I would look into the Grant Fidelity Tube DAC -09 and then buy a used cd player at a local pawn shop that has a digital output for $100.

Transports in players in the $500 range are not particularly good and I seriously doubt you will find a better cd playing sound that that DAC mated with really any transport. My review is in process so I can't go into it too much here but it was considerably better than my $800 Cambridge Audio CD 6 and even with the Tube DAC 09 on my mega changer I would take it over any $500 machine I've heard.

Plus the unit works as a preamp and headphone amplifier. But it also serves as a USB Dac which may be appealing for use with your computer should you go that route down the road.

Moreover - you could probably buy a better transport machine for $100-$200 on the used market than buying a new entry level NAD or Marantz.

Anyway, it's another option. http://grantfidelity.com/site/Grant_...ty_Tube_DAC-09