CD/SACD player Under $4000

Used Luxman D-06u

https://www.stereophile.com/content/luxman-d-06u-sacd-player

Let me chime in on the D.BOB and the Oppo transport I use. When I setup the Meitner MA3i with the D.BOB and a used $250 Oppo player (the older the better).

The sound quality I got from SACD’s with this very low-cost transport was the very best I have ever heard in my house. I usually stream using fibre optic. My takeaway is that I am not spending too much money on a transport. The Onyx is about the top end for me. 

I did recently hear the $10k Bricasti M19 transport

Bricasti M19 Audiophile SACD and CD Transport Reviewed

I heard it with the Briscati $5k DAC and the great ZMF Caldera Closed phones. The best part of that chain was the phones. I would have love to hear the same with the Meitner (not own) and the Oppo (own).

@audphile1 My friend offered me a home demo of the EMM DA2i DAC. It is the top of the line on the EMM lineup. I may do it at his shop in Sept and compare it to the MA3i. It will be a fun exercise. I am interested on how it compares with the imersiv D-1 and also how it sounds on SACD disks. I think my friend will be getting the Onyx.

EMM Labs DA2i: D/A Converter with Integrated Network Streaming – EMM Labs & Meitner Audio

@philgo01 what you are asking about is exactly what my experience is (my prior comment above).  The Onix transport sends pure DSD64 via I2S to cooperative DACs.  In my case, the Denafrips Pontus II 15th was a perfect match.  Plenty of other DACs with I2S inputs that work.  However, one may need to choose the correct pinout (Onix provides ten distinct settings to try from).

P.S. For a real budget alternative, the Onix also successfully sent pure DSD64 to a SMSL DO200 MK II DAC that I bought on Amazon.  SQ was pretty damn good for the price!

Thanks @yyzsantabarbara !

I’m debating transport or player. Was thinking a player to give me different sound than streaming but it looks like the transport can potentially do that as well. 
 

I’d be interested in your thoughts on EMM unit when you get to it. 

Denon DCD A-110 SACD player , 2 channel only , no port to run a DAC. That’s because it is unnecessary the built in converter is very good. Had it 4 years now it weighs about 35 pounds. All steel chassis with copper plate.It is their 110th anniversary player made in Japan. All top quality components. The remote is metal. The hybrid discs load redbook and you use the SACD button to change to the deeper layer. It is distortion free and sounds fabulous. Friend has the 8M McIntosh and I see no difference. I have a Mac int. amplifier MA7900 though. I paid $3500 for my Denon when they’d been out only a short time but now you may find an open box for as low as $2300. Buying used gear that has moving parts like CD players doesn’t appeal to me but newer stuff probably w.b. o.k. Doubt I’ll ever wear out the laser but parts s.b. available later on if needed. Player does a great job on the redbook’s too , all but especially the 24 bit ones and the Japanese SHM cd’s made of a special material are also quite good. Has a direct stream selector that gives you exactly what the sound engineer created and plays anything you throw at it including doing a great job on the old HDCD’s as well. I’m a classic rock guy but I’m sure the player is equally impressive on classical or jazz. When I can find them usually used , I prefer the original single layer SACD discs that were mostly mfg. between 1999 and 2003,4.