Upgrade CD player or wait

Dont touch the Theta.The Planet 2000 is a good choice.

Certainly upgrade that NAD - lots available used but stick with redbook unless you want to shell out big $ for SACD software. However 20 bit HDCD is a good way to go for much better sound than redbook, yet at the same prices for redbook CD's.

Go ahead and buy a good single box CD player and don't wait for the "new and better" format. No matter how much better DVD-A or SACD sounds if you don't have the software, it's no good to you.

From a guy with lots of little black boxes to play a mere CD speaking...

Nice post, Pbb. I'm probably the guy who said the ARCAM lacked PRaT. But I never stuck it on a Neuance, so who knows...? Your analogy's great. Maybe a Neuance will allow that trio to boogie better!
But to answer the threadhead's query: it took me a LONG time to throw away my old modded Rotel 855, but musical life with Redbook is now a completely NON-artificial experience with my new Electro EMC-1 MkII. Sure, pricey, but a sea change as important as a great speaker upgrade.
I too thought the Planet a bit dark. But then again that can be a good thing in a leanish system (metal tweeter, nearfield listening, upper crossover junk, untreated sidewalls, etc.).
I simply couldn't find a $1k player a year ago that cut it.
Used EMC-1 can be had around $2k. You can get the MkII DAC later for $600 (I got a couple straight from the EC for folks.) I figured it'd be a LONG time before someone made a combi-transport that REALLY sounded great on Redbook, so I went this route.
Good luck on your journey.

I recently upgraded my CD player from an NAD 513 carousel to a Rega Planet 2000. The NAD had a warm sound, and I liked it OK, but I have noticed a significant improvement in the low level detail, more extended bass, instruments and voices sound more real, it is just an overall improvement. It also has good build quality and operation is simple. My CD's are all "redbook", and I have no intention of going to SACD or DVD audio at this time, and I unfortunately had to make price a consideration, so the decision was based strictly on the best quality I could get for under $1K.

Bill