New CDP or standalone DAC...?

Just to add a tidbit...I have two CD players in two audio systems. Both have an external DAC connected. One is a Rega Apollo with a Schiit Bifrost Uber and the other is an older Sony ES player with a Benchmark DAC1. Neither of these sound better than my Bluesound Node 2 playing MQA. MQA streamed albums sound better. The Node 2 can access all my ripped CDs and play them as good or better in many instances than my CD setup. The kicker is that the Node 2 costs $500. Just some 2 cents info before you make your final decision.

@mesch, 57 here. With age comes wisdom!
@2psyop, very good point. I subscribe to both TAS and 'phile and agree there is definite bias within those pages. I try to remind myself to remember they are written by humans, just like all of us on this forum, with all our baggage, opinions and biases. Interesting about Oppo products, people either love em or not. Not much middle ground, it seems. Since I like the sound of my 103, I'm thinking I'll probably like the 205. I know their "house sound" isn't everyone's cup of tea. Thank you for your response, and your suggestions.

Wow, just read your second post. Like what I'm reading. Very interested in MQA. Will definitely look into that further...

Thank you for that info about the Node2!

Tomcarr, as far as I saw, nobody wrote anything about your amp. I had that Krell S 300 few days at my home, friend brought it just for comparasion, to see how it sounds hooked with my gear. Please dont get me wrong, but it is very poor integrated amp, not by its power, but because of its sound. It has quite 'veiled' sound, like its high frequencies are cut off. At the time I had Sonus Faber Guarneri,,Burmester 001 player, with top Nordost cables and still the sound was like the speakers were covered with light blanket. My sugestion, if you dont mind me saying  this, is to change that amp first and than look for another source if you still need one.