best used inexpensive cd only player

Have to disagree with the tqo preceding posts. I've owned the Music Hall cdp and one of the clones and was not impressed at all.
As for the Oppo, if you want an inexpensive universal player it may be ok. But as a cdo it is just plain ordinary.
I'd look at the Rotel or NAD 542 suggested above.
Isn't this hobby funny? We can all own the same piece and come away with totally different views.
Real lesson, try whatever and see if it suits your taste.

About a year ago, I bought an MHZS CD33F on ebay for $280.00. I don't think you could buy one now for under $400.00 (G version) It was very good. I went on line and found maybe 20 or 25 mods that could be done. They were straight forward most even had fairly good directions posted. I did 9 parts switch outs that anyone with a soldering iron could do for around $60.00 in parts.
It is shockingly good. If you are competent at all with a soldering iron, I encourage you to at least look into this piece. It is far better than its price paid in its stock form. It now competes at a very high level. The link below is where is started on finding its mods. Its worth checking out. If you go this way, email, I even have a mod kit put together that I would send your way for less than I have in it. Tim

Sorry link.....

http://rockgrotto.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=c&action=print&thread=1150

I would agree with the Rotel , but a CD player is a unitasker as Alton Brown would say.
I would go with a good dvd player and have a multitasker, who knows this may turn into a HT/2 Ch system at some point.
The Rotel 1093 has been an excellent player for me 24/96, and offers outstanding video to boot!
I think the power supply has alot to do with its sound and picture quality.

"Joe Mazzaglia makes a good inexpensive one".

ABSOLUTELY agree with this statement!

Everyone's tastes vary. I find Music Hall players very dull and boring. I've heard them suck the life out of many very good systems.

For about $500, it doesn't get better than a Rega Apollo IMO. They were going for around that price a month or two ago, but have been creeping up for some some reason. Maybe the economy really is getting better? The Planet 2000 is an excellent player as well.

To be honest, I'd go with an inexpensive transport and a DAC. The universals like an Oppo aren't a bad idea, but I haven't heard them. Connect them to a good DAC, and you've got music and movies sounding great.

There are a tone of DACs out ther that'll fit your budget, new and used. I got into the music server thing last year and bought an Apple TV and Theta Cobalt 307. Sounds great to my ears. No looking for discs, changing discs because I want to hear one song, etc. In some ways, it sounds better than my Apollo. My Apollo has a better toe tapping quality to it, but its not that far behind. Last I looked, there was a Theta Cobalt 307 listed for $150 with everything included. Add an Apple TV (with internal hard drive, not the new one) and an iPod Touch to use as a remote (if you don't want to use the Apple TV's remote and your TV), and you should come in right at your $500 budget.