Are you suggesting to reduce your Cary Audio player with its Class A analog section to a CD transport? If all is working well, that's a testament to build quality and be glad you own it.
That said, why not go ahead and try a new DAC or two? Just remember you are limited to digital outputs of Toslink or Coax. To avoid clocking issues look for asynchronous mode DACs, but only the newer (and pricier) ones will offer this for a Coax input. Then, unless you also add a high resolution source, you will be underutilizing your new expensive DAC with only 16/44.
Ripping your CDs to a hard drive on a music server and adding hi- res streaming apps is another option, to be that separate audio source.
Another good path might be to sell your Cary and buy one of the newer CD players that offer the latest technology, as well as integrated USB and ethernet streaming options.