Upgrading cd player

@tattooedtrackman Hmmm, upgrading a CD player???? If your budget is $12k I'm certain you already have a high end DAC. Why not get a unit that will allow you to RIP your CD,"s to a drive and just stream it. There are several units on the cheap , Eversolo DMP. All the way up to PS Audio Petfect Wave offerings

You really should check out the Luxman 07x SACD CDP if possible. Retail is 10K.

Detailed yet very musical. They also have RB CDP's for less money. I have the D06U which is the previous model.  I much preferred over the Esoteric K01 and the dcs Puchini with clock which are far more expensive.  Good luck.

Onkyo C-7030. I swear by them.  I collect them-if I see a used one for $150 or less, I buy it. currently, i own 4 i think. 1st time I ever heard a ‘soundstage’ was during the 1st song I played on a C-7030. Jim Keltner’s drums, on Handle With Care, sounded like tyey were set up over my bathroom door.  I’ve undertaken the A/B challenge against other brands & my 7030’s hold their own s

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+1 piftech.  I have owned an Onkyo C 7030 for six years (very light useage) using it as a dedicated transport, and it works well. I paid about $173 including an extended warranty. I also have my late Dad’s 1992 Naim CDi which I also use sparingly. The CDi is a noticeably better sounding player but at about 90 times the price, factoring in for inflation, it should be. 👍

Have you thought about about going with a transport and dac at all? I bought a used Jays Audio MKll recently (top loader) and it is way better than I expected.Deep soundstage and the way it separates all of the instruments and vocalists in a natural way is really impressive.It was purchased reluctantly to replace the Cambridge that was beginning to have some issues but turned out being a major upgrade.