Looking for CDP/ss amp 3K each

New or used? Balanced or not? What spkrs. will you be upgrading to? Size of room? Room treatments? How's the AC?

You mention passive linestage a plus. How does that fit into the equation?

I am selling a Musical Fidelity KW500 for a friend that lost his job that fits your needs. Musical Fidelity is often paired with B&W and my friend was using 802's with it.

I'm thinking used unless I can find a decent price on new. I would prefer balanced. I plan to stick with B&W speakers but a larger, newer version with diamond tweeters. My room is decent sized, something like 21 x 15. Would be great if the CDP had a volume control as it would mean I wouldn't have to get a preamp :) And yes, I've got s few tube traps and other things scattered on the walls.

Just looking for ideas on a CD player. I've got a bad case of Spring fever and a few bucks to spend so time for some upgrades. My current player is a $300 Marantz. Might make a good transport if I could find the right DAC.

"the right DAC"
PS Audio PerfectWave Dac,3K new, 2K used.

I'm not a fan of metal dome tweeters but one of the best sounding B&W setups I've heard was run with Mac amps. These were a set of the MC501 mono blocks with the huge VU meters. I would think if the house sound is comparable, a different Mac piece would work.

Don't know what the difference between the metal dome & diamond tweeters would be from a sonic standpoint.

A very nice amp I can recommend is the Ayre V-5x or xe. I still think this is a "sleeper" piece & can be had used for right around $3k.

I'd second the Ayre V-5xe (there are currently two listed) and with that, you could also add the Ayre CX-7e CDP which are selling used at less than 2K, or the Ayre C-5xe Universal Player which are selling used in the $3500 range.