Big source improvement using CD player

Actually, to add to that, I use SONY server probably 90% of the time for Internet radio. First I was lazy enough to change CDs, then I became lazy enough to even change songs. To make it worse, some days I am lazy enough to turn it on. I would need to get two remotes and click two buttons. What a drag...

stereo5,

"The music server is a Sony HAP-Z1ES which Stereophile rated an A+ and it received a very high rating from TAS.  The Esoteric player is better, not by that much but it is more enjoyable sound."

My observations, except that it is a Luxman SACD player, are similar. Even when using Luxman player as a DAC for SONY (with SSD). Differences are not that big, but I think they are consistent (no, I never did any kind of real test except  "try this, switch to that").

Thankfully, I take it only as an interesting observation and it is the end of my involvement. Convenience prevails and I virtually never play CDs. And, to emphasize, difference may really be down to my preference and not to "better than...".