Need a CD player to match

I would listen first to a Music Hall CD-25. Remember you can upgrade the power cord and it makes a significant difference.

You will already have thought of the top of the Rotel, NAD and Cambridge lines. To my ear, the CD-25 beats them all for dynamics, rhythm and drive, and does just as well in qualities like timbre and detail.

Here's one for sale :

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1129671765

However my recommendation for the very best within your budget would be the Shanling CD-S100 MK II. (Note the MH CD-25 is also a Shanling.) Unfortunately this second Shanling model is not available from dealers in the U.S.--only from Canada. However I think there is at least one Canadian dealer willing to ship across the border.

This player--the MK II--is a whole new ball game IMHO. For 50% more than the CD-25, you get at least twice as much music.

I've owned them both. Here's my comparison of the two :

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?rdgtl&1084467710&read&keyw&zzshanling

Happy hunting!

Ivyinvestor, I think you understand what folks say quite well. The original Planet, to my ears, was just as you say.

It sounded good to me. I thought this sonic style was actually a (good) choice by Rega, since players of that vintage so often had trouble in the highs, where the detail and air reside. Solving the problem might have required a design effort that pushed the player out of Rega's normal market range.