Marc, thanks for your recommendations, sounds like you've got a great combo going there. My Mac mini goes to my Empirical Audio Feeway 2 usb converter, which feeds my Wadia 860X CDP through it's digital input, utilizing it as a dac. It's then on to the Joule Electra LA-150 Mk2 tube preamp, the SimAudio W5 amp, and finally music emerges from the Merlin VSM-M speakers. I use Kimber Select 1030 ic's, Elrod EPS3 Sig power cords, and Cardas Golden Cross speaker cables. It sounds pretty damn good, so why do I keep looking to upgrade this & that? Wait, now I remember, it's a sickness.
Enjoy!