Need recommendation for a CD player

"so, the real question is whether there is a CD player for less than $2k that sounds better than the 105D?"

Insert the word "new" in front of "CD player" and the answer may well be "no" or "not in any audibly significant way".

It seems that the 105D is right at the sweet spot of that price range re: price/performance/versatility and must have a really good digital section as Dan Wright stated that, "Oppo’s stock clock “is excellent and unique,” and its DAC (employing two ESS Sabre ES9018 chips) “is exceptional.” He added that because they could not improve upon the clock or the DAC, Modwright left them alone."

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/modwright-oppo-bdp-105-with-truth-modifications/

Exemplar also chose the 105 as the model to modify for their latest and only current digital offering.

Dan chose the Marantz SA-8005 for his latest Truth mod, possibly due to Oppo discontinuing the 105/105D. Seems that the 105D and the SA-8005 are the current kings of the latest <$2k players until the new models are introduced...

Dave

OP-


which player(s) have you auditioned? Happy Listening!

I got to try the Marantz SA 8005. It was nice, but I didn't run any A/B Tests.
. Then, I thought about changing directions. I realized I really do not like fooling with the physical CDs. I have never come up with a great way of storing them. Case Logic binders with sleeves is so cumbersome. Anyway, I started listening to the siren song of copying all that digital info to a computer and then using an iPad at my listener's chair and just looking at lists and cover art instead of binders of CDs. After all, what's the diff, storing digital info on a small CD or tons of digital data on a huge SSD drive?
I had an extra Mac mini sitting around so I started importing all my CDs into iTunes using the Apple Lossless Encoder with error checking on. MANY hours later, I am almost done. The man at the stereo store where I borrowed the Marantz SA 8005 says I should STILL buy the Marantz because it has such a great DAC, that the DAC in my Parasound P5 is sub par, and that I can't touch the DAC in the Marantz at that price point even if I just use the Marantz as a DAC. Do you agree?

Only your ears will tell. Either way, next challenge is to get the jitter out of the interface, which is already addressed with a good all-in-one player.

Best to you ericruff,
Dave

Sound to me like you have the opportunity to evaluate both approaches in your own system. I encourage you to do so. I also have a computer based system using the Mac Mini however at times insert a CD into my player. The Marantz will provide you that option in addition to possibly supplying a better sounding DAC.