Universal disc players as CD players.

I have for years. Pioneer CLD 704, Arcam DV88, Oppo 205. I dislike unnecessary redundancy. All were as good sounding at their price point in their time as dedicated CD only players.

I use a McIntosh MVP881. It's a convenient one-box solution. The audio is excellent and the video is more than good enough for my use.

I use an Ayre DX-5 DSD with balanced analog to a KX-5 Twenty for stereo, HDMI audio to a Bryston SP3 processor that sends balanced analog front LR to a by-pass input of the KX-5 and surround to a pair of NAD C288 amps.  HDMI video from the DX-5 DSD goes directly to the projector.  The sound is superb as is the Anchor Bay video the DX-5 uses.