I compared the Benchmark to the NAD M51 and bought the M51. Don't know about the Sony although its ability to stream and store music seem very cool--a one box solution. The M51 can, however, allow you to input digital information from a transport like an Oppo or other DVD/CD player and the Sony can't. The Sony can play DSD, the NAD can't. DSD is a pretty limited format in downloadable form, however. I would suspect the NAD on a purely sound quality basis might edge the Sony, but we're talking about the kind of sound you like. I find the NAD to very organic. Does the Squeezebox allow you to output high resolution (24/192) files and will it allow you to stream?
