Has anyone compared the CD 3 Audio Research to...?

has anyone compared the audio research cd 3 to other players or other dacs in this price range. I have compared to krell and mark levinson and the cd 3 seemed the most musical of the 3. This is the only products the local store carrries and I would like some insight on on other brands I presently have a arcam cd player and quite frankly it is not bad for the buck. But as the hobby goes it is time to look for something else.