Comparing external DAC to CD player DAC

It only shows to compare everything. And confirms that computer sourced SQ is usually poor.

At least you didn’t specify the external DAC. Probably not it’s fault.

This also confirms that CDs often sound better than files.

All else is inconclusive.

The title of your post is WRONG.

Not comparing. Try the SPDIF out of the CD for a more valid comparison. You still have to factor in possible inter cable losses.

Good suggestion.  Using the spdif output will provide a more direct comparison.  But at his point, the results are mostly academic for me. I am going to keep the Marantz for cd’s, and get a new DAC for streaming and files. But I am going to do some more evaluating

My 30+ year old Sony CDP-2700 sounded better than most current players.  I was very sad when it died last year. I replaced it with an Audiolab CDT6000 and  Denafrips Pontus ll DAC. The reason I went with separates was so I could use the DAC with most any streamer or any CD player/transport.

@djbarabino 

Oh I forgot to ask.  What is your price range?

Well I heard my first streamer setup that would run with an upper middle end cd player yesterday. It was a 3000 dollar cayin  that had 5000 Woirth of upgrade parts put into it. So I finally  heard something  I could live with.you likely just have to realize your old player is better that the new dac you have. Be happy that you are getting better sound quality  without spending more. Congratulations!  Go listen to or buy an upper middle end player or above from the late 1990s you will be shocked. Look at players that retailed for at least 5000 dollars back in the day.