What cd player should I buy?

I am sure you will get many excellent opinions, mine would be the Meridian 508.24; you can get one used for the price you list and I feel meets your desires.

The Rega CD players are noted for their warmth. You'd even have some $$ left for CD's.

Add the Linn Ikemi (used around $2.2 - 2.4K) to your audition list. It is very nice. Joel

It's not clear to me that you need a warmer sound; rather that you current combo has a hard, grainy edginess to it that you'd like to lose. If you're loking for a cd player that adds nothing and takes away nothing, then I think the built-like-a-tank Sony XA7ES is a great call. The guy who sold me mine then bought the Meridian 508.24, referenced above. A month later he called and asked if I'd swap the players with him! (I kept the Sony).

get the new bel canto 2.0 dac($1300)and nordost dig. cable(used$300-350).