Well it depends on what you expect from your system. Don't let anyone tell you the transport has little to do with the quality of sound.

On a higher level , I use an Audio Research DAC8. A few years ago I traded up my Maratz SA11-II that I was using for a transport only , for an Ayre C5mp , again used as a transport only on red book CD's , the improvement in sound quality was staggering. I use the Digital XLR terminal to link them up. 

I guess that is what I wanted/not wanted to hear.  I'd like to get away "cheap" if I can, since I am satisfied with the Bifrost.  But if the transport makes a significant difference - guess I'd better do some tryouts.  Probably will need to order alternatives, with generous return policies, and compare.

Schiit Bifrost. I paid $300 for the ERC-1 several years ago. I use the digital coax output from the ERC-1 to the digital coax input of the Bifrost. I think there are inexpensive cd players that will work OK as a cd transport, many of which can be improved by just dampening the cabinet. One thing for sure, your digital coax cable should be at least 1.5 meters long. I initially had one shorter and experienced distortion.

Perhaps find an Oppo DV-970HD?

how is the slot-loading mechanism?  I don't usually care for those and a couple times I've had to reboot my computer to get a disc out.

Note:  I have a half-meter digital coax cable by Kimber Kable, and I have suspected that it is ever so slightly less good sounding than the "placeholder" cheap Belkin cable I started out with - which is 2 meters...

and 2007 Subaru Foresters, a 2012 Subaru Legacy, and the Emotiva ERC-1.

Go for a digital music player with out the mechanism, such as BDP-105, SD card DSD/Wav/APE/Flac player QA660, put your music on SD cards, hard drives and so on, you will stop to worry about the source equipment.