Suggestions for CD player $2-3k used?

I get to listen to a lot of live music(acoustic and amplified) as a sound tech. I've been using a BAT VK-D5 for the last two years. I've found it a VERY musical/accurate player. It provides everything in the way of resolution/imaging/ambience info/pace/extention(bottom and top) that the rest of my system can convey. I've been bi-amping since 1980, and it has delivered the cleanest bottom of any source I've used. No problems telling the kick from the double bass, and great pitch articulation(providing the recording is good). It's the only piece in my system that I haven't had to mod. The only tweaks necessary: Isolation from vibration is essential(as with any other player), and find some NOS Siemens CCa's from the 60's for it. It also puts out over 2V at the balanced outs, which will drive most amps w/o a pre. I used it with a Placette Passive Linestage for awhile and OH, the transparency!

Hello Mitch- The CCa's I referred to are 10K hr tubes. They should out live the love affair I have with the VK-D5 and it's musicality. By the way- If you should pursue these excellent(and highly accurate)tubes: be certain to find the 60's(dark grey getter support), and not the 70's versions. The later tubes were terrible on top(pumped razor blades). I really don't want to be restricted to one tube selection either(as the SE/6H30 version is). The D5SE also provides less voltage at the outputs than the D5(about half). A serious consideration for me, as my Tact 2.2X doesn't provide much gain at it's outputs. For some of the CDs I own(recorded at lower levels)that can be a drawback to my listening pleasure(I like realistic DB levels). A used VK-D5 at about $1500.00 and six NOS CCa's at about $700.00 would fit your stated price goal nicely. You might have a harder time finding someone that wants to sell their BAT, than to find the tubes. Oh- with regards to bass response: My system is flat to 20hz through the VK-D5 player(Stereophile Test CD #2 for test signal). I forgot to mention that earlier. Bluebook CD repsonses are truncated at 20 and 20kHz of course. With the TacT's pink noise generator, I measure 3db down at 14hz. Like I said: the VK-D5 delivers the music. If you get one, and something's missing: It's either not on the CD, or the system/cables/interconnects are holding it back. The VK-D5 and Kimber Select 1130s are a match made in heaven, BTW.

If you care to research the CCa further:(https://www.tubeworld.com/6922.htm) has some good info at the bottom of the page. Further info on VK-D5 per Stereophile review:(http://www.stereophile.com/digitalsourcereviews/570/) I noticed that a couple of TAS writers/reviewers had VK-D5s in their reference systems until just last year. The TAS review belabored the point of the VK-D5SE's alledged, "dark" voicing, to the consternation of a number of BAT lovers. There were some humorous 'letters to the editor' in response.