The EAR Yoshino Acute Classic is the best I've heard for REDBOOK cd's. The most analog sounding I've come across. Finding one used would be within your budget most likely. The Acute Classic is the most recent version from EAR, having done Acute 1, 2 and 3 over the past decade or so. The ACUTE CLASSIC does sound improved over the prior versions, so there are some advancements in sound that would be best to get latest versions of cd players if funds allow. Digital has improved quite a bit over the last decade, even in strictly redbook cd players.
New or Old CD Player?
Let's say I have $5K, tops, to buy a CD player. I don't need digital inputs, outputs, etc. I don't need to spin SACD's. I only intend to play Redbook CD's and want a one-box solution. Would my money be better spent on a new unit, like maybe a Hegel Mohican? Or should I buy a component that was close to state of the art a decade ago? Like maybe a Simaudio 750D, or an Audio Research Reference CD8? Thoughts?