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A line out running into the analogue input of active speakers is OK. You may need to adjust the gain switch to get enough volume out of the speakers and this is normal to do.
I have kept my Denon 2910, so called "universal" player because it plays SACD's and DVD audio discs. I have a Sony BDP S6500 Blu Ray player. It will play the SACD layer of SACD disks and you can use it to rip SACD to dsd as well. Just buy a Sony player - problem solved.
Do the players have a coax output? If so, you could try an inexpensive external DAC. I use one with my older Cambridge Audio Azur 540C CD player. I’ve determined that the DAC does not really make it sound better, but it did make me feel better when I bought it.
The cost was low enough that I never fretted about overspending and the transport continues to work well.
I’m one of those who enjoys playing an occasional CD, especially as background while working at the desk. For more attentive listening I’m likely to be streaming Apple Music or accessing our library of downloaded CDs via AirPlay.
I could be wrong, and I am the champion of being wrong, but I think just about all cd players in current production whether pricey or not use the same Phillips drive and Sanyo laser mechanism. No one else is making cd drive mechanisms for consumer grade home audio products. In a way, that makes this drive and laser mechanism the prevailing standard.
I am a big believer in something like this
I M-Disc for Flac and full strength downloads and playing and recording every freaking disc format.
Transports just do not make sense to me. $120 gets you the keys to the kingdom.
PIONEER External Blu-ray Drive BDR-XS07S Silver Color to Match Your Computer.6X Slot Loading Portable USB 3.2 Gen1(3.0) BD/DVD/CD Writer. Supports BDXL and M-Disc Format. USB Bus Powered https://a.co/d/54VDZaj
A couple of years ago I got a second hand Marantz CD6004. It sounds excellent. I did spend a few nights comparing it to my Topping D10S and it was near identical. Maaaaybe just a smidge of extra bass in the Marantz. Basically nothing.
I've no idea how it compares to other similarly priced CD players but I suspect there won't be much in it.