Best CD changer...as a transport?

If you are talking jukeboxes, I'm not sure you're going to hear any significant difference using the digital outs. Perhaps with a higher end piece like the Denon 5000. If you are using solely for party/background (non-critical listening) I'd go with a cheap changer and your DAC. If your DAC only has one digital input, save it for a good single play CD transport, and get a little better changer and use its analog output. I think the Sony ES, Pioneer Elite, and above-mentioned Denon have some of the better analog outs. Don't even think about a jukebox without a keyboard input - major PIA. If you want a five-disc, OneCall has the HK 8550 right now for 200 - dual 20-bit BB1702's, HDCD decoding - should be the later models with the quality problems fixed. The previously-mentioned (Marantz, Parasound, CAL) are good choices as well as the Adcom GCD-700. Good luck!

i have a Nakamichi MB-8 which i bought on the internet for $250 new. sounds great. 20 bit processor, elevator loading system which saves space and also looks cool ( straight into player like in a car

I bought an Aiwa XC37M for $90 from J&R Music World at the end of Dec based on a review I had read in Bound For Sound. It only has a toslink output. Right out of the box, it sounded lean and sterile, but after some run in time, it has smoothed out a bit. I bought this primarily for background music and have not been disappointed. It is not as transparent and does not have as deep bass as my Parasound CBT2000, but it sounds much better as a transport than you would think for $90. It can be modified for $130 by Stan Warren to something that is claimed to be as good as almost anything, but I have not had the time to try the mod. The only drawback that I would see with it is its appearance-several led's flash on and off when it is playing. Otherwise as a transport, I think it's a great bargain.