Best Cd player 1000.00 range used as transport ?

Agree with the above postings. If you've already got a good DAC then buy a dedicated transport (Theta, Meridian etc). If you don't yet have a DAC save yourself the trouble and buy the best one box player you can find.

Sean- I have been the high-end one-box route, and would not go back that way unless something came along that blew me out of the water. Transport-Dac combo is the way to go IMHO.

Sutts, do you take cost into account. For $1000 total outlay you still prefer two-box, over one box. (BTW I have a 3 box setup inc monarchy DIP that cost $500 total, which I think outperforms any $500 one box player I have heard, but these are all ancient pieces, from early 90s ... and it took a lot of messing around to get it right, plus homebrewed cables).

The one big advantage for a two box approach is you can buy a very old but very good DAC without having to worry about the reliability of an old CD transport. I don't believe the hype on modern DACs ... oldies can be goodies because of great output stages, power supplies and general over-design.

Darryl ... I think the optimum performance for the money, if you don't mind rolling up your sleeves, is to get a 10yr old top end DAC (e.g. Theta) and a cheap new player (e.g. Marantz CD5000) and then add a dedicated after market reclocking, buffered digital out, like the one from trichord (There are other cheaper available). $500 DAC, $250 Marantz, $200 upgrades.

Or you can save a lot of time and get a one-box player. If I had to do it all over again that's what I'd do.

Already have a great dac. I guess to boil down the real question, will a seperate transport on redbook cd really be a significant improvement over say a Sony 555es on redbook cd using the digital out? That boys is the real question. What do you think ?

I just replaced my theta data basic II with a cheap
sony DVD player used as a transport. The SONY presents more detail, wider soundstage and more pronounced bass. Lasers
wear out over time. I would not recommend buying an
old transport.