This thread seems to have morphed from "Best sounding CD Player for $3K or less used" to "best analogue sounding CD player...." Regardless, I am surprised not to see the Lector CDP 7T mentioned yet, which typically goes for below $3K used. Both the MkII and MkIII versions IMO are outstandingly musical for the price, and can be considered "analogue sounding" if that label can be translated to; smooth, rich, dynamic, and 3-dimensional, with very good midrange textures and excellent full bass (especially for a tubed output stage); all without being mechanical or digital sounding. I own the MkIII and enjoy it so much that I not only use one in my main music system, but also purchased a second one that greatly improves music playback through my HT system, compared to playing CD's through the Sony DVD player I have in that system. To my ears, the Lector bettered the Stibbert (in my system) by having a fuller, more realistic and more musical presentation. The CX7e I discussed earlier in this post is a different animal, that does nothing wrong, but leans more toward a tidy, precise sound that just doesn't get me as excited about listening.
