Cd player

moonwatcher

Just read an article claiming that some streaming services are "contemplating" culling their catalogs, meaning they’ll drop anything that doesn’t get at least a minimum number of views per month ...

That seems unlikely, @moonwatcher. Where did you read that claim?

I believe it. Corporations are out there to squeeze blood out of a stone. The stock market has become dillusional thinking that a companies quarters can  exponentially increase every 3 months. It’s all about appeasing the shareholders. Fire 1,800 people from Spotify. That will level things out for a bit. Yes. This did transpire. 
 

I should have saved the article. I just read that Sony is peeved at streaming services because “Independent music”  clogs the algorithm, and people are not hearing the latest and greatest releases of insipid, compressed, recycled  pop music that has been released lately. 
 

One more reason I purchase physical. 
 

Regarding movies. There can be three different iterations of one film. Let’s say you purchase Blade Runner directors cut from Apple TV as an example. If Apple gets a new version that’s remastered or alternate soundtrack. The copy you purchased digitally is gone and replaced by the new one. So … Yes. I agree DVDs are quite important as well. Lots of film that I enjoy is simply not available. It doesn’t make the cut to be on a corporate server. Instead they will release the fast and furious 20 — the lost burn outs. 
 

This century is definitely not for me… 

I also have a C2700 preamp, and was considering either the new MCT-500 CD/SACD transport which, with the MCT (DIN) connection will allow you to get the true SACD layer to the DA2 module of the C2700.  You could also try and find a used MCT-450 at a lower price.  However, I'm not fond of the DA2 DAC and ended up ordering a Luxman D-07X CD/SACD player, though that might be above your budget.

Congrats with your Luxman. - why lack of aes/ebu?  

If your DAC is compatible then the following is great, even with the cheapest used OPPO as a transport (like $200). An additional bonus is that it also plays DSD (SACD). My Benchmark DAC3B and Schitt Yggi+ LIM DACs both work with it. I was thinking of the new Schitt URD (sp?) CD player but tried the D.BOB and found it exceeded expectations. I also wanted SACD. My prior player was a Sony SCD-1, which died after 20+ years.

GeerFab Audio D.BOB Digital BreakOut Box – Upscale Audio (I paid $700)