pick me a cd player please-3k to 4k budget

Consonance Droplet. I had one for an in home audition last year and it's still at the top of my list.

Another rec. is the Ayre CX-7e. Heard several in other systems but not in mine.

I could go for either one of these.

Resolution Opus 21 at about $2400 used is hard to beat and if you send it to GNSC for the reference mods it is real hard to beat.
I have a GNSC statement modded 860se which I have compared directly with the modded opus (very little to pick from...I slightly prefer the wadia but could easily live with either)
I have owned many higher priced digital front ends and to me the opus with or without GNSC mods is a real value champ.

Mac Mini with a Wavelength DAC.

go vintage young man.

the cal aria or cal tempest are good picks.

nothing wrong with a sonic frontiers cd player.

if you want to go on the cheap, under $1000, try an audio note cd2, with a ge 5751 black plate tube.

Please add the Ayre CX-7e CD player to your list. I purchased the Ayre CX-7e CD player to go with my Ayre AX-7e Integrated amp. Breakin time is 100+ hours so the unit is still "cooking". It sounds good with my ProAC 2.5 speakers but really needs more "cooking" time.