Thx but maybe I didn't make it clear that the main reason for the upgrade was to improve on the Audiolab 8200CD player when I'm listening to CDs. I don't really spend much time streaming music, although the Audiolab DAC makes it possible. I have a large collection of CDs I want get more from. So my question was, (or should have been), in order to get a better sound when listening to CDs do I upgrade the CD player or buy a better DAC and use the Audiolab as a CD transport?.
In that case
CD player.
As the the dacs and components in the the CD player are built from the ground up to be used together. Tuning out any deficiencies that the dac may have within the player.
Unless the transport is designed specifically for use with an outboard dac there’s hardly any benefit in my experience.
For example I have my nad c540 going straight into my sugden, tried it into the qutest and it robbed it of all its drive and sole. Sure it was more precise and everything eles that goes with a more modern dac but It just lost something and I wasn’t a small difference either.
Having said that audio lab do make a transport so it might be a case of replacing both.
See what happens when you borrow the dac your experience will be completely different I’m sure.