Dedicated Red Book CD player vs. "Universal" type players....

"Does a one-box solution sacrifice some cd playback performance trying to be a jack of all trades? If so, can you hear that difference? Input and comments most appreciated!" 

Glad you got the Marantz, but yes, "jack of all trades" Oppo will get you ok performance for A/V, but not great performance from any one thing that Oppo does. I've lived and learned this. dedicated CDPs are best, b/c they specialize in their one goal: Audio and support it with better/more appropriate audio hardware. 

The Esoteric Universal is several thousand more$$ than the Oppo, so not a realistic comparison. The Esoteric Universal sounds great b/c they put better hardware in one package than the Oppo, and this costs much more$. 

The Mohican is $4000, so again, not the fairest comparison to either Oppo or the Marantz or even another $1k dedicated CDP. 

And again, the Marantz 8005 is chump change $$ compared to a McIntosh, so its not a fair comparison. 

@twoleftears I agree. I'm particularly interested in the Mohican (as in "The Last of the Mohicans") but the OP hasn't indicated a budget, though he references interest around the $1000 price point, eg Oppo, and the Marantz 8005 he bought which I think is under a grand.

@twoleftears , just so other readers know, the Hegel Mohican is a $4000 dedicated 16/44 only CDP.
I only heard the BCD once, but sounded great. I've kept an eye and ear out for them ever since and watched them advance to v3 as you mention. I also like that Bryston makes other supporting electronics, processors, and preamps, amps that allow an highway of proprietary electronics from Source/File/CD to amp. Providing synergy that I dont usually get with all my hobbyist mixing and matching of different types of gear: SS/tube/Class D and brands.