Brad, the UK was a bit of a Third World country in the 80s, we didn't have much access to cdp's other than the Meridian and Phillips etc.
Grahams HiFi in N. London was THE destination for Linn and Naim which was where 95% of British audiophiles were spending their cash.
Absolute Sounds was selling Accuphase, Krell, Wilson, Apogee etc, but one didn't gravitate there, esp as a dirt poor student at the time.
Maybe had I gone there, my first system would have been all-US ie VPI tt, Accuphase cdp, Krell amp, Wilson Watt Puppy or Apogee Duetta spkrs.
So, yes I can't relate any experience of these 80s digital alternatives.
I thank my lucky stars I didn't succumb to the lifestyle audio concept Meridian 207Pro and M20 active spkrs, that I was a cat's whiskers close to doing.
I find it hard to believe the CD12/DA12 wasn't one of the best, have you actually heard it?
I read somewhere that Mr Marantz himself, Mr. Ken Ishiwata considers the player the greatest creation in his illustrious career.
Quite how he ended up subsequently designing the SA1 is beyond me, undoubtedly the biggest foul up in my audio buying history.