Thank you Cknicker for your evaluation information. I was perhaps as disappointed in reading it as you were with the MacBook/Musical Fidelity X-DAC V8 combination. I say that because my system at home is comprised of MF components, MIT cables and Spendor 1/2E's. which produce amazing results to me ears.
But I'm not here to plug my stereo components. I was considering getting the X-DAC V8 to link a digital server to my stereo, but have become skeptical over the past few weeks. Your post and Tedmbrady's follow-up verify some of what I've been reading.
So, I have a question or two. I would like to find an intermediary between the server and my stereo. It has to be have an I2S link, pull data from the server and accommodate a screen for list navigation. Oh, and the intermediary has to cost less than $1,000 because, though I love music, I am not wealthy.
One last question, if you will. Is it the case that the sea of solid technical possibilities is too vast for me to comprehend or is it the sea does not yet exist? This search is taking a lot longer than I had anticipated.