Best way from hard drive to DAC?

i've been looking into the benchmark dac with volume pot.

However, here is a great source of exactly the kind of info you're looking for:

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

This link for wavelength audio tells you all you need to know including how to set up your computer as a transport and using a palm pilot as a remote control!

I think that the end of transports may be near...at least in my system the end has come already

Go to the Empirical Audio website. Lots of great information and Steve Nugent is a great resource that can assist you in what you're trying to do.

I have a newer Creative Audigy 2 soundcard with coaxial digital out that gets sent to a CAL Gamma DAC, which goes into an Accuphase P-300 Amp (I use the amp as a preamp) driving Studio 20s. I like the sound. i figure the PC is a hostle place for analog audio, so I get the signal out in digital form and let the DAC handle the rest.

My weak link may be the sound card. Audiophiles think highly of M-Audio. My Audigy2 is fully gold plated and they seem to have done an excellent job with noise, overall sound quality, build quality, etc. Plus, I think their support is pretty decent with constant software patches, upgrades, etc. Claimed to have 24/96 capability as well if you prefer to let the card do the number crunching. Hope this helps.