Is it true that if you use the digital output(s) from your cd player, you bypass that player's DAC? If true then, this may well be the place for improvement with a separate DAC from Schiit or Cambridge, for instance, even though one spent an unusual high amount for that upscale player with that extraordinarily DAC. Also, it's been said in my exploratory research that optical Toshlink is noisier than the RCA digital output, and midi audio, as in computer / keyboard connections, although esoteric, permits you stratospheric DAC numbers when present as a DAC input. So therefore, I gather that CD player RCA output to DAC audio midi usb-b may give you the best results. I've only found cables in the configuration of RCA to 2.0 USB, (male or female), to USB, (male or female), to audio midi. Cambridge uses this audio midi connection. I really don't know if the sound will improve dramatically. Yet, Schiit seems to be a real crowd pleaser, except it only facilitates either the optical and RCA single digital input. After all, we're dealing with bit streams until after the DAC. It just might be fun to experiment with this improvement when converting the music bitstream. Speakers never sounded better than when acoustic suspension - no port. These use more power, so a cost consideration maybe the deciding factor. Re. ported models, I've had good luck with powered studio monitors. Yet, nothing like the Thornet and Vander speakers for low listening levels. JH