If you're keeping it under a grand, we would recommend going with a very good player (CD transport and DAC in one box), like from Arcam or Creek, or the like. If you are considering the used market, unless you can find a very good transport and DAC at a serious discount, going with a higher model CD player from one of the brands previously mentioned is recommended.
We will leave the transport vs. the one box player details to the next responder to thoroughly answer that question for you, but in the meantime, in a nutshell, if you match the right transport with the right DAC, it may give you better sound in the higher price ranges.
Happy auditioning!
We will leave the transport vs. the one box player details to the next responder to thoroughly answer that question for you, but in the meantime, in a nutshell, if you match the right transport with the right DAC, it may give you better sound in the higher price ranges.
Happy auditioning!