NAD C542 vs Audio refinement Alpha complete CDP?

Rega Planet is in your price range a step above the NAD, AR and Cambridges IMHO.

I owned the C-541i and the Audio Refinement cdp a while back. I had been using the NAD and thought I'd try the AR. The NAD was much more alive to my ear, plus I got hooked on HDCD. Many more cds are HDCD encoded than you'd think. Many have no labeling but are HDCD encoded.
I sold the AR after about a month of comparing them. The NAD was in my systemm for two years without a glitch. Basically, the AR complete integrated was a much better product than the lack luster cdp.

Timrhu,
Did you think the AR was bright or just not as dynamic? I'm glad to hear the NAD is getting the nod. Its $200 cheaper.
Trip,
The rega is a good choice but I want to buy new.

Another piece I'd recommend you investigate is the Music Hall CD25.2. I owned the previous version, the CD25, for a couple of years and it was the best player I heard in that price range. The newer version is supposed to be even better. There are several reviews online, including one from Stereophile. List price is $599 but it's available for $540 from Audio Advisor and probably a bit cheaper from some other online dealers.

If you don't mind buying used, a CD25 with upgraded opamps is pretty spectacular and well within your budget.

I have the complete alpha CDP and what I would say is once you slap a decent power cable on it (Signal Cable Magic or $40 Soundstring in my case) it really becomes more alive and open sounding. No joke. Check my previous post about it a few weeks back.

Chris