Big source improvement using CD player

In your price range I can recommend CAMBRIDGE AUDIO - CXU ($800) Decent player with five separate Wolfson WM8740 DACs on board and upsampling (Adaptive Time Filtering). upsamples all audio up to 24-bit/192kHz. “Pure Audio” mode could be used to disable all processes except those participating in audio reproduction - cool future, definitely benefits SQ. Wide range of Disc types: CD, SACD, Blu-ray (BD) including BD-3D, DVD, DVD-A, AVCHD, HDCD, Kodak Picture CD, CD-R/RW, DVD+-R/RW, DVD+-R DL, BD-R/RE. Good luck!

https://www.musicdirect.com/disc-player/cambridge-audio-cxu-universal-blu-ray-player

I have the NAD C658 and Cambridge Audio CXC using COAX.
Sound great through an original Peachtree Audio Nova (amp only) to SVS Ultra Towers and a small Outlaw Audio sub.  

I also use a ripper for my Mac but you could combine all this PLUS add music to another room with a Blusound Vault 2i (one of my next steps....). It would rip and store your CDs in WAV or AIFF (my preference) or any other format for playback on the C658 or whatever you have the Vault connected to (receiver, amp, powered speakers) or both simultaneously. 

Good luck!!

I saw CD transport is coming from Denafrips.  I am very interested in seeing how the reviews are for this knowing how well-liked their dacs are.  

I also appreciate the top-loading!

https://www.vinshineaudio.com/product-page/denafrips-avatar?utm_campaign=0d0cb752-661a-4ac9-9a1b-af4f59d2534f&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&cid=6f5446d7-8310-4348-b18f-5a0bd9983e46

My two cents, you learned the wrong conclusion.  You are using a compressed streaming source, and who-knows-what DAC (you didn't say). Compared it to a high end CD player.
In general, all else equal,i prefer playing FLAC/ALAC files or streaming them (or HD of course) to playing plastic CDs.  And there are reasons this might be true.
Slow down, experiment, learn.

@itsjustme
I’m using a NAD C658 Steamer / DAC combo ^^