Earlier this year, I posted a query similar to yours re: a disc player in the same price range. (Search under my user name to see it.) After reading the helpful replies of other forum members, I ended up purchasing (without audition) a Denon DCD-1600NE. The other finalist was the Yamaha model of approximately the same price.
I wasn't initially thrilled with the Denon. But with a long break-in, and with a decent pair of interconnects and an aftermarket power cord, the sound quality is now pretty good. In my system (McIntosh MC402, Sonus Faber Olympica III), I use it for SACDs and better-recorded CDs. The Denon does not do as well with older/less well-recorded discs, for which I use an older CD player with 6H30 tubes.
I wasn't initially thrilled with the Denon. But with a long break-in, and with a decent pair of interconnects and an aftermarket power cord, the sound quality is now pretty good. In my system (McIntosh MC402, Sonus Faber Olympica III), I use it for SACDs and better-recorded CDs. The Denon does not do as well with older/less well-recorded discs, for which I use an older CD player with 6H30 tubes.