The key to any gear is the power supply and the Esoteric players I've owned all have huge power supplies and the built quality is 2nd to none. I have no issues with CDs if mastered with care and I'm a vinyl man. I know for years the magazines have done a 180 on them bashing them while before they rated gear as SOTA using CDs as the source. You need a well-made and designed CD player to bring out what the CD medium is capable of. Esoteric and a few others do a great to superb job, the Marantz SA10S1 would be a great start, and then of course the Esoterics. Power cords matter when powering them.
Esoteric K03XD
I have the opportunity to buy the Esoteric K03XD at a extremely attractive from a out of state friend. I trust his ears and he has always bragged about how the XD line was much more musical and organic than previous Esoteric players. Anyone heard the K03XD? I was never in love with the sound of the older players. Any feedback about this player would be truly appreciated!