Affordable Transport

Possibly this thread topic has been done to death but, oh well, maybe some of you have changed your minds, so here goes.......I am looking to piece togther the highest possible performing separate CD Transport/DA converter combo I can for the least amount of money (what a cheap-skate, huh). I would like to keep the transport price $400-500. I have a Sony DVP-S7000 DVD player in the box that I have heard makes a nice, stand alone transport. What else, for the money mentioned, could possibly outperform the Sony? Thanks guys.