Universal disc players as CD players.

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.  

To me, my Beta WAS better. NOT dramatically so.
The same with DVD-A. But it IS easier to rip surround.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/how-good-is-the-ayre-dx-5-universal-as-a-cd-player

I use an Oppo DV-981HD in a second system at my cabin. It was ok then I realized i had a MyDac sitting around and added that and wow big improvement with just low end DAC. The Oppo is slow and alone it is not that great.

I have an OPPO BDP-205. When playing CDs, I can’t tell the difference between the onboard DAC and the DAC in my Ayre QX-5 20. This is my third Oppo and each has been an upgrade over the previous one. My last dedicated CD player was a Rega Planet 2000 and the BDP-85, which was my first Oppo was better than that Rega, no question (eg my wife said so). 
That said, I almost never use cds anymore, I just rip and stream with Roon as there is no audible difference in my system.