If you want to try a better IC for your Toshiba, go ahead, but that's not where I'd spend a thousand bucks. It's a good IC you say, and I trust your first hand experience. I'm just not sure it will improve what you're now getting out of the Toshiba by that much.
On the other hand, all your other candidates, either CDP or DAC, provide better performance, especially in the D to A department, even through your present cables.
And if your preamp has balanced inputs, the Krell, Levinson, and Wadia products (I know for sure about) have balanced outputs. And my experience has convinced me that digital equipment that has balanced analog outputs always sounds better when connected through them (but I haven't got a clue why ;~))
On the other hand, all your other candidates, either CDP or DAC, provide better performance, especially in the D to A department, even through your present cables.
And if your preamp has balanced inputs, the Krell, Levinson, and Wadia products (I know for sure about) have balanced outputs. And my experience has convinced me that digital equipment that has balanced analog outputs always sounds better when connected through them (but I haven't got a clue why ;~))
