Muse Electronics Model 9 is a phenomenal player. There are several excellent used for sale by Hello Simply Music right now (and they are offering upgrades to signature status for $500. I have no affiliation with them except that I bought a Muse 296 DAC from them a little more than a month ago. The Muse units are unbelievably good and I'd suspect you could wind up with a just updated Model 9 signature for $1700 - $1900 which is a real steal.
CD Player Recommendation?
I've begun to upgrade and am looking for a 2k or under CD player. I don't care to get too fancy but I want something that will keep me happy for the next few years or until the sacd vs. dvd-a vs. hdcd thing gets settled. Not a chance I'm going to spend any more than fifteen bucks on a recording unless it's vintage vinyl and something I can't live without. So far I'm running a new McIntosh MC352 w/ the C42 preamp with Acoustic Zen connectors on out to a pair of Talon Khorus's via Acoustic Zen Satori cables. I'm pretty dang happy so far but I'd bet my old Magnavox CDB-650 would sound better hooked up to my garage or bedroom system. I think I want to have balanced outputs but don't care if they have analogue capabilities. Used is fine if it isn't more than one year old. Any recommendations would be truly appreciated.