What features should a good CD player have?

why not just check out some of the mod Wright Sony's that pop up now and then...

If you are going to consider the Benchmark DAC I would insist on an inhome trial/audition and while doing that see if you can even find any improvement with this DAC vs. your existing CDP running direct in a double blind test. Not a different sound, but an improvement. My guess is that you'll have a DAC but you won't end up with an improvement in sound quality. You can run the analog output of your CDP to your preamp and the digital output to the Benchmark and then the benchmark to the preamp. Have it volume matched and listen back and forth for a few days, not knowing which input the pre is set to for careful listening. But switch back and forth from time to time.

My point is that you can do a lot better than this DAC for your $1,500, buying used.

What about the Sony XA5400ES? I've seen those go for $806 + $20 in shipping on a popular auction site. I've read those are the real deal in terms of build quality and SQ. Then you can also have Modwright make it even better.

what are your criteria for excellence of sound ?

is your desire to possibly replace the jolida based upon build qaulity or deficiencies of sound ?

i am not sure the jolida has deficiencies, but iam switching to a herron preamp and it may expose some deficiences??