Opinions needed; which is a better choice and why?

Sony DVP 9000es $829 new less used or
Rotel RCD 971 $700 new $400 used with maybe a
Bel Canto Dac 1 or 1.1 used for @ $500 or
Perpetual 3A dac used for $600
Audio Refinement Complete $950 new $650 used or better
Creek 5350 SE $1495 new $950 used
Meadowlark Audio Kestrel Speakers $1395 new $850 used
with entry level DH labs or Harmonic Technology Cables $300

Total Price from $2150 to $4019

You can be very happy with any combination here for a very long time. Superb soundstage. Smooth highend with good midrange and respectable bass. ie Musical !

The Rogue 99 Preamp is incredible, you may want to give that a listen. The rogues really sound great. I have had a similar experience listen tto the Vandersteen 2's with any electronics, overwarm and diffuse.
Did you dealer have a Mgnum Tempest. The regular Tempest is a good deal but their Magnum is on another level altogether and an incredible bargain.

Oooh man do the Kestrels sound awesome with the Tempest. I have had Kestrels with a few amps and the Tempest was by far the best match, incredible bass with that combo.

I am now using a system with Audio Physic Virgos', I do still miss those Kestrels....

The Magnum version of the Tempest is so much better in every way. Much more refined and detailed with being very musical. Better drive and depth to the bass, the power supply is doubled and the output transformers are %50 larger this isn't just some little tweaking going on. Rogue has really upgraded the big things ! If you can swing the extra dough I can safely say that the Magnum upgrade is easily worth twice what they charge for it.

Have Fun