Cal Audio Labs Ikon II Improvement Options

[wrenchone]

A few months ago, I latched on to a California Audio Labs Ikon MkII CD player. It's definitely the best-sounding CD player I've ever owned. I'm told there's lot better now. I have several options open to me for better CD sound:

1) Try to improve the current circuitry inside the Ikon - I've looked inside, and I'm not overwhelmed with what I see there, especially regarding power supplies and bypassing. There's also an output DC offset that makes an annoying "pop" when I select the CD input on my preamp. My preamp did have DC-coupled input, but I added input caps, as this DC made my volume pots hiss like a nest of snakes.

2) Dump this player for a better one - any suggestions that won't require me to take out a second mortgage?

3) Use the player as a transport, and run an outboard DAC. Suggestions? I was thinking perhaps of a Twisted Pear...