Well, there's one initial choice to be made ... do you want a computer in your listening room? If so, then integrating one (Mac or PC) directly into your system using a good USB DAC would be the way to go. As I understand it, a Vista based PC will sound as good as a Mac.
However, if you don't want the computer in your listening room, then solutions such as the Squeezebox or Transporter would be the other path.
For an investment of $2k, I think you could get excellent sound quality (albeit not SACD). But you could do very well for well under $2k via a stock Squeezebox. For me, the Squeezebox is ideal for entertaining and its definitely a low cost of entry if you already have wireless networking in your home and a sizeable hard-drive on your Thinkpad (and the patience to rip your CDs). Then there are very nice mod paths for the Squeezebox to take it up to an even higher quality if you're so inclined...
Good luck and have fun!
However, if you don't want the computer in your listening room, then solutions such as the Squeezebox or Transporter would be the other path.
For an investment of $2k, I think you could get excellent sound quality (albeit not SACD). But you could do very well for well under $2k via a stock Squeezebox. For me, the Squeezebox is ideal for entertaining and its definitely a low cost of entry if you already have wireless networking in your home and a sizeable hard-drive on your Thinkpad (and the patience to rip your CDs). Then there are very nice mod paths for the Squeezebox to take it up to an even higher quality if you're so inclined...
Good luck and have fun!