Your analog components retail at approximately $6000 (TT, Cart, and phono pre), and you're comparing the sound to a $550 CD player. Assuming your analog equipment upgrade path resulted in better sound (a 9), why would your digital front end be any different? Would you say your analog path was futile?
What's your digital budget in order to reach a "9" to match your analog front end?
What's your digital budget in order to reach a "9" to match your analog front end?