Help needed improving the sound of my Audiolab CDT

Folks,

I recently purchased an open-box Audiolab CDT from an online vendor. It works fine, but sounds hard, cold, and unmusical. It replaced a noisy Marantz CD6005 that I used as a transport.

The CDT has gotten lots of rave reviews, and I want to explore the possibility that the poor sound is due to the digital interconnect or power cord.

I'd be grateful for suggestions for interconnects and powercords you think might give me a more liquid, musical sound that are at a price point that fits with with my equipment.

Relevant equipment:

DAC-Ares II (changing the filter changes the sound but does not fix the problem)

Interconnect-- Wireworld Starlight 5 Digital Cable 2 Meters, ca 2015 or earlier

Power cord: Marigo Audio Labs. ca 1995

Thanks!

barry