Players made in U.S.A.?

You may want to check out the Granite Audio 650. While it lists for $1500, I think you can pick it up for a good bit under $1000 new. I own the 657, which includes the 650 (solid state output), and it is a better player to my ears than the Jolida J100, Rega Planet/Jupiter, Musical Fidelity A3, Music Hall MMF25, etc. Very powerful and dynamic, with a lush midrange and treble. Excellent detail.

I would also look into the lower end Cary players, as you could probably meet your goal there as well.

Aball, I have a lot of experience with the Jolida JD100, and couldn't feel more differently than you. I have always felt its achilles heel is a murky, unrefined sound. It is a nice player to be sure, and represents good value. However, the Music Hall MMF25 beats it to my ears, and the Granite 650 just walks away from both of them. The Granite has the body and warmth that most digital is sorely lacking in, along with outstanding detail and clarity.

I have mixed feelings as to why my Granite does not have a "Made in" statement on the player. If you put a gun to my head, based on this thread, I would say that it is quite possible the player is made in Asia, and then perhaps somehow tweaked here by Don Hoglund (even if it's simply applying the corian faceplate). The 657, which is simply a modded 650, looks in all likelihood to have its conversion done in the USA.

We agree the "Designed and Engineered in the USA" is a ridiculous comment.

Hearing the Cary players are made in Asia is disheartening.

I checked on my Granite, and did not see a "Made in" anywhere on the player, interestingly enough. Still, I believe that all Granite equipment is made in Arizona, but I could be wrong. Nevertheless, the 650 is a wonderful player that meets your budget, so I still recommend it. I was listening last night to the player in 650 (solid state) and 657 (tube) modes, and in 650 mode, the player is extraordinarily weighty, dynamic, and punchy in the bass and smooth in the midrange and treble. Tube mode seems to not have the bass oomph, but adds some sparkle and shimmer to the midrange and treble.