Best CD player

The concept of the best CD player is a "myth". If you review the many comments on this site, you will see a wide variety of suggestions regarding what one should or should not buy. A look at the audio magazines also shows a wide variety of comments, opinions and recommendations on this topic. My sense is the associated equipment you have and your own listening experience dictates what sounds good or not good. Based on my own listening experience, I sometimes like a unit that others have liked and visa versa. I also discovered that, in my system, simple things like changing an interconnect cable can make a unit sound much better (or worse). If possible, I suggest you pick several CD players and listen to them using your own music to decide what sounds like music to you. While this is not easy, it should enable you to help make this decision. Of course, if you can borrow the unit to listen to in your own system, the better your final choice will be. Retailers, friends and audio sites will provide you are large list of units but you cannot listen to 50 different units (I do not think). In my case, I have selected two local Retailers to work with and have narrowed my list down to three for additional listening. Your final decision needs to be based on your listening to the CD player in your environment to decide what sounds okay to you.

Agreeable with Hgeifman. Or why not try to do some "benchmarking" with what you would like to hear. Borrow a friend's turntable like starting out with a rega,put on a descent cartridge. There is something in analog that ultimately woes your emotion. Then perhaps listen to a CD unit that is comparable.

Test with different types of music,like fast paced ones.
Almost all too often,even high priced CD players sound confused versus vinyl play. And dont forget about those extension...in both frequency extremes.

I've heard how a Forsell DAC outperforms a Jadis and curiously tried a REga outfitted with a Benz micro cartridge,it was a shock to me that at 1:5 cost ratio or over, the TT was a overwhelmingly better.

Let your ears decide,almost everything is relative to combination and compatibility.

Bat VK-D5i, used. Hands down the best redbook cd player I've had the pleasure of listening to. I only wish I had your budget, and could afford it.

The Audio Aero Capitole is in my opinion the best recomendation, As Tireguy suggests, sell the placette and you'll be there.

I have owned many of the CD Transports or Players mentioned. After hearing the Capitol the choice is simple. It is also the most cost effective, because no additional DAC or Pre amp is needed. You also eliminate a lot of expensive cabling.

Good Luck & Good Listening

There is no 'best' anything. There are many well made and designed audiophile components, and even more cables.

If you are unsatisifed with the sound you are getting, focus on the souce material, verify speaker placement and room conditions, then upgrade the speakers.

The rest is pretty much aesthetic, phyco-acoustic game playing, and hair splitting.