CD Player Under $1.5k With Vinyl Sound


After getting exposed to vinyl I begin to feel that I am not enjoying the sound from my CD player anymore. In comparison to the lush, organic and liquid sound from my vinyl rig, the CD player sounds mechanical, compressed and congested as music doesn't seem to flow out in 3-dimensional scale. Whenever I switch from CD to vinyl I often find myself completely immersed into the music. Since I got a turntable I have not found enjoyment in listening to CD's anymore and have been spending considerably less time with the format. In fact, the CD player was left untouched for more than 1 month now. I did try to listen but everytime a CD goes into the player the listening session will be less than 5 minutes before I go grab my records and start spinning some tunes.

My question is, are there any good and musical CD players in the current production around the $1.5k bracket that sound close to vinyl? I am not interested in extreme detail, resolution and transparency. I am more concerned on musicality and an overall toe-tapping factor. I want a sound that is full, natural, lush and organic and yet cast a wide soundstage without any trace of harshness and sibilance often associated with digital. I am aware that some good CD players, often in the higher priced bracket sound extremely close to vinyl, so my interpretation doesn't entirely apply with all digital.

For the record, my CD player is a Krell KPS-30i and turntable a Rega P5. The only aspect I like about digital is on its quietness in the lack of pops, crackles and clicks often associated with analog(dirty or less than perfect records). Other than that I am truly smitten with the vinyl sound. I hope a special CDP could salvage things and bring some life back into my CD collection.
ryder
No such thing. Don't waste you time and money looking. Be happy, enjoy. Also, try to listen to some good pre-recorded reel tapes. Since they are analog, it might make you aware of what you are hearing, cd vs vinyl but in reality analog vs. digital. I have some albums, both the vinyl and reel, done at 7 ips and reel has the edge on the vinyl. As you may know, the people at The Tape Project have taken reel to another level.
Counterpoint DA-10 DAC ($500). Send it to Michael Elliott at Alta Vista Audio for upgrade....or use as is with any transport of your choice.

Get the model with the 20 bit Ultra Analog card upgrade if you are going to use it as is (this is the one I owned at one time).

Dave
Sorry, but I tend to agree with Buconero117, that you are chasing a ghost. Especially if you are limiting yourself to current production models. I would recommend looking for a player capable of SACD first and foremost. I have heard some very good reference redbook recordings, but in general, SACD sounds much closer to vinyl IMHO.

Maybe try a Marantz SA-15S2. If you're not interested in SACD, try a tube CDP from BAT, Lector, PrimaLuna, Tube Technology, etc.
The Audio Aero Prima CDP sounds somewhat like vinyl w/o tubes, but I've heard too many mechanical issues about AA gear to recommend it. Happy hunting.

Cheers,
John
Rather than looking for something that sounds close to vinyl, an alternative is to decide whether your Krell CD player is neutral/musical in other systems. I suspect it is...and there is something else on the edge in your system that the LP glosses over or smooths out (ie. certain poorly recorded CDs, the room, the placement of speakers and listener in the room, the speakers themselves or the preamp/amp.