CD player output via DAC chips vs tube tech

Maybe you're not familiar with them but there are tube based standalone DACs . I'm listening to my 2nd system right now with a Modwright Elyse R2R tubed based (6922) DAC. There's any of a number of others - MHDT DACs, Aqua Acoustics LaScala, Lamipzator DACs, Border Patrol, to name a few brands.

Also , there are many solid state DACs that sound as good as if not better than tube DACs . I have a Mojo Audio DAC in my main system doesn't take a back seat to my tube DAC.

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OK you got me, 
Yes I was completely unaware of any of the tube dacs you mention. 
Thanks for your kind imput,,I'll take a  look at the units you mentioned.
But as for SS DACs,, I'm a  tube guy, just neurotic about having a  tube in every component.

I get it , I have 3 tube integrated amps, a tube preamp and a tube DAC. My point about the solid state DACs was simply to not judge the SQ that you can get from one because of your disappointment with the SS output stage in your Shanling

there are numerous ways to implement a vacuum tube in the circuitry of a dac

the devil is ALWAYS in the details, circuit, tube, associated parts, associated circuitry, power supply, isolation - all of it works together and each element interrelates with others to produce the sound - examples:

gary dews’ border patrol unit uses the ez80 tube rectifier in the power supply section only - not the amplification stage

jiun-hsien at mhdt uses his single 5670 dual triode as a buffer in the output circuit of the orchid/stockholm/pagoda etc etc, main amplfication is actually solid state, the buffer circuit provides a 10-15% lift and a little tubey flavor - the jolida guys do the same with their FX tube dac but they use 12ax7’s one for each channel

vlad at audio mirror runs his 5977 sub miniatures as the actual driver of his tubador’s output stage... thus the tube circuit is providing the full gain and impedance match to the receiving preamp/amp

frank van alstine in his lovely old FET TOPP dacs used 12ax7’s in his main driver stage, one for each channel

so it depends... one needs to understand in detail what you are dealing with, what you are listening to, how it will or won’t affect the sound - each designer makes decisions based on his objectives for sound, cost, reliability and so on...

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there are also other ways to create an ’analog-sounding’ dac, full of dimensionality and warmth and glow in the sound without a vacuum tube - witness cees rujtenberg at metrum/sonnet, wesley at neko and the folks at lumin who use lovely old school output transformer coupling of the ss output stage ... so there are many ways to achieve wonderful results

One of the best sounding DACs I owned in the early days of DACs was the CAL Alpha DAC....mine was a later 24/96 unit and it sounded great back in the day....   but a lot has changed and my RME adi-2 DAC betters it by a good margin.   

I prefer my dacs clean and pristine.   It is my source component for just about everything I listen to feeds to the DAC...   If I dont like the tone or sonic signature of the system I address it else where in the system,  whether its with room tuning or changing tube types in amp or pre.    I just think the "source" component should be true to the source material it is playing back.