New CD Player for Headphones

Do you need a small-format player? I have a JAS Audio Musik 1.2 tube player that I like very well, but it is 17 inches wide. That may be too wide for your desk.

Retail on this player is about $1200, which puts it at the same level as a Shanling CD-T80. The Shanling is a leader in its price class but I'm told the JAS Audio has a smidge more detail. In the bedroom, it does quite well for me and my Sennheiser 580s.

If you wanted to look higher the Shanling line would be a good one to investigate.

Any player's bass will be improved by decent antivibration feet and a good power cord. An isolation transformer will help too, and do good things for air and soundstage.

I've used the following with several Singlepower tubed headphone amps. Cary 306/200, and Modwright tubed Sony 999es. Both were very nice, the Sony offers great redbook and sacd but the Cary redbook is also very good. Phones were Senn. HD600,650. Beyer DT880, AKG 501, and others. Both these players used are in your price range. Also The Exemplar 2900 modified units are really good.