NEED A RECOMMENDATION FOR NEW CD/SACD PLAYER

I also suggest you demo the Oppo 105 CD player. As noted above, the player offers many options, is a great value for the money, supports DSD and their customer service is terrific. See:

https://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-105/

Another more expensive option is the Ayre CX-7eMP CD player. I suggest you arrange for demo of the Ayre player also.

HunterMusic, before you give up on K-01, I suggest that you discuss your K-01 in detail directly with Tim Crable at Esoteric. K-01 is constructed like a tank, and esoteric products have historically been extremely reliable... The behavior of your unit is rare event in Esoteric products...

It is unlikely that you will find a CDp brand with better build quality... And some of the best CDps on the market today, including the Playback Designs MPS5 mentioned above, do use Esoteric transport mechanisms... Although invariably a few levels below from the subassembly inside K-01.

I think, the best quality (reliability) offers Accuphase.

Oppo, great sound, great value.

I have the Esoteric K-07, going on two years, have not had any issues, if your player has now failed twice then Esoteric should replace it no questions asked. Very hard to believe that there flagship player has failed twice, I would try to resolve with Esoteric,it would be, I think, to replace it with something better, since you have the best player now.

Good luck.