Here is my music server configuration and cost breakdown using estimated retail prices:
Gateway Laptop (4 Gb, dual processor) - $600
!.5 and 2 Gb Seagate External USB Drives - $300
Roku Soundbridge - $200
Netgear Router - $160
mhdt Constantine DAC (optional for sound quality upgrade over DAC in Roku) - $700
total estimated list price: $1760
estimated actual cost - $1220
I use the laptop and router for other common home applications as well as needed so there is additional value there beyond just serving up tunes.
The resulting sound quality is quite top notch and I would assess compares very favorably to the best rigs I have heard out there many at much higher cost.
A second Roku + DAC in my second system lets me listen to music off this shared server on two separate systems.
Gateway Laptop (4 Gb, dual processor) - $600
!.5 and 2 Gb Seagate External USB Drives - $300
Roku Soundbridge - $200
Netgear Router - $160
mhdt Constantine DAC (optional for sound quality upgrade over DAC in Roku) - $700
total estimated list price: $1760
estimated actual cost - $1220
I use the laptop and router for other common home applications as well as needed so there is additional value there beyond just serving up tunes.
The resulting sound quality is quite top notch and I would assess compares very favorably to the best rigs I have heard out there many at much higher cost.
A second Roku + DAC in my second system lets me listen to music off this shared server on two separate systems.