ok. I'll wait another 5 years and see where this goes. By that time cd's will be dead right? (or at least that's what they said 5 years ago). Then again in another 5 years I may be dead as well. As no forebears in my family lived pass 71, I've got a year left.
CDs are great in general, of course depends on the recording and how much compression the CD has,
but I still use them 90% of the time, mainly b/c I have such a good (old) CD player with an awesome
digital transport via SPDIF. Simaudio Equinox SE, it is 10-15 years old.
for example, I compared this Simaudio CD Transport output to an OPPO 95, 4 years ago.
The Sim blew it away, not even close.
Yes, the Oppo can do many things well, but IMO did not do anything "great" like the Sim.
The problem with streaming via USB from a computer/NAS is the quality of the USB transmission,
which has many inherent problems. The audio industry did not pick the USB as the best performer,
they picked it b/c it was readily available b/c the Industry Manufacturers chose this USB medium
to use ubiquitously in the tech industry.
Anyway, hope a little history helps. And will add that manufactures are still making quality CD Players,
eg, Hegel's "Mohican", $4k, runs 16/44 "redbook" CDs only, but does it incredibly well, just like the Simaudio i have.