PC Audio Choice: Mac+USB, Transporter, or Squeezbx


Hello all of you who have faced choosing your path for PC audio!

While I have a Mac Ibook G3, 500gb HD and Paradisea USB DAC on my second system, I am wanting to ultimately have PC audio available on all 3 systems in my house, or atleast the two that I listen to most. I am trying to decide what path to take. For the main system, do I:

1) Buy another computer, dublicate my 500gb HD and run itunes seperately from that, using a good USB DAC or a USB converter to a conventional DAC.

2) Buy a network HD and a Transporter, possibly with a Modright Truth mod (this is really more money than I want to spend...)

3) Ditto to the above but use a Squeezebox with various add ons, such as antijitter filter and a good DAC.

I guess what I'm asking is, which of these options presents the best bang for the buck? Also, which is most flexible with respect to listening to content available on the internet (e.g. archives of live Grateful Dead concerts, other streaming and non-streaming content). Finally, are there any limitations to high resolution when using any of these - as I imagine there will be more and more high rez downloads available.

Thanks for your opinions. Please provide the basis for your thoughts! Thanks, Peter
peter_s

Showing 4 responses by mtdking

Option 2 is your answer. I tried the other options and the Modwright Transporter was the end for me. Don't waste your time with option 3. Once you use the Transporter you will never go back to CD players.
Read the stereophile review of the transporter. They compare the transporter and the SB3 with DAC.
I used my Wadia 581i se digital inputs to test it out. The DAC inside of that is world class. I also tried an Theta Gen 5a with the same results.
The 581 is ok but the 581SE is awesome. One of the very best players money can buy. I did not compare the DAC's to each other. I have since sold my 581ise and my Ayre C-5xe for the Modwright version of the transporter.