There is no single answer. The best thing to do regardless of how much money you want to spend is to go out and demo several CD players that interest you (based on research or recommendations or just what's available locally). Demo at home if at all possible.
Another related point is that if you are upgrading all of your components at the same time it's hard to judge whether you like a single component or not. I would recommend you upgrade one component at a time, including cables. Spend time with each change and this allows you to indendantly judge each one.
Based on my experience there different levels of quality but also different sounds. Through trial and error I've found something I like, which happens to be a seperate DAC and transport, but there may be a one box player that floats your boat. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
The dedicated transports, for the most part, use the same transport mechanisms as the single box players. What you get, however, is an implementation focused on the goal of reading data off a disc and spitting it out through a digital cable. Often times transports have better power supplies or higher-quality parts. Some, like CEC, do have unique transport mechanisms.
Finally, hi-fi bliss doesn't have to cost $20,000. It can come a lot cheaper.
Another related point is that if you are upgrading all of your components at the same time it's hard to judge whether you like a single component or not. I would recommend you upgrade one component at a time, including cables. Spend time with each change and this allows you to indendantly judge each one.
Based on my experience there different levels of quality but also different sounds. Through trial and error I've found something I like, which happens to be a seperate DAC and transport, but there may be a one box player that floats your boat. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
The dedicated transports, for the most part, use the same transport mechanisms as the single box players. What you get, however, is an implementation focused on the goal of reading data off a disc and spitting it out through a digital cable. Often times transports have better power supplies or higher-quality parts. Some, like CEC, do have unique transport mechanisms.
Finally, hi-fi bliss doesn't have to cost $20,000. It can come a lot cheaper.