The Sony SACD players (SCD777 and XA777) is certainly good value for money, but they may not give you the warmth you are looking for.
There has been some buzz on audioasylum about a tubed Shanling CD player which Music Hall will bring in (at $2000). Inmate DannyB bought one directly from China and was very impressed. It certainly looks fantastic, I have for obvious reasons not heard it.
http://www.shanling.com/html/CD-T100e.htm
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/digital/messages/38073.html
There has been some buzz on audioasylum about a tubed Shanling CD player which Music Hall will bring in (at $2000). Inmate DannyB bought one directly from China and was very impressed. It certainly looks fantastic, I have for obvious reasons not heard it.
http://www.shanling.com/html/CD-T100e.htm
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/digital/messages/38073.html