older CD transport vs newer ones.

Don't fall for the hype that if you pay more you get "better" sound from a CD spinner/transport! Not true! All transports that conform to the CD Redbook standard will output the exact same data bits regardless of whether they come from cheap DVD players, CD players or boutique high-end transports. That's the Facts of Life, kids!

Couldn’t disagree with you more, maybe try better transports. I was using a Cambridge CXC ,which is a fairly good transport for the money, with my Mojo Audio EVO DAC . However, I took the advice of Ben at Mojo Audio and upgraded my transport. I decided on a SimAudio 260DT which provided an obvious improvement in SQ..

ejlif, I would suggest upgrading, maybe checkout the Forum thread on the new Project transport, seems a number of members are very high on it.

Sounds great, wait for it to die.

Meanwhile, be ready to order a replacement.

My Experiences

1. Onkyo DX-7500, dual matched burr brown processors, 18 bit, 8x oversampling 352.8 kHz, all the mechanical isolation, optical tricks, etc. they could think of

http://www.hifi-classic.net/review/onkyo-dx-7500-430.html

Damn drawer started misbehaving, still played, still sounded terrific.

2. Niece was throwing away a Sony 5 disc carousel Video Player, DVP-NC80V ( lost remote). I could use if for picnics, parties, why not. Single processor, 24 bit, 192 kHz

Damn thing sounded as good as the Onkyo. Everyone agreed.

3. Let's try an Oppo BDP-105. dual ESS Sabre DACs, 24 bit/192 kHz.

Damn thing didn't sound any better than the single processor Sony Carousel. Sold it, lost $204. 

+1 @facten .
Transports are better designed to output a low-jitter stream than a CDP.
It may be all 0s and 1s, but it’s also the timing and purity of the signal; no distortion to affect the rise time and shape of the square wave. This tech is built into a transport. You can hear this.