Please help me figure out what I need to do this. My head spins with tech talk..

FWIW I never liked the idea of a separate DAC for dedicated CD playing.  I would buy the CD player and avoid the component mindset in this situation.

Primaluna makes a tubed CD player....you may want to check it out. One box, one cable to your integrated. 

@abstract if you are considering a different product then you really need to listen to them before purchasing. You may read online or in a review that X sounds like A,B, and C but find out it really doesn't sound like that by your definition when you hear it yourself.

If you can't find a local dealer or a local person selling something used that you're interested in, maybe ask the manufacturer or non-local dealer about a free trial period. We do that for some of the stuff we carry, and I know there are others who do that as well.

Hey abstract, what is the rest of the system? I am a dealer and do have a demo North Star Blue Diamond available but I’m not sure it will fit the system and your taste. I have a feeling the old player was adding a lot to help the Plinius give you that lush sound. 

For on the cheap the older Jolida JD100 gets consistent praise. 

OP

i listen to Classical Music exclusively so perhaps my input may be helpful.  As others have explained here, yes you need a separate DAC?  Are you sure, however, that you don’t want to listen to SACDs and/or Blu Rays?  When I last looked, there were over 2500 classical titles on SACD, and several hundred Blu Rays.  I own well over a 100 SACDs, on labels such as Pentatone, Channel Classics, 
MDG, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra House Label, the Chicago Symphony House Label, and others.  Most SACDs sound better, both in 2 channel and in Multichannel, than Redbook CDs.
  I bought a Bryston BDA-3 DAC because it will accept the DSD from SACDs over HDMI from my transport.  I know that you didn’t care for Bryston before and I get what you are saying but I wouldn’t describe the DAC as sounding like that.  The Bryston also sounds excellent with Red Book and Computer Audio.
  I would seriously consider a one box player that can play SACDs as well.  Marantz still makes some and you might like the Marantz house sound, which tends to be warming.  Onkyo is rumored to be coming out with a Universal Player and there are others at a variety of price points