Is a dedicated transport justified?

Maybe a bit higher than you want to spend but I have owned a Data 3 for 10 years. I have a/b'd several dvd combos such as Sony 7000/7700/ Arcam fmj27--- The low end slam would be the one area Theta does the punishing to these pretenders.--So, yes transports matter.

If a unit is bit perfect with low jitter. How much more slam can you get? I would think slam comes from the analog output stage of the Dac..not the transport? Please explain to me how you get more slam out of one transport if both use the same cables,have close to 75 ohms output and bit perfect. I really would like to know. Or does this transport magical add data that's not there from the beginning?

I owned a Dac at one time, that allowed me to change the bit rate. I didn't hear much of a difference if any. It also allowed me to increase the sound level of the music playing.
Since disc are recorded at different levels this maybe helpful in some cases. I think this still falls under the Dac's analog output stage giving you a precieved increase of slam.

Thanks

Im confused also

The Theta Data II can be a tricky transport to use (I have one in a box in my office, don't ask!). It is a modified Philips LV400 laserdisc player. When it works it sounds fine, but mine rejects loading of most of the CDs. Even when it loads them, it takes 17 seconds to engage play. Theta have not been helpful in supporting service for this model. I currently use a Theta Data III (a modified Pioneer CLD-704 laserdisc player) and even it gets CDs jammed once in a while. When it does, I have to lift it out of the rack (at 45 lbs., it ain't trivial), remove 16 screws to remove the cover, and manually push (hard!) the laser assembly toward the spindle. I am looking for a reliable one box solution, instead of a separate transport/dac combo, hopefully from an OEM instead of an aftermarket modifier.

You might be able to find a one-box player that beats your current three box combo for $500. DACs have advanced significantly at lower price points. The discontinued $120 ART DI/O beat the Theta Pro Basic II (a 15 year-old design) in my comparisons.

One other thing to consider: Theta "rewards" customer loyalty and original purchasers, i.e., Theta punishes second-hand owners by charging them higher rates for repairs and upgrades than to customers that have original proof-of-purchase.