Hmmm... Lets see, 15k on a CD player. So, first I would say 'don't'. Let me explain my ideas (some of which I will then qualify and take back with caveats). To a large extent, we need to remember that CDs are somewhat done with. The IPod beat us down. The only people who will have CD Players are us odd audiophile people who insist they sound better than whatever specific form comes next (and half of us are still clutching records - which, btw, seem to be making a comeback of some kind). The only problem which is somehwat unique to product evolution is that what is next... is sort of already here. And is already here on CDs. The next thing is digital files on hard drives. To bridge the gap, some high-end people are already copying their CD files (remember the CD just holds digital music in a certain kHz and bit level) onto music storage devices.
These devices are typically called 'digital music servers'. However, at this point in time, today, there are few really super-high end technologies in this area, but they are coming and the major companies are expressing a lot of interest.
So, one thing you said ameliorates spending 15k on a CD player in what is basically 2008, and already in the digital musical era. And that is that you want separates - this is both the right and wrong approach.
If we ignored digital servers completely, then I would tend to shy away from separates for the CD player as jitter becomes a very difficult problem to solve with separates. Note that getting the Mapleshade Omega Mikro (perhaps the Ebony Active) may eliminate, or at least, minimize theis. However, just note in general that a lot of the super-high end CD companies continue to have extremely strong single box solutions and even moved away from separates a bit because of the difficulty of solving the jitter issues. And DCS sells a 3rd device on their top 2 CD players to manage timing. (See Scarlatti and Verona). (A *really* interesting comparo would be the Scarlatti system with normal digi cable and the 10k master clock thingy versys the 2.x k Omega Mikro cable and no master clock thingy... But I digress...)
Okay, that was the 'wrong approach' part, here is the 'right approach' part. With separates you have the option of using the DAC for your future Music Server system that you may not have pondered yet. So, your investment is protected and you will have a huge good start on the music server business already in hand.
Okay, so given all that, I would add the following: try the Musical Fidelity A5 CD player/Arcam/Linn/maybe Shanling in same class as the A5 - and see if those won't hold you over for 5 years while the industry doesn't make the switch to Music Server stuff. Those are all really excellent players (I have the A5 - and it is tubed, by the way) and closer to the 2k - 3k area. I think at those CD players you are pretty far up the diminishing returns area already - the CD player is not the place I personally would put a lot of bucks, even if I had them to spare. If I had bucks to spare and a dedicated room it would be really fun to move up from you already-incredible Wilson's into some of the larger Von Schwerekit's, for example. I know there are others that will flatly disagree about the relative importance of signal source quality, this is just my opinion (and we're already up into the 3k level for source, I'm not saying combine a 500 CD player with 10k of electronics, which many do proclaim).
Okay - so now, lets say you've heard those 2-3k players and want more. Okay - so these are some of the other companies to consider at the next level up and into the 15k range and beyond:
Meridian (more CD focused as a company)
Wadia (more CD focused as a company)
DCS (more CD focused as a company)
Audio Research (everything they do is top notch)
Levinson (everything they do is top notch)
Esoteric (definitely belongs in this list)
Now, of those, some can be upgraded with cards, like a computer (in particular the Wadia). At 15k I would definitely try to get an upgradeable CD player. (I haven't done a price versus 'can you upgrade' so you'll have to look around and see if I'm right at 15k, maybe it takes 20, I don't know). Also, I think Wadia would be 'fun' - there is something about those components... That being said, I think if you want super super good, the DCS stuff is probably the best at least as far as the DAC part is concerned. Maybe Wadia transport and DCS DA conversion with Omega Mikro cable? Any of the above are incredibly great options.
Hey, that is really funny. I wrote the above without referencing your equipment list a couple of times - you already do have the mid-priced CD kind of idea I'm mentioning from the exact company! Okay, so you know you want more. Well, I'll leave the above as-is for others to enjoy as a general philosophy of CD players rather than re-writing this already overly-long post - and ammend my final recommendation for your particular situation. Keep it as a transport, and focus that 15k into only a DAC from any of the above higher-end companies (and I personally might suggest DCS ElgarPlus DAC, although it is upgradeable).
See what people are saying about DACs and server music storage, can the ElgarPlus DAC do its DAC thing on various formats for music you donwload - or can it only accept CD-styled formats? I don't know, I'd have to do more research. But, anyway, my point is to prepare for that with such an investment now as much as is possible. (Maybe Wadia is best investment protection even if it sounds a hair less good because of the upgradeable aspect.
Yeah - the Wadia 521 says "All inputs accept and decode standard digital audio formats, from 32 kHz to 96 kHz, and from 16-24 bits." That is exactly what I mean - I would get something at this point in the evolution of music playback that says something like that. The others they have that also have that capability are the 27ix and 'series 9'.
