Hello,
I experienced with my Cary Audio CD-306 Pro that at 44.1 KHz, 16 bit, CDs sound much denser and thicker than files (wave 44.1KHz, 16bits).
Same experience with a simple DVD player, same result! The sound of CDs is denser.
I pointed this out to my specialist hi-fi dealer,
he told me that he had already noticed this phenomenon and had no explanation.
Whoever has a doubt must experience it.
Reguards
Alas C3dr!c your anecdote here doesn't even
begin to be convincing proof that there was inherent audible difference.
Your claim that one 'must experience ' it to be convinced, is based on faulty premise.
Let's assume your files are actually ripped from that same CD (i.e., they aren't a different mastering)
What one
must do, is make sure the output level of your Cary is matched to that of your file player.
What one
must also do, is make sure insidious 'sighted bias' is controlled for.
But one
could skip all that and just show us carefully measured output FR of the Cary. That could reveal right away whether it is acting as an equalizer in addition to being a DAC+transport.