Ipod Server-Why not?

I tried the Wadia dock (not the new one) and found it ergonomically inept. Undocking and reducing because it would lose the digital signal, click wheel issues, having to use the click wheel, etc. Just a real PITA.

I thought about using my laptop, but having it and my external hard drive wasn't my idea of fun either. Didn't want to use an airport express, Squeezebox, etc. as I had Squeezebox issues previously.

I bought an Apple TV gen 1 when it was the current one. It has 160gb internal hard drive and optical output. Think of it as an iPod with digital output. Everything is synched to it as Apple Lossless. I control it with my iPhone and with my TV whenever I feel like going that route. It can also be controlled by an iPod Touch or iPad.

I'm pretty sure they can still be found. Search Amazon. There are also people putting bigger hard drives into them. Haven't done that though. For me, it's a very simple route that has worked flawlessly. I think I paid $250 or so for it a few years ago. I've listened to and enjoyed music more than ever since I've had it.

It can also do Internet radio and YouTube. Picture and sound quality vary through those, but they're a lot of fun.

Connect it to a great DAC like the Rega DAC (which I own) and it sounds great. Just my two cents. Haven't tried the current ATV, but I've read it only outputs at 48 rather than 44.1, so it's changing things from the original signal. I haven't heard anyone rave about it's sound quality by any means.

I'd love to go high-res, but there's little if anything I listen available above redbook. If the OP is in the same boat, it wouldn't make much sense to up the budget for something that isn't there. And realistically speaking, I'm pretty sure mainstream music isn't going high-res as it's standard for quite a while. Hopefully I'm wrong!

I went the ATV and Rega DAC route with this in mind. The ATV won't do above redbook, but the Rega DAC will. If I miraculously find a ton of high-res music that I enjoy, I'll gladly repurpose the ATV.

Same can be said for an iPod. It can be used on the go (which is it's real original intent), in the car, in a second system, etc. The Wadia dock can follow it in a second system or be sold off.

The OP should get a DAC that'll do high-res even if he doesn't have any, as you never know what tomorrow will bring. But what's feeding it can be repurposed pretty easily and effectively if need be, and doesn't really break the bank either.

Or at least that was my train of thought when putting together what I have. I didn't want to be tied to a laptop, nor have the main computer running to hear music.

Also, if you're streaming and have wifi/Internet issues, how would you acess your library? My cable/Internet was down for 4 days due to hurricane Irene. That would have been driving salt into the wound.