I recently reviewed a CD player from Grant Fidelity linked here http://grantfidelity.com/site/MCD-100-Tube-CD-Player - It's $1500 but they are selling a demo unit for $1000.00.

Look into it. There is nothing on the market at the price that I have seen that comes anywhere near the build quality. It's tubed at the back so you can tailor the sound a fair bit - if you have crummy recordings and you need to soften them up you can buy a mushy sounding tube - or if you want lean and mean you can buy one of those. The tubes uses are about $10 and will run for years so there is no worry there.

To all - this units uses a Philips pro transport and that ALONE makes it a bargain - you can always add an DAC later - but when you look at other $1500 cd players from Arcam, Rotel, Musical Fidelity, Sim Audio, Cambridge Audio, Rega - frankly this unit in terms of build quality makes those look like plastic toys.

The thing is over 25 lbs and apparently free shipping. SInce you can't audition before you buy - at least get one with great build quality features and add a DAC later. I think GF has a return policy to boot. You'd be out return shipping but that's not too bad. I doubt you'll return it.

They have linked my review on the page. Good Luck.