I probably should have mentioned the SMSL D6, but Jussi mentioned somewhere above in the thread it might not be a good match for my Class D NAD M23. But it is on the list, I promise!
Currently I just play them ‘normally’, from a Cambridge CXC CD transport into the Toppind D90 via optical. I have never tried to include HQPlayer in the chain. I usually rip the CDs anyway and have copies accessible from my roon core anyway.