Best Basic CD Player (no SACD, USB, etc.)

Denon DCD-600ne is a great basic player. (I have the DCD-800ne I bought last year because I did want USB for FLACs and DSD).  +1 for the Rotel CD11 Tribute as well. Whatever you buy make sure it is gapless so all your CDs play like they are supposed to do. (Just like players did in the 1980s and 1990s). The Emotiva reviewed by cheapaudioman and some Onkyo are NOT gapless. That would drive me crazy. Would it you? Depends on the kind of music you have.

Marantz stuff is great, but the models definitely haven’t had a refresh in looks in a long time, but I think they are finally addressing that.

@shutupuface sometimes (but not that often) they’d mention gapless playback on the spec sheet or in the advertizing blurb. I know Cambridge Audio mentions it in their ad copy. That’s another brand of basic player many people seem to love even if on paper it has "average" specs.

I ended up having to search through customer reviews, Q&A sections, or ask questions on vendor sites like Crutchfield, B&H, and others. For the Onkyo I enlisted a rep on their own website who was at least honest with me about it not being gapless after I explained why that was important to me.  

For those who listen to live albums, concept albums, classical, prog rock, jazz, and even EDM, having gapless is very important.  Others who listen to mainly pop or rock that consists of only separate tracks might not be bothered by players that add in 3 second gaps between tracks like computer drives do. 

The advantage you have of buying from a vendor with a 15 to 30 day trial period is if you find something not to your liking you can send it back.

My Denon are gapless, so I was happy. Good luck.