Need Advice On A Network Music Player

Just listened to the Marantz for another hour. I also own the Marantz 8003 SACD/CD player, which has been replaced now by the 8004 (see another thread under this folder). The 8003 , 8004, and the NA 7004 all use the same cirrhus logic Dac chips. The sound of the NA 7004 playing standard res files is similar to the 8003 playing redbook CDs. The NA 7004 does sound different than the 8003 playing SACDs. They both sound great but I give a slight preference to the SACD. Is this due to the DSD encoding for SACD? Can't say.
Marantz dealers are easy to find. If they can't demo the NA7004, then see if you can get a demo of the 8003 or 8004, which are very close to the NA 7004.
Do you have a DAC? If not, then the NA 7004 may be a more logical purchase than the sbt

I own the SBT and the Marantz NA 7004. The SBT is a great value at $300. I use it with a PS Audio Digital Link 3 Dac. I use an Ethernet connection so it had no network recognition issues.
The Marantz sounds a lot better playing high Rez files but has major reliability issues that I have detailed in recent posts. Most of the issues involve high Rez playback.
My advice? Don't bother. I get the best results running high Rez from a macbook (decibel software) into a Musical Fidelity V Link and out into the
Dac.

"Is this a viable option from a Windows PC?"
It should be. you may have to install an extra driver or something. I use Windows based laptops at my office and several months ago I did play one flac
file directly into my dac (I didn't have the V Link at that time) and it worked well.
Your next post states that you have heard good things about the Bryston, but that the price of High Res downloads gives you cause for pause. I haven't heard the Bryston although people have raved about it. Note that it costs well over $2G, about the price of 7 squeezebox touches or 3 Marantz NA 7004. The Marantz or the SBT would leave you a lot more $ to buy music with. You could easily afford that whole Stones catalog with the money you would save.

Additional thoughts about the sbt and the Marantz. I've been spending quite a bit of time with both of them (in different systems in my house).
The sbt is really a hard to be value. I use it as a transport into my aforementioned PS Audio DAC. The High Res files from HD Tracks really do sound great. I prefer the sound of the Marantz by just the slightest of margins.
The interface of the sbt is a real bonus.
You had posted that you had a problem with a logitech problem in the past and that was turning you off the sbt. I had had a problem with a non functioning earlier version of the squeeze box many years ago and had a terrible experience with Slim Devices (the company that developed the product and was then purchased by Logitech) customer support. I too was reluctant to purchase the sbt but after reading many satisfied users on this forum I took the plunge (what the heck, $300 bucks).
I had a problem with the power supply, and then they sent me the wrong replacement supply. This was annoying, but their customer support was very responsive and ultimately sent me the right unit and offered me a credit towards another logitech product. Now that it works it is a lot of fun. i use it more for internet radio but as mentioned previously it does play high res files very well, both from usb and from my computer.
The Marantz has a nice sound but I can't recommend it because it is very buggy. The usb drive will stop playing flash drives and give a "no connection"
signal. These drives play just fine on the sbt. Marantz keeps claiming it must be a network problem and doesn't respond to the fact that these drives play on the sbt (same network) and I don't understand why a network problem should impact a drive that is directly connected. Marantz did send me another unit today for me to try and this one outputed no sound whatsoever, despite being hooked up to exactly the same connections as it's predecessor. When I reinstalled the first unit, at least I get audio, until it stops playing the flash drives.
btw, I have heard similar stories about the Cambridge Audio player, in terms of bugginess.
Again, I get fantastic results by playing the same files direct from my laptop
to a V Link (reduces jitter) and then to my dac. I really don't need any of these devices, because one can also get Internet Radio from a pc as well. The sbt makes it fun to surf for stations, and also will be useful when you want to start adding NAS drives.
In summary, if I were you, I would swallow your reservations about past problems that you may have had with Logitech, get the sbt, and spend the savings on more music. In a few years, these players will be more reliable, and players with quality similar to the Bryston will probably be more realistically priced. Upgrade at that time if you like.

Nightfall
My Marantz replacement unit now works (there was a button on the remote for digital out). It doesn't have the problems playing high Rez files that the original unit had. I am going to live with it for a few more weeks and then perhaps report on final thoughts comparing it vs SBT.
They both are a lot of fun, sound great and it is nice to play high res files without having to turn on the computer.

Nightfall, as I noted earlier, I think that some of the networking issues with squeezebox that existed a few years ago (which I also encountered) have been cleaned up since Logitech acquired Slim Devices. You shouldn't use your past experience as your only guide on this product, and I say this as one who had the exact reservations that you have.
All of these devices (include Bryston) will play high rez files from a usb drive so there is no need to turn on your computer. They also play files from your computer as well.
I haven't had time to really play with the Marantz, but the little that I've been able to use it since my last post has been very rewarding.

Well you have a fine DAC. Probably another reason you were interested in the Bryston transport.
I listened a bit to the Squeezebox today using the Marantz NA 7004 as the DAC. Perhaps not to surprisingly, the combo sounds a lot like the NA 7004 on it's own. I therefore would conclude that the Squeezebox is relatively neutral conduit that doesn't add any colorations. The only difference that might be there is a slight roll of on the very top end--extremely subtle.
You won't go wrong with either the Touch or the Marantz. If you buy the latter make sure that your unit plays high res files from a USB drive before you bring it home.