Network Transport vs. CD Transport


So I decided to conduct an experiment. I pulled the old Marantz cd player circa 1999, around $400 retail, from storage along with few CDs. Using a coax digital cable with a $4.97 rca to bnc adapter from amazon, I sat down to listen. I played the CD, the ripped version (AIFF) of that CD, and a Qobuz redbook version thru my zmac Mini. Long story short...the reason why I did it was because there is something missing in the Mac Mini sound quality and I got tired of trying to figure out what the heck is going on. 
Anyways, that old cd player used as a transport into the Qutest DAC sounds considerably better  than the Mac Mini that right now I will need a few days break before I can can listen to the Mac again. I figured (assumed) that a dedicated network transport will pretty much better the Mac Mini and be comparable or better than what I heard with Marantz player as transport. Eyeing Auralic G1, Lumin D2 and Lumin U1 Mini as candidates (I need wifi capability), will any of these be comparable or better than let’s say a decent CD transport feeding the Chord Qutest? For example a Cambridge CXC, or a used high end player?
I can go back to spinning CDs, but figured I don’t want to give up on streaming just yet.
What are your thoughts - Auralic G1, Lumin D2, Lumin U1 Mini, or a dedicated CD transport for high quality playback. Forget convenience, let’s talk purely sound quality...thanks!

System:
Rogue RP-1, Rogue ST-100, Martin Logan Montis, Chord Qutest dac. 
128x128audphile1
Thank you all for the responses. Really appreciated. Here’s some more detail on my set up...my apologies in advance for a long rant...
File formats-
AIFF CD rip using iTunes;
Qobuz hi-res, redbook. Roon corr on Mac Mini, wireless. I do not have the modem near my music room. Mac to Wyred4Sound Recovery USB reclocker using Kimber BBus USB cable, then Recovery into the Chord Qutest DAC using DH Labs Mirage 1m USB cable. The Recovery made a very nice improvement in sound by the way. What I don’t like - soundstage is too cluttered and hangs in a narrow space between the speakers. Depth is limited as well. Dynamics and details suffer.  There is glare in the midrange. Vocals are set back, and are recessed. Clarity on vocals suffers, and it seems like there is cloth over the mic. Everything is pretty much a blurb. All components except amp, mac and the Recovery are run off Shunyata Hydra. Amp is plugged directly into wall. All power cords on components are Shunyata Taipan Helix Alpha. Interconnects are AZ Matrix Ref II, speaker cables Purist Aqueous 25th Anniversary. When listening to the same recording on CD, running the CD player as transport into the Qutest DAC, all problems are resolved. There is increased resolution, more clarity in the mids, the glare in the midrange is gone, bass is tighter and more textured. Listening to Audioslave Wide Awake cd rip, the kick drum sounds like a large cardboard box with the Mac, everything sounds compressed. With the cd transport driving the Qutest on the same CD the instruments are better separated, the kick drum sounds realistic AND I can hear the skin on the drums. The vocals are now in front of the band with more subtle details, soundstage is wider and deeper. On classical, the orchestra sounds bigger and deeper, with clearer defined sections and individual instruments are more there as opposed to being cycled thru a sonic “food processor” when played thru the Mac. Listening to my Rega P2 with Goldring E3 cartridge sounds better on some LPs, the sonic signature is in line with the improvements brought in by cd transport. 
I think there are a number of inherent problems with the Mini as a streamer based on my recent findings. One is the internal Power supply. The other is the fact that it isn’t optimized for streaming music in the context of a high end system, as well as limited ability of Roon, or any other bit perfect soft to defeat what the Mini/Apple does with a usb output. I don’t have confidence in dropping more dough on the Mini set up as the difference I heard between it and cd transport is significant enough to make me doubt the gap is bridgeable. Hence my search for a wireless streamer/transport only. I may be wrong but I don’t think I’m too far off. You guys let me know...set me straight...
Your best bet may be to buy a Intel Nuc with atleast an i5 processor, get a linear power supply for it. Optimize windows using Audiophile Optimizer and Fidelizer, feed the Qutest directly from the computer. That is if your not trying to cough up the cash for an Ultrarendu and a NUC. Coming from someone who used a Mac Mini for a long time in my system, even as a core, it has no place. An EtherRegen is just icing on the cake, but still a significant difference. Buying the NUC first will give you options in the future to upgrade to the Ultra Rendu or any future endpoint if so desired. I find my optimized NUC feeding my Qutest by itself is quite respectable. My mac mini, not so much. If you shop wisely you could get a decent LPS with the NUC and optimizing software for ~$1k.
audphile1 OP
Luckily I still have all my CDs in boxes up in the attic.
Like I said, your are either very smart or very lucky, many weren’t. And are spending big, changing and going round and round 
Now get off the streamer merry go round and listen to your CD’s on a CXC and be happy again with the music you hear..

Cheers George
Hence my search for a wireless streamer/transport only.

Before doing anything else I would test the existing setup with a temporary ethernet cable instead of Wifi.

An EtherRegen is just icing on the cake, but still a significant difference.
It made a significant  differece in my case too. I woud recommend to try it, but again you need wire. If it's a long run I would install an optical cable from your existing router to the location of the streamer, and place an EtherRegen just before that.Based on my tests I bet this would significantly improve your existing system. If still not enough you could still experiment with a NUC or an even better streamer too...
I have a Lyngdorf TDAI 3400. I have an Allo USBridge Signature, streaming from local file storage and Quobuz, connected to the USB input. I have a Lyngdorf CD2 connected to a Coax Digital input. I can also stream directly to the Lyngdorf via BubbleUPNP or MConnect.
The CD2 playing the original CD is superior by some way to any of the streaming options. I now use streaming to explore my music collection, playing background music and finding new music on Quobuz. I then buy the CD and play that for a serious deep listen. That is the way to go.