TEAC VRDS-701 CD Player

I love the idea of a modern DAC design incorporated with a good transport. The DAC section has inputs so other digital sources can feed in. This is quite rare. What a gorgeous machine - the latest in a long line of VRDS machines and I liked the idea of a super stable disc spinner. BUT BUT BUT.After a few hours over a couple of days I was intrigued to see how much better the TEAC was compared to an expensive 90's player (Rotel RCD991 - had for years. £100 second hand) and a Topping DX5 (DAC new open box purchase costing £200). BTW lasers for the Rotel are abundant and cheap which is not the case for many highly rated spinners from Sony and Philips from the 90's on. Early VRDS models have a Sony KSS151 or KSS190 laser assembly and they are into £300 to £500 to replace.I could hear some differences but nothing that put the TEAC above the gear mentioned above. The sound was gorgeous with a soundstage and depth but that was more to do with a pure class A Sugden amp feeding gorgeous and genuinely rare Mission 754f Freedoms. I could make that comparison comparing the TEAC feeds via the Topping DAC and straight from the CD spinner to another input on the Sugden.I could not square £2500 with £300. BTW I had my son in on some blind testing and the experience was the same. Some differences, mostly slight, not unpleasant but not an unambiguous win for the TEAC. If it was pitched at £1500 to £1700 I think you can justify that sort of money - not least because it is well engineered, gorgeous, built like a tank and competent - but just competent.