Help CDP over vinyl upgrade advice please

You're not going to get CD to sound as good as vinyl(anyone who tells you different can't hear!)particularly in the price range you're are talking. However,you can get CD to sound more analog like and thus become a more acceptable and enjoyable source to listen to.
The problem with digital, in my opinion, is not the hardware or software, its in vibration control and EMI/RFI control. You solve those problems and digital can sound very good.(but it still won't surpass vinyl)
There're some fairly inexpensive tweeks that can help accomplish this task: 1)myrtle wood blocks under source components(preamp, CD player) 2)maple wood platforms and isoblocks also under source components. 3)Stillpoints ERS cloth around speaker cable leads and interconnect jacks as well as powercord plugs and iec connectors. Additionally if placed on top of CD player over transport, makes a difference.
Some other not so inexpensive tweeks but definitely vast improvements are audiophile grade powercords ie; electraglide, shunyata, elrod statement etc. and power conditioning such as Richard Gray, Shunyata, PS audio.
Retail, this is stuff is expensive but used on audiogon, it can be affordable.
If you throw your money in this direction instead of at more expensive components, you'll come out much futher ahead money wise and listening wise.

I will start with my bias, that I've never warmed up to any low to medium end sony gear. When I heard Sony SACD I thought that I was doing quite as well with RedBook at home.(Krell CD1 and Spectral)
Now, that is just a reference. I would think that any BAT, the Audio Arrow, Cary, or Audio Research or Merridian would go where you want to go. If the New Appollo isn't top loading, (I don't know) you might want to go hear one. If not, that Audio Arrow would get my bucks. The only reason I didn't snatch one up is that I'm saving for more recent (can't hope for the newest) Cary units. I say this as a Krell 280CD owner. Solid deep bass, big sound stage, clear and deep imaging, smooth clean extended highs and detail and focus all the way. But it's not warm. So I'd rather go warm "all in one" than use it as you could your sony, as the detail transport into a tube D/A.

Well I guess I can't hear but thats OK because as long as I am happy with the sound of my system thats all that matters.

Chuck

Huh? Personal choice is paramount. Did I offend? Apologies if appropriate.

I live in UK and I can give you a little advice as far as CPD's are concerned in here; A nice little valve-cdp could be the shanling cd-t80, I haven't listened to it yet but I'm familiar with shanling gear and it should be very good.
The Rega Apollo however is one for the shortlis as it is a hi-fi bargain; the feel is a bit plasticky but looks and sound to die for; looks best in black mind you.
It is very clean, great midrange and has super-extended HF;a bit bass-shy but oh-boy the sound...a much more expensive machine it sounds I can tell you.
At £500 in UK (I thin around $700ca. in US) you can't really go wrong, especially on a budget is a no-brainer-decision.
I was unfortunate enough to live with a cheap Sony CDP-SACD for a while and it sounded horrendous; personally my laptop with Audigy soundcard is miles miles better than that, so when you have buried the Sony in your back garden, go out and listen to the Rega.
Interconnects from Townshend DCT 100 should work well I guess at £ 100.
Top loaded and grrrreat...