It depends. I use an old sub--$100 Pioneer universal player with the first version of Pioneers outstanding transport mechanism, playing through a Bel Canto DAC, and it has a solid bass which outperforms any Sony mechanism played through that same DAC. A better mechanism is a better mechanism, whether it is in a transport-only body or not. As a frugal retiree but a life-long audiophile I always look for these "serendipitous" paths to audio nirvana, and there are more than you might think.
CD transports; do they really matter
In my pursuit of total sonic harmony, I have been investigating whether a CD transport ( to replace my bulky and aged Luxman CD player ) would be a good option. I had an interesting conversation with the manufacturers rep of a respected brand regarding his companies CD transport. He basically said its all in the DAC, the transport, as long as its not a cheap component, does not make much or any difference. So, I ask does it really matter?