that was annoying to me is that it is very slow on all operations (opening, closing, playing, next track).

The Gamut is just plain musical with tons of detail without any edge.... really truely amazing. I'm going to be upgrading from my Gamut to a $15k worth of front end because there is no middle step. The Gamut remote layout sucks (it's an old California Audio remote (my old DX1 had the same remote) but then again I use a Pronto so it's not that important and it is really fast and plays burns also.