The two players I currently use as CD Transports are REALLY not bad as CD Players either...
(1) Sony BDP-S2000ES
A true ES unit, no SACD, coax opt. digital outputs Great transport AND standalone CD player, Slow loading gen 1.5 Blu Ray player, but worth the wait.
(2) Harman Kardon CD-990
Coax/opt outs, also RCA / XLR analog outputs w twin internal AKM dacs. Suggest sound deadening of (under) top cover with Dyna-mat or Kilmat. Refined rendition of the classic HK sound signature (as a transport) after mod. Also capable of being used as a DAC (has digital inputs).
I won’t say these are giant killers, but they ARE a bit surprising as CD transports.
They have replaced an OPPO UDP-203 AND a Sony UBP-X1000ES used as transports in my rack; into a Schiit Gungnir Multibit A2 DAC.