CD Player versu Dedicated Transport

Answering your specific question: When used as a xport, you remove the dac from signal path. I don't know if the power supply sees it any differently, but it might. At any rate [sorry] there is certainly no harm using your player this way, however, ARC might disagree ;\ The AL is a fine, fine dac, adn I wouldn't think reliability is an issue.
Have you done any comparisons, using the ARC by itself? As BK notes, that takes the cable out of the deal, and bypasses any jitter issues, though perhaps the ARC has pretty low jitter to begin with. And though the electronics reside in the box, I don't think there's any downside to having them in there but "not used". Good luck.

Well, I had the ARC CD first, and I thought it sounding just fine. I did not do a lot of comparisons when I bought it, but I certainly enjoyed my system. The Audio Logic 24MXL changed the sound. The sound was more alive, more jump factor, I guess what people refer to as dynamics. I get the sense there is more precise positioning of instruments physically and a distinct sources of sound in relation to other voices or insruments in the music - I guess less "smearing" or "blurring" of the individual instruments or voices.

I'd like to hear more about the right digital cable. I'm using a DH Labs Coax BNC to RCA. What might offer some improvement?

Pubul57, the extra electronics does not matter as it is completely different signal path. The digital output comes directly from the transport of your CD player so it is the same as if you had a dedicated CD transport. Some CD transports offered on the market use upgraded digital interface, better clocking and better power supply, but that can be done with the same effect to a regular CD player.

So the answer is NO, you do not suffer from using the CD player as a transport, especially if you are happy with the sound.

Regards,
Alex

Alex said everything I was going to.

Great. One source of neurosis put to an end. Thanks.