AIR vs CD player

[audio_engr]

if you connect your CDP to the devialet via s/pdif or aes/ebu, isn't it now that the devialet doing the D/A conversion?  then the CDP is just a transport and the internal DAC doesn't matter.

Indeed !  CDP becomes a CD Transport while Devialet does DAC duties .. However a reference quality CD Transport still plays an important role ... please see my signature & you'll see what transport I'm using ..    I've some 3500+ CDs hence I need to do some justice to them.

coincidentally i have a metronome CDP also, not your level....just the CD8.  Planning to get a coaxial cable to connect to my d200.  BTW, does digital cable make a big difference?  How do you compare optical vs coaxial?  Do you have any recommendations?  thanks

digital cable makes a BIG difference ... Forget the Optical (it is Trash !!). Use the RCA Coaxial ... a reasonably good cable for the price would be DH Labs SIlver Sonic D-750 ... 
(Greg from DH Labs is extremely nice to help ... you can reach him at [email protected] )  Factory terminated RCA-RCA for the D-750 are $130 for 1-metre & $170 for 1.5 metre