Welcome back Brian. Has it been that long? Glad you found a good room (as you know most over equip the available room). FLAC is still in use and viable. Surprised that you still have the Rossi modded SB (my SB had problems from the start, and like others didn't notice any improvement from battery power - power always being a local issue, so dumped it). Vinyl is still around, but CD players have mostly gone to the computer route:
1.) Purpose built music servers (that are self supporting or need a computer/HD) for the high end; dedicated Apple mini for many (with or without various tweaks) can also be very good; then other multi-tasking computers for the rest of us. Modern (improved versions of the SB) exist that mostly live near the lower end of the spectrum.
2.) Software from JRiver, to Pure Music, to Audirvana, to just plain old iTunes are the most popular from my readings.
3.) Formats have expanded from PCM to DXD and DSD at higher bit and frequency rates showing up all the time although the lions share of material thats available is still Redbook. And clean power is still an important consideration for computer and DAC.
4.) DACs vary the most and improving the fastest (seemingly making everything obsolete), from $100 tiny plug-ins to your USB port to five figure two box rigs, many with tubes. So you pick based on sound quality, price, formats supported, inputs, service/build, and chip/design.
So as you might expect, the source arena has gotten wider and more complex. All this without being any more convenient or elegant than your SB - conceptually still a triumph of good design IMO. And it seems to me, like too many products in many industries, that the SB was right at the cusp of getting the kinks worked out in its operating experience with good sound quality and ideal convenience when the plug got pulled. Too bad.
