"BEST USED" CD player or players at about $1000

.Thanks to all who responded so far!!!

GZ3827, Jdub39,...and Elizabeth.... What makes a used CD player more vulnerable to break down than any other audio component??. Turntable motors do not last forever; drivers and cross-overs can fail in even the most expensive and QC'd speakers. Amps and pre-amps are notorious for droppng a channel or two more than occasionally

Yes, Elizabeth.... with a CD player one has to be sure parts, lasers, and transports are still available before buying; for example Meridian no longer has lasers or transports for the highly touted and sought after 508.24 CD player, and that may also be the true for the Meridian 506. I came close to buying(and still may buy) a Musical Fidelity A-5 CD hybrid CD player first marketed in 1999, which still gets decent reviews. Also,a used Cambridge 840C is a possibility first issued in 2008 (with more features than I could ever use)

Maybe, the above members are correct in assuming that MORE THINGS can go wrong with a CD player. However,let's not forget Audiogon is an audio mart for used equipment with a large catalogue of used CD players,and other used components Jim

RW, Thank you for the recommendation Oppo 95 Universal player. However, I am not interested in Blu-Ray DVD playback or a Home theater set-up, just a simple two channel rig.

I do get stuff from Netfix, which is played on a 6 year old Sony VHS/ DVD combo unit. It is OK, even though the VHS mode has a tracking problem and can't be used. I can buy a Sony BluRay player at Best Buys for $99.00. So why waste the money on features that I will not use.

One thing is certain if I go used,that any used player on AG that is a few years old and is selling for $800-950, I will pay no more than $550 total including shipping. $550 is a not an insubstantial amount of money in today's failing economy, but worth the risk if the player sounds better than what I have. It may play for 10 years more without a glitch, or become a large door stopper in less than one year. It beats the alternative of paying $2500-$3000 for a new high end player, that may be only marginally better than the almost vintage player.

Thanks to all who responded since my last response on 5/23/12. Mrtennis chastized me for not supplying more info but I did not want to bore the members. In addition, he asked if I had "auditioned many players?? the opportunities to do so are slim. I live in the middle of Pacific ocean in a place called Hawaii. There are only two major high-end shops in Honolulu, whose CD player offerings are generally out of my price range. Therefore, I must depend on the goodwill of the AG brotherhood and professional reviews

Update for those who may be interested, I bought a modded Cambridge Audio 550 C player from a third party. The modds were done by Mapleshade Audio. So far, the evaluation process is not going well, but all the cards have not been played; I have about 70 hours on the unit, from mostly playing a CD on repeat.

I have reviewed some of low points of the evaluation process in ANOTHER THREAD in the "digital" category, and followed this thread. A few have responded to the older thread, and took me to the woodshed for a good beating because I "supposedly" fell for the hype and outrageous claims about the modded 55C made on Mapleshade website.
I just got tired looking for a new or very good used player and decided to give this CD player a shot

The modded 550C is in mint/new condition and I paid under $800 including shipping To its credit, the 550c offers lighting fast transient response, and black noiseless backgrounds which enhance its midrange transparency. However, it is less dynamic and provides less midrange detail than my former Rega Apollo. This could, I hope, be related to finding the right IC, and/or PC. I do like the quality of its construction and metal( no plastic here) full function remote; the controls are also quick acting It also has returned me to a front loaning drawer as opposed to Rega's annoying top loading door.

I guess it is better to be disappointed in the performance of $750 CD player than say a $1500-$1800 "used" but "current player" that retails for $2200-2500. Thanks for the comments and advice. Jimbo