What's the best non-DAC CD player?

Answer to budget question is I'd like to say in the < US$5k region, US-made. Not because of screaming patriotism, but to avoid European VAT and other hidden fees and taxes.
I've actually got my mind thinking of a used Levinson Madrigal I hear good things about that I could throw away on Fleabay if I didn't like it. Just want the basics, and finesse with the DAC end of things. Either way, I don't want to take out a second mortgage on the house. I had that little Rega top-loading player but there was no way to tweak it. I want the best engine around which I can build a car, if that makes any sense. Thanks.

@reubent , and to the others ( guess you can do only one @pmotz )who have weighed into this.
This has been very helpful. Than-you. Again, a complex subject.
Here is what I am about to start with, being a tube guy:
Bought the Mark Levinson Madrigal player off flreabay. $600 all in.
Considerably more for the DAC:
https://audiorevelation.com/products/aqua-la-scala-mkii-optologic-dac/
from a dealer who is discontinuing them so a good deal.
I think/hope these will be good starting points, at least. The DAC comes with Telefunken volt-amp and buffer tubes and a few spares of lesser quality. Wish me luck. I will keep you posted. Again, many thanks for your help here.
Cheerio, deepee99 a/k/a/ Dave.

The Madrigal turned out to be flea-bit. Apparently they all were from the day they were new, on purpose. Long story but google Mark Levinson sometime for a sad history lesson on what Proceed did to him after they took over his company. Fortunately the seller took it back; he knew the history, I didn't. All the newer Oppos have an S/PDIF output and are very reliable. Spend your money on the external DAC.

@reubent
Actually, the Oppo BDP-103 has a dedicated "pure audio" circuit, whatever that means, selectable from the remote. However, I am learning towards the Cambridge as a stand-alone.
The Aqua La Scala is a true work of art, as it ought to be, given the $5k-plus price. The 12AT7s in it aren't mere buffers; they're actually the voltage amps, so good tube quality is essential of course. But the workmanship is nonpariel and could make even the lamest of transports sound fantastic. Plus I like the variety of inputs.
At any rate, thanks for the info.

And if you really want to go crazy:
http://www.innuos.com/en/catalog/go/zenith-mk2-std

The Innuous ZENith Mk II will be here in a few weeks. With 1 terrabyte (expandable to 4) SSD it should have plenty of room for all my CDs; built-in Teac slot drive, and controllable with any wireless MS, iOS or Linux/Droid tablet/phone, I’ll continue to use the Oppo BDP-103 for single-play. I returned the UDP 203 as unnecessary. All plugged into the LaScala DAC - the Oppo via RCA-type S/PDIF and the storage unit by a high-quality (probably Kimber silver) USB 2.0. Both the Oppo and Innuous optical drives are easily and inexpensively replaceable. The Innuous can accommodate up to 4 TB external SSD but with prices coming down I’ll wait on that. At least it already has a USB 3.0 receptacle ready when the time comes.The Aquos La Scala requires hard-wiring from your DSL/cable modem for streaming and album artwork, but terminated Cat 6a ethernet cable (I like Blue Jeans just fine for this application) is only about $1/foot for a 50-foot run around all the obstacles in the basement. I toyed going the J-River route but am tired of spending weeks writing Linux hacks and would have to upgrade my existing drives on 10-year-old computers, anyway.
I realise I started this thread in search of a stripped-down, high quality DAC-less CD-only xport. The MSB was a real temptation but they use the Oppo optical drive as well, so turns out what I was looking for was sitting here on the shelf all along. Thanks for all the input and allowing me to think through this tube guy’s introduction to solid-state playback and storage.
Any other thoughts duly appreciated and again, thanks for the ideas.
Dave