Old guy needs recommendation request for old CD players / DAC

An excellent vintage CD player would be the Sony SCD-777ES. However, as @russ69 mentioned, the older players often have parts problems. In fact, I sold my SCD-777ES because it needed a small part that was no longer available (although the unit functioned well). I replaced it with a new Denafrips Avatar CD transport – which I’m extremely happy with.

My modified Sony SCD-1 still brings a big smile when I play it. Usually with SACD's which mostly still sound great. I think my very best listening session is with my SCD-1 playing the SACD of Dark Side of the Moon. 

I have 3 streamers setup using FibreOptical. The SCD-1 is not like those, but it has its own charms.

it has been a long while since i have searched for a new integrated cd player -- i have modwright’s modded units with tube output stage and outboard ps with tube rectification (actually two of them - one a marantz 8005 and the other a sony dvd 5400), then i have an even older scd-777es with warren gregoire’s vsei level 5 mods

they were the most musical and beautiful sounding cdp’s back then, and i feel pretty confident they remain unsurpassed presently for their musicality in the under five figures price range (i had esoterics, pioneer elite, meridian 508-24 etc etc ... the modwrights and sony were superior...)

+1  warren gregoire’s vsei level 5 mods

i use my old Oppo 103 as a transport via coax  into a Denafrips Ares 2 DAC.  great. Denafrips now has a dealer in Thailand.