Replacement CD Player?

 I second the Oppo 205 recommendation.  @willemj makes a great point in that you can still use the digital inputs on Meridian.  So if you find the Oppo somewhat disappointing just use it as a transport.
However you will gain all the flexibility that mentions.  Even if you don’t need or want it’s file playing capabilities you may want to purchase some Blu Ray Concerts

If Bluray is not important but occasionally still useful a cheap Bluray player is also a good idea. Unfortunately many of the cheaper ones no longer have optical audio outputs, so you would need to inspect the specifications carefully. Most Playstations will do the job, however.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. So I think the Oppo UDP-203 at $599 will likely fit the bill with its optical output (plus a couple of nice extra features like the USB on the front). Based on everyone's input I'm not sure the 205 is worth the extra $600?

As stated the main difference between203 and 205 ( just like 103 and 105) is in the audio.
The 205 has much better built in DAC than 203.
But if you are going to use just as a transport then yes it would be a total waste of money. However the 205 might be more of a future proof purchase if you also decided to change your preamp at any time.
Your choice.....

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. I went with the Oppo 203 and connected it to my 561 via the optical ports. 

Very pleased with the result!