[jackman]

I noticed this on AG today and wanted to see what it was all about.  

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?ampstube&1138329129&1138029856

The company is local and I left an email to ask if I could check one out on my system.  I'm running a PC based system at the moment with a DCX active xover.  Would I have to put the DAC upstairs in my office with my computer or could I run a wire from the DCX?  I'm thinking about trying the low powered tube amp to run my tweeters and using the digital outs from my SB to run the DAC.  At the moment, the best sound is SB3 directly to the DAC's in the Behringer because it avoids dual A/D.D/A conversion that occurs when I send an alalog signal into the DCX.  

Confusing post, any ideas?>

[kfr01]

I go USB to m-audio sonica to SPDIF to DAC.  

Basically a USB to DAC or mixed USB/DAC solution eliminates the need for a Squeezebox and allows one to use their computer as a direct source.

Having USB directly into a dac and doing something to remove USB power from the equation also helps reduce jitter.

The latest and greatest solution is actually something like this:

http://www.empiricalaudio.com/frComputer_Audio.html

It eliminates the SPDIF stage entirely.

[ton1313]

http://www.wavelengthaudio.com/usbdac.html

[audioengr]

The advantages of computer-driven audio are explained in this white-paper:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue22/nugent.htm

Steve N.

[randytsuch]

Thing with a USB dac is that you need to connect it to your PC, so the PC needs to be in the same room as the stereo.

One thing that is really cool about as SB is my PC is on the other side of the house from my stereo.  I have a wireless SB.

Randy