Music Server with no DAC?

Yes - looking at the JRiver funcitonality I would consider the client/server functionality a must. Posted on MM about it, perhaps MM can do it via mapped drive letter? Not sure. But agree the J River functionality looks great, and you could add opera/consert hall DVDs type stuff there whereas MediaMonkey is music only for now. I'll have to look at this very closely as J River does look great. Just spent 3 weeks on Media Monkey set up. Oh well, I'll keep researching.

But between then two, I'm really really thinking now that this is the way to go, no Sonos or Squeezbox or anything. Just NAS on local LAN with JRiver or Media Monkey out via SPDIF on docking station to already-owned DAC. Totally kills the other solutions from what I can tell.

Logitech is reportedly going to release the "Squeezebox Touch" in mid-late Aug. It is rumored to be 24/96 capable, thus the perfect solution for those of us who already have a capable outboard DAC, and not interested in a standard or modded Transporter. I'm eagerly awaiting it!

I also noticed that NuForce is doing exactly what I'm referring to in exactly the terms I'm referring to it in.

"NuForce designs its source devices to conform to industry-wide standards, protocols and formats. Our aim is to achieve perfect compatibility with all available companion devices. Further, we have chosen not to include DACs with our audiophile-quality source devices in order for the end-user to assemble a system consisting of components of his or her choice."

They get it!

http://www.nuforce.com/Product-MSR-CDP.htm

And they don't include the HDs - perfect! No paying 3X for commodity stuff just to have it wrapped in a different color plastic and a name stamped on it!

Now that I'm learning more about how all of this works *all* of these companies, including NuForce (whose stuff in general I highly respect), Linn who also makes high end versions of these things, all of them have to show what they have to offer over a simple computer and Media Monkey or J River, a bit of NAS, and an IPhone-style app...

One area where they win is ease of implementation for the non-technical but for those who can set up their own home network, I'm now thinking none of these devices make sense. Assuming you already need the home network for other stuff, that is.

The only price I could find on the Nuforce MSR is $2250. Seems to me that a computer could likely be configured to provide similar functionality for a lot less money.

Exactly.....