Doesn't DAC Do Heavy Lifting vs. Transport?

If the DAC is playing music from a buffer, then aren't the only requirements placed on the transport that it 1) keeps the buffer full and 2) doesn't pass incorrect data? So then, what the heck does it matter about jitter?

Bigbucks - I assume your question about using a buffer is for me. The point I was trying to make is that the amount of jitter in a transport is an important consideration for achieving good sound. This was an attempt to address the OP's question, "Does the transport impart its own influence on the sound?" I only mentioned the reclocker as an illustration of how jitter was audible in my system. But you are correct in pointing out that, when a reclocker is used, the jitter characteristics of the transport are less important, or perhaps irrelevant, depending upon the method of reclocking. Similarly, if the DAC reclocks the incoming signal, the jitter characteristics of the transport are less important, or perhaps irrelevant, depending on the method of reclocking.

I guess that I always have assumed (there it is) that an external DAC doesn't ever rely on the transport for data timing. Instead, it empties its buffer at the right time intervals according to its own clock. Therefore, the only jitter is the DAC's jitter and the transport therefore must be totally irrelevant. Your experience means what? That some DACs don't use their own clock and instead rely on the transport's clock?

I just don't understand (unfortunately).

I have owned 5 or 6 (probably more) dacs and thought each had a unique sound. In my experience the transport, which was the digital out from a cdp or dvd player, was irrelevant. At least I could hear no difference when subbing in a different transport.
I'll take it one step further and say it is the analogue output section of the dac that is most important. What I mean is the number crunching done in the dac to provide the analogue signal is not as important as how the analogue signal is delivered. Of course YMMV.