DVD player playing CD's

I used to use a Sony UBP x800 to play cd's.  It sounded fine.  However, I now use a Meridian 598 DVD audio player to play my cd's and the sound is even better.  The Meridian does have a dvd vs just a cd transport.  The electronics of the Meridian of course is among the best in the industry, and its about 10+ years old.

I am surprised how good the sound is out of my Marantz U7007 blu ray player through my Yggdrasil via digital coax.

Don’t know what a hi-end DVD player sounds like, but I can tell you for sure that a low-end DVD-player is sh*t compared to any routine dedicated CD-player. (I was told they had two different lasers and related circuitry? So that essentially what you’re getting for a cd-player is at best equivalent to one that would cost half as much. Is that true? )

I was going to say use a DAC, but you’re obviously already there.  Depending on the quality of the clock in the Bifrost you might benefit further from something like a W4S Reclocker and a better digital cable depending on what you’re using now.  Just some additional thoughts FWIW. 

I use an Oppo UDP205 as a CD transport to play exclusively CD and SACD. It sounds better than my previous Wadia CD player.