Which is the best cd player under $10k?


I am trying to find the best cd player under $10k (new or used) either a current or recent offering which has a warm, vinyl-like sound, wonderful holographic imagining, large soundstage, nice details & beautiful tonality without being hyper detailed, etched and which avoids the two extremes; cold and analytical to too warm and syrupy?

Choices so far have been Accuphase dp-500, Audio Research cd-8 (but lacks up to the minute digital inputs), Playback Designs MPS-5, EAR Acute & Luxman DU-80. Given the many choices, i'm pulling my hair out. Let me know your thoughts!
melbguy1
Tdg don't mean to pick on u, I responded as well, just something to do sometimes when u have nothing else.
With the premise that a 'best' player simply does not exist, the Esoteric X-01 Limited, and the newer D2 variant of the same model are incredibly 'emotional' devices, which deliver equal amounts of resolution, authority, harmonic richness, and the low level information/dynamics that makes the whole thing 'emotional'. It's one of those cases where you can have the cake and eat it too! . . And yes, alas, I am proud owner of an X-01 Limited. However, all X-01s at this point are inherently 'limited' by their I/O capabilities, which reflect their 2004 design vintage. You should find them used for well under $10K.

If flexibility of connectivity, sampling rates, etc. . . are important to you, I would also consider the PD MPS-5 a truly magnificent player in its own right, which share a lot of the musical attributes of the flagship Esoteric single box players. . . except for its case, whose unorthodox styling reminds me of a very fine Italian 'torta canestrata'.

Saluti, Guido