Another example of scratched CDs by Audiolab 6000CDT slot loading CD transport: I found this issue completely by accident when I was playing with CD play back to my R2R Ares II DAC and noticed click sound not heard from my Delta Sigma DAC (Gustard X-16), both DACs are connected to PSA BHK preamp via balanced connections.
Upon examining a couple of brand new CDs, they are shown scratches (sorry I don’t know how to upload photos here). The Audiolab CD transport was purchased in 2019 and has been trouble free otherwise. I have since decommissioned the Audiolab and switched to a Rotel CD player.