High quality CDs

About 6 years ago I bought an Oppo 105 specifically to enjoy the so-called benefits of higher resolution SACDs/DVD-As. Turns out the 105 simply isn't that great for either SACD and especially Red book. Quite likely the transport is the biggest issue. Maybe 3 years ago I upgraded the IEC, and jumper to bypass the 110/220 switch, then replaced the power supply with an aftermarket all from Ebay. These made terrific improvements, but also pointed the finger at the transport being the chief culprit. A couple years ago I bought a Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5 and a Marantz HD CD-1 (player, but used only as a transport) to play Red book CDs and it way outperformed the 105 playing the same disc's SACD layer (using XLR outs into the DDP-1)! A couple months ago the Marantz died and I decided to get a dedicated transport (Audiolab CDT6000. I no longer use the 105, unless for a classical disc that I don't have a red book.

rapping it up, you need a high quality SACD player=$$$$$ to enjoy hi-rez benefits

hth

@rman9 
Yes, they are compatible with all CDP.  Good luck. 

As someone who listens to classical about 80% of the time, favors physical media (CDs), and is married to a well-known classical musician, I will second the recommendations of Reference Recordings, MDG, & Pentatone as companies that produce generally high-quality classical recordings.  I will add that ECM is often terrific as well, as are CSO Resound (the Chicago Symphony's label), and Channel Classics. 

Add Linn to the list.

@rman9    what   @stuartk   said related to the MFSL hybrid SACDs.

I actually started listening to them (the red book layer) before I bought my SACD player, and some of them just blew me away due to the sonic quality (not just because I like the music as I have hybrids by other companies that I should like because of the music but they don't sound good).  I assume it is the mastering that they did with those hybrids.

But, as I typed previously, I am not sure that MFSL remastered any classical releases on SACD/red book hybrid.

BUT, I did a search on ebay using "MFSL classical CDs"  and there were quite a few that came up from the earlier days of MFSL.  I would only say that I own a lot of the earlier MFSL red book remasters, and not all of them are spectacular.

Lately, I have also been experimenting with the Japanese SHM remastered red book CDs and some of them (not all of them) sound pretty decent.  You might do a search on ebay using "classical SHM CDs."

Good luck on your quest for The Sound!