Best sounding CD Player for $3K or less used?

I assume you are talking about a redbook player, and not a universal player. If so, you might consider an Ayre CX-7e at around $2K. I also have been looking at different players in the $3K or so range that might significantly improve my system, but I have yet to hear of one that makes me want to upgrade for primarily redbook playback. Maybe the Ayre has good synergy with the rest of my system, but I think it might just be a pretty good player. BTW, I use it single ended, but I have used it both ways and in my system it sounds just as good single ended as it did balanced (with different preamps).

This thread seems to have morphed from "Best sounding CD Player for $3K or less used" to "best analogue sounding CD player...." Regardless, I am surprised not to see the Lector CDP 7T mentioned yet, which typically goes for below $3K used. Both the MkII and MkIII versions IMO are outstandingly musical for the price, and can be considered "analogue sounding" if that label can be translated to; smooth, rich, dynamic, and 3-dimensional, with very good midrange textures and excellent full bass (especially for a tubed output stage); all without being mechanical or digital sounding. I own the MkIII and enjoy it so much that I not only use one in my main music system, but also purchased a second one that greatly improves music playback through my HT system, compared to playing CD's through the Sony DVD player I have in that system. To my ears, the Lector bettered the Stibbert (in my system) by having a fuller, more realistic and more musical presentation. The CX7e I discussed earlier in this post is a different animal, that does nothing wrong, but leans more toward a tidy, precise sound that just doesn't get me as excited about listening.