There is no reason why SACD or DVD-A players, as a class, should have CD performance inferior to a plain CD player. Any variation is just the result of being a different model player.
However, I have serious reservations about Hybrid discs. In my engineering profession there is a saying "Don't be clever". Hybrid CD's are clever. I have heard others remark about difficulties they have experienced with Hybrids. I never use the "redbook" layer of my SACDs, but the only SACD that I ever had a problem with was a Hybrid. It would quit playing at the same spot every time. Visual inspection of the disc showed no evidence of a scratch or other damage.
However, I have serious reservations about Hybrid discs. In my engineering profession there is a saying "Don't be clever". Hybrid CD's are clever. I have heard others remark about difficulties they have experienced with Hybrids. I never use the "redbook" layer of my SACDs, but the only SACD that I ever had a problem with was a Hybrid. It would quit playing at the same spot every time. Visual inspection of the disc showed no evidence of a scratch or other damage.