Which is better - Hi end CD transport or Music server into DAC?

Transports are. It created Raquel, each unit should be treated as an individual. IOWs, can’t answer the OPs question favoring one device over a different one in these 2 categories. 

E.g. in a/b tryouts,my SimAudio CDP (Equinox, $3000) from 2007 absolutely killed the transport on the OPPO 95. While the Bel Canto dedicated cd transport($1500)  was also better than the OPPO, and right on par with the Sim in terms of SQ, tho slightly different sound. 

Why? I think bc the Sim has 2 dedicated power supplies for analog and digital. But the OPPO has 1 power supply for the 100 different functions it has, so the transport quality suffers.

I prefer my networked music system with SPDIF at the endpoint feeding a Multibit DAC. Most of my CDs were ripped with the transport of a common PC computer.

A high end music Server, truly optimized for music playback, will top any general use computer that is being used for music playback