In my experience, dedicated CD players have superior sound with CDs than multi-format players. I've owned the Oppo 205, the Esoteric X05 and some others, but I have never liked the sound of CDs as much as I liked the sound of the Naim players or the EAR Acute or my CXC/Heed combo I'm using now. Perhaps with very expensive players in the 10k+ range, the CD playback is on par with good dedicated players. Of course, everything is about what you personally hear.