Best CDs

I think we also need to know which CDs the OP finds to be awful. For instance, Achtung Baby just sounds terrible on my system. I don't think it is necessarily a flaw in the CD. I think it was produced that way on purpose to sound like techno-pop dance tracks.

I have the 2011 remastered version of Achtung baby by U2 and it sounds rather good.  Don't know about the original CD though. 

In response to the questions above:

1.  The sound in bright and shrill.

2.  The equipment is brand new.  I am upgrading from a Denon 7200 and Oppo 105D.

3.  The CDs sounded worse on the old system.

4.  Room: 15' wide X 25' long; rectangular, because it's next to an open dining area; tables and couch; floor is wooden covered in part by an area rug; and glass doors on the left side of the unit approximately 5' away.

5.  Audioquest Rocket 88.

The room will give you typically half of what you hear. 
Get Jim Smith's book Get Better Sound for guidance on system setup and room treatment.
My system started out Krell and Oppo with no room treatment and lots of hard, reflective surfaces. The sound was bright, shrill and awful.
Now my current system sounds wonderful because:
Setup per Jim Smith's suggestions
Room treatment
Different amp
Krell and Oppo products typically sound very clean, clear and analytical but can become bright and shrill without proper setup and treatment.
Hope this helps.

Tom

I agree with Tom's comments for sure (see my virtual system which is just as much about the room as it is the equipment)

On the other hand, once in a while you'll get a stinker piece of gear that is clearly the problem.  For me it was a pair of Definitive Tech BP-10's.  How Sandy Gross made a vifa tweeter sound that edgy I will never know.  Had about 5 CD's that sounded good with that speaker.