Universal disc players as CD players.

Universals are most all I buy. Sony ES, Pioneer Elite, Denon, Marantz, and ARCAM. Some of us contributed to a thread a while ago listing modest tweaks that pay great dividends for exceptional sound and video.

Another +vote for AYRE DX-5 / DX-5 DSD universal players.
Superb.

Happy Listening!

I use an Oppo 105 as a transport into my Bryston DAC3.    The transport is important but the DAC is more so.  Lately I’ve been experimenting with using my Melco as a transport via USB into the same DAC and it may sound a tinge better but it’s definitely clunkier

In my experience, dedicated CD players have superior sound with CDs than multi-format players.  I've owned the Oppo 205, the Esoteric X05 and some others, but I have never liked the sound of CDs as much as I liked the sound of the Naim players or the EAR Acute or my CXC/Heed combo I'm using now.  Perhaps with very expensive players in the 10k+ range, the CD playback is on par with good dedicated players.  Of course, everything is about what you personally hear.