Music Server with no DAC?

Well, having just bought a Transporter, I can think of a couple of reasons:
1. Simplicity- I for one am trying to simplify- get rid of all those jewel cases and my CDP.
2. Ecoonomics- The extra cost of the DAC chips is probably pretty small compared to the R&D, other hardware, advertising, distribution, mark-ups, etc. I bet you MIGHT cut 10% off the cost; nowhere near 50%.

Just my $0.02. Its a great unit, esp w the Modwright Signature treatment.

So, for example, in the present, Media-Monkey, Bryston DAC, 24/96 downloads, Laptop w/external HD, should completely kill the Transporter at a cost of just 300 or so more depending on details.

From a cost standpoint, yes, IF you already own the Bryston DAC. If not, that's an extra $2K for the DAC, which is the list for the Transporter which can be bought for several hundred less. Not sure why you are convinced it would "kill the Transporter", but I've never heard the Bryston. The Transporter also allows your music server/laptop part of your home network (wi-fi or ethernet), can stream to other locations on the network, and has internet radio & music services built-in.

The reviews on the Bryston are very impressive but that really does not answer your initial question. I still think that the elimination of the DAC is not a big cost saver and if you want all the functionality of the Transporter, you can always take a digital stream from its outputs.

Lightminer- I think your thinking is colored by the price of a stand-alone DAC. The MW already has a case, power supply, inputs and outputs, product distribution/marketing, streaming software and hardware, and R&D built into the cost. If you eliminate the DAC your costs probably don't decline by more than $100 and I bet is quite a bit less than that (I will admit that this is rank speculation, so if anyone knows what the bulk cost of the DAC chips and assembly might reasonably be, please chime in). So the question is, if you can provide a very good quality one box solution of $2K (list), will people spend $1.9K in order to have the option of adding a DAC, with extra cabling and maybe a de-jitter device.

Please don't get me wrong, I do like the idea of a modular product w different options. Of course the "differences" between many of the DACs you are talking about could and probably does, have lots to do with better implementation of power supplies, analog stages, etc, as well as to a "better" digital to analog conversion per se.

Not having heard an SB and having a Modwright TP, its hard for me to judge, but I'm also thinking that Cruz123 is correct. With an external DAC, that is probably the sweet spot in the price/performance/functionality spectrum.