cd player is dying, need suggestions please

There may be cheaper options which sound as good and possibly better.

Like a Mac Mini and a Mytek DAC (USB or FireWire connected), an external drive to hold all the audio, a backup drive, an external CD/DVD ROM to read your CDs for ripping and an iPad Mini as remote control device.

Regards,

I guess I'm still old fashioned and am still playing and cleaning my CDs one at a time. It's all part of the hobby and doing my part. Anyway, much has to do with your budget and how many $$ and how much time you want to spend on this. There are so many decent CD players at the mid-fi level today. NAD CD players for example are still super machines for the money and they have several very affordable models to choose from. Earlier this year I invested in a brand new Rotel RCD-1572 CDP in the $1K area and it was well worth it. It was an upgrade from a Rotel RCD-1072 I had for a number of years and loved it. I particularly like the front disc loading feature of the new unit and it has been working well (at least so far)!! As for the audio and sound, well it's a Rotel. Enough said !! Fabulous.

Marantz sa 8004 will sound great and gives you the digital inputs

Sony 5400ES no comparison with any of the ones mentioned before,
I tried them all.
You can buy one used now for around $800 and you will thank me forever.
I have 2 DACs but still keep my Sony.
Regards

Look for a Sony 595 as refurb from SonyStyle for about $60. Hey it also plays SACD's.