Is this the END of DAYS for the high end CD player

Very intersting dicussion about the same subject on the computer auifophile site:
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/CD-v-ripped-CD-files-inferior-Sound-quality
The OP is trying to get clear answer to the same question I asked beofre, I quote:

The issue here is whether it is possible to get exactly the same sound from ripped files as from direct CD playback, comparing them in the the same playback setup (i.e. same PCs, CD drivers, DACs, cables, etc.)?

I would like to know this. For me this is the most important aspect of this whole computer based front end, before jumping in. Please read the thread before advising on different tools and options. The OP down there is used/tried most of them and still claiming that original CD sounds better.

Any body who did the A/B testing?

Hello, this is very interesting and exiting thread.
I am following steps of the Wayneker2176 member here and pop a question.
Did anyone besides Chadeffect ACTUALLY compared the hi-end computer based front end (all top notch software like pure music, Amarra and others that outputs bit perfect files plus top of the line DACs) with Hi-End CD players like Esoteric x-03, x-01 limited , meridian 808.2, Wadia 581,781, DCS and others.

The convenience of the computer frond end is obvious. Some people go as far as connecting Mac mini with Ipad as a display, using apple-based applications. This is very cool.

But how about sound? Does the computer based front-end set-up sound really on the level of those hi-end CD players?

For example the Esoteric released the K-01 and K-03 players that now have (besides their known great transport) isolated on its own platform the USB input port with up to 24/196k transfer rate capability. Are playing the red book CD thru its transport will sound better or worse than ripping that same CD on the Apple Mac computer (bookpro or mac mini with SS drive) and playing it back using pure music or other engines thru the same Esoteric DAC utilizing that USB port?