Upgrade from Rotel RCD-1072

I have a 1072 and enjoy it very much. I recently added a Squeezebox Touch and I cannot tell the difference between the two playing the same 16/44.1 song from the same CD, and in both cases using analog out. Yet the Touch provides so much flexibility plus ability to play 24/96 files that I now rarely turn the 1072 on at all. Even better value at $350!

My next step is an outboard DAC for both.

FWIW the rest of my system is Lamm LL2 pre, McIntosh MC275 amp, B&W804S speakers, Rel sub.

I have two systems (one with a RCD1072) and another one with a cambridge 840C, I think the cambridge is a nice upgrade over the RCD 1072 although more expensive. Don't expect miracles though, as most said, the rotel is capable, the nice bonus on the 840C is the inputs on the DAC, which I use with my squeezebox.

I had Rotel 1072 and it was realy nice cd player,but it is realy not in the same league with players that cost from 3000 to 5000usd.(around 3000eur here in europe). I tried Meridian G08, Pathos Digit, Bryston BCD 1, and that time ended with Bryston.Resolution cant be compered between those two,it is the matter of the rest of your system which player you will choose,but I guess all this mentioned above are much better including Ayre 7 which I tried in some other opportunity.Than again,last year changed the Bryston with few times more expensive Burmester,and still the improvment is huge,its just the question if the rest of your system is good enough to make you hear the difference,and of course,do you think is that the best way to spend your money.If that is no issue,sky is the limit

I'm using a Neko Audio D100 external DAC and it made a huge improvement over the Rotel player. The RCD-1072 is a good budget player for the money but its musical presentation is pretty colored and on the dry side of things. I didn't realize this until I compared it with the Neko which is so natural and effortless itself, but that's what a $1200 DAC gets you. If I never heard the Neko, I'd still be happy with the Rotel.

I got rid of my 1072 and went back to my Marantz CD63-SE + (original) MSB Link DAC. I never warmed up to the Rotel. Later I added a Denon 2910 universal player and then I replaced the Marantz with a NAD M5 CD/SACD player. I'm very pleased with the NAD. The Denon is great but it frequently refuses to play.
The one thing I can describe well about the NAD is that it makes some (most) classic rock CDs much more bearable than the Marantz or Rotel did. The NAD is a little more revealing and forward. If you like the Rotel, though, I'd venture to say you would not like the NAD.