Marco have you noticed differences between file based digital audio vs CD? Personally I have found the best I have heard is via file based audio even when the material has been ripped from CD. However CD is certainly not dead yet as I have heard an alternative take on CD which upscales the output to remarkable effect. The system allows A-B comparison between plain Vanilla CD output and upscaled version.

I am not about to throw away my discs yet!

I am sure you can get good results from older equipment as I trust your ears mate.