The Best of the Best Well sort of - CD players



I am researching a new digital source that is in the middle of the 'REAL' high-end range and need some advice choosing.

Here are the units I am looking at:
Esoteric DV-60 combo,
Denon 5910ci combo,
Sony SCD-1 with almost all possible mods,
Rega Saturn,

Ayre cx7e,

Oracle 2500, (this player is gorgeous)
Simaudio Moon Eclipse LE, (this player is pretty)
Wadia 861, (this player looks serious about digital as do the Meridians)

DCS (oooops can't afford this one, strike it off my list)

The top 4 are my finalist, the Ayre is not out of the game based on what I have heard and the last 3 players may me out of my price range but, I havent totaly ruled them out yet. Cosmetics and CD sound quality are important to me. Being a combo player is a nice plus- (but not the end all factor in my decision) -if you look at my current gear as I do not have an upscaling DVD player and do own loooots of DVDs and hi-res audio disc ie: SACD & DVD-A but I mainly listen to CDs on my system.)

In my player I am looking for beauty, build quality, somewhat neutral, even tonal balance, bass weight and control, detail without being to bright or clinical, PRAT, less fatigue for long listening is nice but, not a top concern, I am not super concerned with soundstage or exact imaging just so the player is not too forward or lacking in width.

I mainly listen to electronic and underground tracks from the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands
Aphex Twin, Download, Orb, Massive Attack, Kid 606, Meat Beat Manifesto, Kraftwerk, Enon, Goldfrapp, Royksopp, DJ Shadow, UNKLE, Dead Can Dance, etc. I do listen to other stuff but, this is my main gig.

Below is my current equipment:
Parasound C2
Rotel 1075 (Soon to be replaced with Parasound A-51)
- Rega Jupiter
- Marantz 8400 combo hi res
Onkyo m501 amp for rear channels
Camelot Lancelot phono stage
Music Hall MF7
Monster Hts 5600 (Looking at Shunyata Research Hydra 8)

Infinity Prelude HTS fronts and center
Artisitc Audio Mobius rears
Velodyne CHT-10 for sub (soon to be replaced with Martin Logan or JL Audio)
Polk back rear channels, I dont use these except for 7.1 movies

PS3 bluray
360 hd-dvd
Wii

Sony wega 50" A2000 sxrd 1080p

cables are audioquest, kimber, harmonic technology, jps, ixos, voodoo, etc.

Sorry this is soooo long but, I wanted to be detailed before letting this loose. So ANY suggestions would be welcome from those with similar music taste or have auditioned one or more of these players or even want to sell one. I excluded stuff from MF, Classe, Cary, Krell, Levinson, Lexicon, Meridian (The last omission is for cost mainly because I only like the expensive 808i)

THX
optitron
Tlday:
Yes I agree and this point I am prob. going to get a Esoteric DV-50/60 or a Denon 5910 for combo play and then purchase a stand alone CDP. The Arcams are just fine but, the value in my opinion isn;t there.

thanks for your post
Does anyone know anything about the sound/video/hi-res audio quality etc. of the Theta Compli/Voyager or Lexicon RT-20s, the new Classe CDP-300? If someone out there has a Voyager I am highly interested!

Thanks
Some other players to consider... Consonance Droplet (very different looks, sounds good, and has a good volume control), Blue Note Stibbart (havent heard it, looks really technical), Shanling (they have several interesting looking CDPs, that sound pretty darned good too).

You're right, you can buy a CDP that sounds good and looks good too. Also, we're cool as long as you don't call my wife ugly! Har Har!

BTW we have very similar musical taste. Do you like Sasha - Air Drawn Dagger (a few years old) or Bliss - Quiet Letters (A year old or so)?
Thanks Distortion. No hard feelings pal.
Yes I love the droplet and the blue note. Never
heard them though. also I do like Sasha a lot and have
Airdrawndagger on vinyl as well as CD (Fantastic album for
testing or showing off your system to friends.)
Two folks I respect very much (my dad and a good friend in audio) have the Esoteric DV60 and the other the Ayre and both are very happy with their choice, my dad has the Esoteric and I think it is pretty darn good.