Which is the best CD-Player up to $ 10k ?

thanks so far for the very nice input. I have had already Accuphase DP-67, Esoteric DV-50S, Audio Aero Capitole MK II with mods, Ayre C-5xe and a GNSC modded Wadia 581 as well as the former Marantz top model and the here mentionned Ayon CD-1.

The Wadia was by far the best - followed by the C-5xe. The only downside with the Wadia was its reliability. I have been told the later SE version is improved in this area as well as sonically ?
The Ayre was superb sounding and very reliable - only downside is the cheap and awfull plastic tray (Charles if you read this: please make my day and develop a nice series 3 or 1 cd-player.
The Audio Aero had extreme reliability issues and was sonically very good at the top-end/ mid -range. Base line was quite bad and bloomy.
The mentionned Ayon CD-1 was very good for the asking price but couldn´t compete with any of the other players. Furthermore had it to be repaired twice because of realibility issues.
Esoteric DV-50 S was a good device. The Accuphase DP-67 sounded flat as a pancake and was musically totally uninvolving.

Unfortunately I had no chance to compare these players A B and with the latter models.

I will follow the hint with the AMR and the CD-7. How do the compare to the machines on my shortlist ?
rgds.

today I´ll listen to Esoteric X-01 D 2 vs. Audio Aero Prestige SE. I´ll keep you posted. Important for me is that the divice has to sound excellent through its unbalanced outputs as I use a single ended class A triode integrated amp which is outstanding and won´t be replaced for a very long time.

Stringreen: I´ve had the C-5xe - the only downside next to the flimsy plastic tray is that Ayre gear sound best through balanced outputs.

Tried to contact the guys from playback designs but didn´t get any response. I wanted to know where in Germany you can buy these players. In the meantime I´v bought the Nagra and I´m VERY satisfied with the results.

I´ve bought the Nagra CDP - a great sounding and very well build cd-player with the most accurate sound I´ve ever heard from a cd-player. It´s for sure nothing for overly bright systems or all tube lovers. But in combination with tube amplification the cdp is a dream machine (at a very high price point). Unfortunately none of my emails was answered by playback designs. Bad customer service I would say. The amr was to warm in my system but played very well in a friend system with solid state amplification.