best cd player to get??

I like the Marantz SA-8004 for $1K. It sounds great, plays both sacd and cd, has digital inputs for it's very good dac, and will also input computer usb. Read the review in the ABSOLUTE SOUND. One thing, one my sacd's it didn't want to read. Thats it though, only one. When i get home I think cleaning will help for that cd.

Yes, a dac takes the signal from your cd player (or computer) and improves the digital to analog conversion if the dac is better than the one in the cd player. The cd player must have digital inputs to be used as a dac. A standalone dac does of course have digital inputs but doesn't play cd's if it doesn't have a transport. Many mentioned DO not have digital inputs as the Marantz does. it doesn't matter if you don't want them.

When someone says a cd player or dac of the same or close to same price range slaughters others you should take that with a grain of salt. My experience is there is a difference but not that great of similar priced players. It comes down to the options available that you want and personal preference. A basic guide $1K better than $3-5 hundred, $2K somewhat better than that. $3K and up, usually another level of enhancement and then smaller improvement as you increase in price. Once you reach a certain price (over $5K)you are paying more for build quality and looks than sound improvement. IMO