Tube for a Noob ???

Like Noromance said, "tube" CDPs use tube in the audio section; as you might expect, decoding has to be done with chips in the digital domain. There are a few companies who make or made very excellent sounding CDPs with tube-based output stages.  If you Google on "tube CD player" you will be able to identify some of them. If you don't want to invest in a tube amplifier, which is understandable if you have a multi-channel video system that is also served by the same amplifier(s), then you might acquire a tube line stage.  You will have to do the homework on that, too, to find something that suits your needs, because you have not clearly stated what those are, and because I am too lazy to do it myself.  Finally, whatever you do, don't by a cheap turntable, cheap tube phono stage, and cheap cartridge, and then dismiss tubes because you do not think the ensemble measures up to your digital gear.  Vinyl Nirvana does not come cheap or without careful selection and a little love.

Agree that you are considering some questionable routes. Getting into vinyl means getting into record cleaning and other expenses that shouldn't be ignored. Cheaper tube phono stages are susceptible to RFI/EMI interference.
Given what's happening in computer audio, investing now in better CD playback rarely makes a wise investment, tube or not. You money would be better spent on a streaming/server type solution.
If you want tube sound, agree that a line stage makes most sense given your home theater needs in your amp. Cheers,
Spencer 

You could try a PrimaLuna cd player.  These are full blown tube players, even using a tube for clocking.  Call Upscale Audio and have an idea about what you want the player to sound like in your system and Kevin Deal can probably tell you if  one of these players is what you are looking for.

Modern tubes and modern solid state seem to be merging in timber.  ...there are more similarities than differences.

I agree with the others that if you are not committed to vinyl, I would stick with either CD's or digital downloads and get some tubes in there somewhere.  To make vinyl really effective you need a decent turntable/arm/cartridge combination, vibration control, LP cleaning rig and know how to set it all up.  

Tubes work best with voltage gain, i.e. in preamps and input stages of power amps but probably the biggest tube effect is on the output stages of power amps, also the most problematic.  There are also tube buffer units you can buy for a few hundred bucks that will add some of the traditional tube sound.  IMO, the best way to go would be either a tubed line stage or tubed integrated amp.  I have never heard a CD player with tubed output stage so I can't comment on that but they probably don't use much gain so the tube effect would likely be minimal.  I agree that Kevin Deal would be a good resource and he is a really honest guy, known and dealt (pun intended) with him for many years.