For some time I used a Resolution Audio (RA) CD-55 directly into my amplifier and found the sound to be detailed, with little glare, great bass response; all in all very enjoyable listening.
I searched a great deal before jumping into the RA CD-55. The short list came down to the CD-55, Theta Miles and Levinson CD-39. Some of my requirements for a CDP included a fully balanced design, as well as analog volume attenuation. While the analog volume control is (IMHO) superior to digital, I will admit that I am not sure if I can truly discern the difference between a fully balanced design, and that of a CDP utilizing single DACs for each channel. I believe neither a used CD-39 nor will a new CD-55 be in your price range. I have no experience with the CD-50, but they certainly are available used in your price range, with more than an ample following and reviews, here and at other sites, to warrant some listening. The balanced version of the Miles filled my bill, but I could not audition one with balanced outputs and decided to go with RA. Non-balanced used/dealer versions of the Miles are available on this site, and are definitely worth a listen prior to making a decision as well.
Neronian, although your original post did not specifically address this question, and at the risk of repeating previous posts, I must add the following: My desire to listen to other source material warranted that I return to a pre-amp, and I have since added a SF Line-3 pre-amp to my system. I believe the RA sound is more enjoyable with the pre-amp than without, but that may be attributable to output/input impedances on the pre/amp and the warmth of tubes in the system more closely matching my listening preferences than the ability of the CDP to provide accurate reproduction. My opinion, for what it’s worth. Happy Hunting!
I searched a great deal before jumping into the RA CD-55. The short list came down to the CD-55, Theta Miles and Levinson CD-39. Some of my requirements for a CDP included a fully balanced design, as well as analog volume attenuation. While the analog volume control is (IMHO) superior to digital, I will admit that I am not sure if I can truly discern the difference between a fully balanced design, and that of a CDP utilizing single DACs for each channel. I believe neither a used CD-39 nor will a new CD-55 be in your price range. I have no experience with the CD-50, but they certainly are available used in your price range, with more than an ample following and reviews, here and at other sites, to warrant some listening. The balanced version of the Miles filled my bill, but I could not audition one with balanced outputs and decided to go with RA. Non-balanced used/dealer versions of the Miles are available on this site, and are definitely worth a listen prior to making a decision as well.
Neronian, although your original post did not specifically address this question, and at the risk of repeating previous posts, I must add the following: My desire to listen to other source material warranted that I return to a pre-amp, and I have since added a SF Line-3 pre-amp to my system. I believe the RA sound is more enjoyable with the pre-amp than without, but that may be attributable to output/input impedances on the pre/amp and the warmth of tubes in the system more closely matching my listening preferences than the ability of the CDP to provide accurate reproduction. My opinion, for what it’s worth. Happy Hunting!