the best CD player under $1k?

Brando, be sure to look up past posts as there have been many good ones on this very question recently. I vote for an outboard dac with a transport.

The Cambridge is the best one under $500 hands down IMHO. Sells for $399. List is $450.

Is there a policy about dealers selling in the threads?????????????????????????????

You may want to wait a little longer before making any purchase decision. Currently other than the $5500.00 Pioneer transport there is nothing available with both SACD and DVD-A. Therefore whatever you purchase is essentially already outdated. Check out the Perpetual Technologies P1A. It will upgrade all of your current CD's to 24/96 quality. It also will correct your speakers phase and frequency response and room distortions with future software upgrades. It has received two excellent reviews in the January 2001 editions of Stereophile and Home Theater magazine. In about a year there should be some multi-format players to choose from at reasonable prices and whatever format wins you will be ready to move forward.

Brando, do yourself a favor and listen to a Rega Planet. I would say "hands down" this is the best player under a grand. Very musical and detailed without taxing your ears. The new model retails for $950, but you can find a demo or used one for around $500. In addition to the sound, it couldn't be easier to use. Flip the lid, toss on a disc. There is no mechanical transport or suspension (which introduce error in the playback or can break with use) in the traditional sense as the suspension is the feet of the player. The player also scans back and forth between tracks faster than any other player I have used. I used one for a while before upgrading to my current rig (over $3,000) and could very easily live with it again.