New transport or repair CD player

I have a 508.20 series Meridian CD player being used as a transport which has trouble reading CDs ("NO DISC" message) that it had no problem with in the past. I suspect the laser is dying.  The Meridian is a very well made player but to my ears sounds better being used as a transport into my external DAC.  The repair center in Georgia wants $500 to replace the laser mechanism.  A new transport such as the well regarded Audiolab 6000T is $600.  Seems to me it is worth getting the Audiolab or something similar rather than fixing the Meridian but not sure how they would compare sonically.  Plus, due to its age the drawer mechanism on the Meridian might become problematic in the not too distant future.  I need to keep it under $1000 otherwise I'd spring for one of the better transports such as Jays for example.  I suppose I could buy a new transport and if the sound isn't as good as the Meridian I could return it.  What would you do?