Maybe something like a used Bryston BDP1 or BDP2 wouldn't be a bad option. Good reviews from a sonic perspective and relatively easy to use versus other options, and I've heard Bryston provides very good support if you have any questions/problems.
As far as good redbook recordings, just about anything from MA Recordings sounds very good and some very interesting and different music (Sera Una Noche, etc.). I have also found many ECM recordings to sound very good as well, and to my ears both of these rival the higher-rez recordings I have. It's also worth noting any digital recording is only as good as the transfer process, so it's possible a redbook CD could even sound better than its 24/196 or SACD counterpart if they screw up the transfer on the latter. Point is, redbook can sound damn good if done right -- you just know where to look. I second the Music Direct and XRCD recommendations as well.
Best of luck with all this, and let us know what you end up doing and how it sounds.
As far as good redbook recordings, just about anything from MA Recordings sounds very good and some very interesting and different music (Sera Una Noche, etc.). I have also found many ECM recordings to sound very good as well, and to my ears both of these rival the higher-rez recordings I have. It's also worth noting any digital recording is only as good as the transfer process, so it's possible a redbook CD could even sound better than its 24/196 or SACD counterpart if they screw up the transfer on the latter. Point is, redbook can sound damn good if done right -- you just know where to look. I second the Music Direct and XRCD recommendations as well.
Best of luck with all this, and let us know what you end up doing and how it sounds.