What cd player should I buy?

The Sony SACD players (SCD777 and XA777) is certainly good value for money, but they may not give you the warmth you are looking for.

There has been some buzz on audioasylum about a tubed Shanling CD player which Music Hall will bring in (at $2000). Inmate DannyB bought one directly from China and was very impressed. It certainly looks fantastic, I have for obvious reasons not heard it.

http://www.shanling.com/html/CD-T100e.htm
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/digital/messages/38073.html

Try to audition the Audio Aero Prima, little brother to the Capitole. Used to sell for $1500 but I think the price has gone up to $1800 now.

I'd buy a turntable, but...that's just me. I like YBA CDP's, they sound a lot less digital than anything else I've auditioned.

A trick to buying used CD players is to wait until May or June! Many manufactures introduce revised models (the Audio Aero Capitole) and the older models take quite a hit on the used market! Generally speaking, digital components are probably one of the WORST pieces of electronics when it comes to holding resale! Keep an eye out for an announcement by a major and very well know high end manufacturer who will be discontinuing their top of the line redbook CD player/processor (just introduced in 2000!) Sorry, I can not divulge the name as I have been sworn to secrecy! Happy Tunes!

...can't go wrong with any of these two...