Icorem, I understand your confusion. I've been looking at this on and off for a year. I absolutely agree that I would love to see a shootout among servers, but I too believe that will not happen anytime soon. That wait is indeed worthless. It seems that every review simply compares these purpose built servers to basic or even modded pc's and mac's.
Also, while you are correct that each server maker thinks his way is the best way, how is that different from every other audio product, lol? Unfortunately, for guys like you and I, we are simply going to have to pull the trigger based on whatever pitch makes the most sense to us. I know I want a single box solution that rips, stores, and plays back with high convenience, low hassle, and good sound quality. I think that each of these servers can do the job to varying degrees, and the sound quality is probably similar, even if they take different roads to get there. I have various threads on Computer Audiophile, Audio Shark, etc on the topic of these servers, and have followed, read and/or commented on dozens of other threads regarding one or more of these servers. I am no closer to fully understanding which is best than I was last year, so I will make the best decision I can based on my criteria, with the assumption that the sound quality will be reasonably close.
Now, to throw one last wrench into things, there are some variables that may make the server's sound quality less of an issue. First, the BADA USB to SPDIF converter supposedly works like magic, and may take the SQ issue (noise, jitter) off the server's back, requiring less money be spent on a server just to improve SQ (although you WILL be paying 1800 for the BADA). Second, some new dacs, like the Chord dacs and the new PS Audio Direct Stream, supposedly use FPGA chips that again take the SQ onus off the server. I realize you have the DCS, so the latter option is not valid for you, but just sayin...
Once again, unfortunately, unless you or a magazine or a wealthy audiophile decide to test/compare all these servers and variables, we will never know the absolute best path.
Finally, for me, I think I'm down to the Antipodes or the Musica Pristina. Hey, gotta make a decision sometime?
Good luck...
