Best CD player under $2000

Try to find a reconditioned Revox B225. It is built like a tank. German/Swiss engineering with a Phillips transport..the best.

Simaudio Moon 260D (T) new at $2000.
Excellent transport!

For me the best is:

EternalArts Digital Player DP DAC MkII

For my ears I've been really impressed by the Musical Fidelity M3scd. When A/B'd against a Bluesound Node 2i playing an MQA stream (which I also think is excellent for the money) I found the MF presents a wider soundstage with a comfortable balance and control of the sound. 

+1 on separate transport. I recently approached just this question and got a Cambridge CXC and an MHDT Orchid DAC. The CXC is solid (there are other solid transports, of course) and my DAC is great.
I may be repeating things you've read, but here is my bullet list for the separates route:

• CD's are yielding to streaming. I already find myself using my streamer way more than my CD player.
• Good DAC can accept multiple inputs — I run both CXC and Node 2i streamer through DAC. Thus, improving sound of either digital source (and a third if I connect my laptop) could be done with one switch of DAC.
• If you get a tube DAC you can tube roll. Cannot do that with most CD players.
• A CD transport has no money spent on an internal DAC; it does one thing well (if it does it at all)