iMac based system -- any advice?

If I were you I would probably use a squeezebox to get your music to your stereo and then use an external DAC between the squeezebox and your stereo. Not too hard to do and very convenient.

- Chris
Computer Audiophile | Turn Down The Silence

http://www.computeraudiophile.com

I use the optical out jack on my Mac. My DAC only accepts digital coax so I run the signal through a Monarchy DIP (about $120 used) to get into my DAC. I agree that your DAC is the key.

Take a look at my system by clicking the link below ... it is a bit extreme, but you might get some ideas:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vopin&1196304575&read&3&4&