The best CD Player for the money

Arcam fmj cd23 Best for the money I have come across. I have tried more expensive players but the FMJ 23 betters some costing much much more.

I haven't actually listened to any CDs on it, but the RAM-modded Oppo is the finest SACD I've ever heard. I admit that I've not been exposed to the ultra high-end (EMM, Esoteric, Meridian seperates), but Ihave spent time with the upper echelon Sony, Denon, Classe', etc. stuff & the Oppo pretty much destroys them as far as sound goes. Unfortunately, the ergonomics suck, though.

The Classe CDP 102 is one of the best redbook cd players for the money. The CDP 102 is very musical, almost analogue. The high are extended and not bright. The low end is well exxtened. The Classe and the Ayre 5e were the only models that made feel the extra expense was better than my old Arcam Alpha 9. I chose the CDP 102 because the Ayre was not $1500 better.

Original CD-2008 mkII. Can be found new for $550, list 900. Upgradeable through several people...Cullen Circuts and Moon-Audio are worth mentioning. For another 500-900, these are compared to 20-30,000 transport-DAC combos. If I buy any other player for awhile, it will be one of these.
Good looking unit, too.

Zackattack420, please tell us more about the differences you heard between your CD-2008 mkII and the transport-DAC combos. Plus which modifier did you use?