CD has laid back and uninvolving sound

Dazzdax- If you've never read this article in Stereophile, it may give you some insights as to what's missing. (http://www.stereophile.com/reference/23/index.html) If your system delivers the dynamics you enjoy via vinyl, you may need to address your CD transport or DAC. Have you taken any steps with regard to isolation for the transport? Much can be lost(solidity/definition) in the lower registers through resonances/vibration. I'd second the suggestion of tube rolling in the DAC also. NOS Siemens and Telefunken tubes always deliver excellent bottom end response and definition(not to mention transparency throughout the entire audio bandwidth). The 50's Siemens ECC83's(long plates) are excellent, or you could go all out with a pair of Tele ECC803S tubes. It's hard to imagine the digital equipment you own lacking PRaT.

Sounds like my experience with tube DACs, previously owned Audio Aero Prima DAC (Capitole DAC) and Audio Logic 24MXL. Both were smooth but lacked the resolution and involvement of my highly modded Perp. Tech. setup.

SS DAC isn't going to give you more bloom, but it will be more upfront and greater PRaT.

Regards tube DACs. I've since acquired experience with a variety of capacitors, I suspect I could have attained a more upfront, involving presentation on either of my tube DACS with something like Mundorf cap change. Perhaps a cap change on the Accustic Arts is in order.

I don't think that this is necessarily the case in general, though it is certainly not uncommon for various reasons.

I have albums that sound great and better than CD versions and vice versa.

I have an Accustis Arts Drive I and an MBL 1511F DAC. I could not be happier. In fact, so good is the synergy, that I hestitate to "upgrade" to the MBL 1521A transport. Perhaps you should switch to the MBL DAC.

Dazzdax,

You have good stuff so its surprising to me.

I'm assuming your CD is working properly as designed.

First I'd like to know more about the rest of your system: amp, speakers, ICs, etc.

I think a common problem with CD playback is that often the amp or pre-amp cannot handle the dynamics, both large scale and micro, as well with digital sources as they can with phono analog sources. The result may be an uninvolving or less interesting sound.

Or if the dynamics including fine detail sounds pretty good but the tonal balance is off, perhaps a different DAC might offer a solution.