For less than US$1000 I nominate the following CD players:
1. Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 - It's actually a Dutch moded Marantz CD-4000 and it retails for $699. Later on you can install the TjoUpsampling upgrade which would be an additional $349. The unit and upsampler used to cost only $579 and $299 but went up because of the weakening USD. Reviews rate it from excellent to downright amazing.
http://www.stereophile.com/digitalso...ews/1103tjoeb/
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazin...0104/tjoeb.htm
2. Jolida JD100A - a $900 true tube cd player and you also have the option of rolling tubes to your taste and enjoyment. Like the Tjoeb it has many happy users. There is also a mod available if you want to that later. You may be able to get this cheaper at Audiogon or Ebay.
http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/jolida-jd100_e.html
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazin...lidajd100a.htm
3. Heart CD-6000 OSE LE - also known as the tube modified Marantz CD-6000 and it costs $996, shipping included. Although they are similar, more prefer the Tjoeb, however, this replacement model to the CD-6000 made a few improvements. It is less popular than the 2 above so I have yet to read reviews from actual owners.
http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/heartcd6000le_e.html
4. Arcam CD73T - The Arcam brand is well known in Britain in producing high quality audio. It's What Hi-Fi?'s product of the year 2003. The CD73 replaces the CD72, the main difference being that the CD73 has the latest 24bit Wolfson DAC. It's very new, so no reviews on the internet yet but if the CD72 is that good then this $899 cd player would even be better. You also have the flexibility of upgrading to their higher end models if you opt to do so in the future.
http://www.arcam.co.uk/diva/hifi/cd73.html
5. Rotel RCD1072 - This is the latest CD player from Rotel. It's the least expensive of the 5 retailing at $699 but cheaper on the market. This seems to be an excellent player given the high praises received by its predecessor the RCD1070 and it's sibling the RCD-02.
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/news...l_rcd1072.html
Unfortunately, one can only audition the Arcam, Rotel, & Jolida because the Ah! & Heart will have to be ordered overseas so one must rely on professional reviews and actual owners. It will also depend if you like the tube, hybrid or ss sound.