New CD Player

They do sound different,

You need to try them to hear whether you think it is an improvement from your prior player.

better or preferred is a personal determinization.

It's not just the zero's and 1's

it is the 'SALAD' of ingredients any specific player has:

Processor; Filters, Over-Clocking, Up-scaling, retaining DSD to output; Separate lasers for CD/SACD

My last upgrade: better sounding CD player. I went thru 9 used CD players until I found/bought/love (with help here) a used Sony xa5400 ES. Difference so good I am re-discovering my CDs and buying used CDs.

https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/res/manuals/4000/40006911M.pdf

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-4hMRMWIbYmp/p_158XA5400E/Sony-ES-SCD-XA5400ES.html

https://www.stereophile.com/content/music-round-36-page-2

https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/audio-player/sacd-players/sony-scd-xa5400es-player/

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/sony-sacd-player-scd-xa5400es-yay-or-nay

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/better-cd-sound-the-search

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/sacd-players-models-with-dsd-processor-used-and-new-not-dsd-conver

If you're worried about life-expectancy with your current CD player, get an Onkyo C-7030.  It's inexpensive and arguably the best CD player on the market today.  Also works well as a transport.

Haven’t heard the Onkyo and it may well be the best cd player on the market - but at its price range not overall

I find the Onkyo to be incredibly transparent and a little more forward sounding, the marantz a little more fuller and warmer. With the return policy of some online dealers you can try both which is what I would do. You will use this player for another 10 years, get the one that best suits your system. The Marantz is 30% off here:

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/marcd60blk-rb/marantz-marantz-cd60-single-disc-cd-player-w/usb/1.html

First, I am the distributor for CEC in the America's.

Since your CD player came on the market, there has been a major change in the design of laser pickups. This made a difference in the performance of CD transports across the board.

The idea that it is all one's and zero's, as a result all cd transports sound the same is not an accurate statement. The error correction used in transports is not all the same. Some transports with exotic error correction will nearly always play music, but is it what was originally recorded. NO and some audiophiles can hear this and don't appreciate it others do.

CEC transports use a belt drive system for the spindle this decreases the noise in the music. If you want to know more see the Audio Union web site.