[pansixt]

  If you're suffering from audio nervosa about the quality of the USB - DAC link, you can always get a USB to SPDIF converter (e.g. a music fidelity VLink or HiFace2) to be the go between. 

4) Pour a drink & enjoy your music

PC audio can really drive you crazy w/ all the alternatives - whether on the software or hardware end.  I've been there.  Don't fall into that trap!

I totally agree with Jarcher on his experience with servers.

The M2tech Evo-Hiface2 is a great interface if needed. A bit pricey but I used one with HAL's server and it was definetly superior to me, to my SB Touch Dig out to my AVA DAC. Of course HAL's server was the major part of that equation I am sure. He does all of the tough work for you in the build.

I was lucky to have had a couple of chances to check out Jim's "Salk Stream" devices. Another top sound experience for me.

Lots of options out there, and again I'm definitely with Jon on the "Pour a drink and enjoy the music". No need to rush a decision. 

James

[Vincent Kars]

@Vincent - Good point and I'm not sure what the answer is. My (limited) understanding led me to the belief that having a soundcard was necessary in a Windows machine, at least necessary for getting optimal sound quality. Don't most of the music servers have a sound card?

A couple of years ago the “standard” recipe was buy a pro-soundcard (RME, Lynx) not because of the AD, not because of the DA but only to get best possible SPDIF out into a DAC.

Today almost all new DACs comes with a asynchronous  USB input, not need to use a legacy protocol like SPDIF anymore.

If I install Foobar on the PC and do all the CD ripping on the PC, then transfer the ripped WAV files across the network to the MAC for doing comparisons, there shouldn't be an issue with that, right?

Right and wrong at the same time.
Right because WAV will play everywhere, wrong because tagging support in WAV is a problem.
If you want to experiment, WAV is fine. If you are going to rip your entire collection it is not the best choice as far as tagging is concerned.
http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/KB/WAV_KB.htm

[rooze]

Right and wrong at the same time.
Right because WAV will play everywhere, wrong because tagging support in WAV is a problem.
If you want to experiment, WAV is fine. If you are going to rip your entire collection it is not the best choice as far as tagging is concerned.
http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/KB/WAV_KB.htm

Thanks Vincent, I think you just saved me a lot of wasted time!

I hadn't thought about tagging. So if I want to do the WAV format, I really need to do the ripping on the computer where the files will be played back...then add the meta data as I rip the files. Presumably iTunes manages the databasing of meta information alongside the WAV file. So if I were the transfer just the WAV files to another computer, the meta data would be lost?!

I'm learning this stuff thanks to you folks!

Cheers

Rooze

[Vincent Kars]

So if I were the transfer just the WAV files to another computer, the meta data would be lost?!

Yep, this will happen most of the time

[srb]

Presumably iTunes manages the databasing of meta information alongside the WAV file. So if I were the transfer just the WAV files to another computer, the meta data would be lost?!

Yes.  However, iTunes has a funny way of tagging album art.  If you manually paste in the artwork into a "taggable" file such as AIFF or ALAC, it is stored as metadata within the file.  However, even when working with a "taggable" file format, if the artwork is acquired either (a) automatically or (b) with the "Get Album Artwork" manual command, it is stored in the iTunes database.
 
However, even if automatically acquired, it's a quick and easy workaround to embed the art as part of the file by:
 
1. Select one of the songs, choose Get Info and copy the artwork from the Artwork tab
2. Select the entire album, choose Get Info and paste back the artwork into the Artwork field in the Info tab
 
Steve

[toddbagwell]

JRiver media center now reads AIFF tags. Foobar curremtly does not. This format doesn't have WAV's tagging limitations, and is uncompressed lossless, and easily swapped between PC & mac, given the proper software.

Todd