It all depends on your plans. If you're going to rip your CDs to digital files, and/or do a lot of streaming, then DAC. If you have a large collection of CDs and simply plan to continue playing them, then a player makes a lot of sense (among other things, no connection/interface between the two boxes). Besides the Isis for those $$ there are lots of excellent players with slightly different flavors, Marantz, Luxman, Esoteric, Bryston, etc.
New school Or old School DAC Or Cd player?
Guys looking at new DAC- For example looking at the Terminator and Jays transport- I only play CD and was thinking for the same price that I pay for the terminator and transport- I can get a Rega Isis Cd player with high reviews-Or I can get a BAlabo DAC or other older High end DACS for the same price- which is a better choice for Redbook- If I go with the older DACS I get a hi end piece for pennies on the dollar and can use my Oppo as a transport or my Sound Science server- thanks for the advice-