From PC / Mac to DAC into Monoblocks, Direct?

All very helpful - thank you everyone so far.

Lustformusic, nice idea to use a good case for the PC which I have also considered.

Br3098, how do you like your Antelope gear? And further to wives, mine has been very supportive of wires and clutters for years, but this seems to be changing as we approach our 10th anniversary.

Hence, this approach!

Cwlondon,

I haven't found a DAC that sounds better, is built as well or has all the features of the Antelope Zodiac Gold for anywhere near the price.

I fully second BR3098 on the Zodiac and suggest to get the Voltikus power supply while you are at it

Re attenuator

This weekend, I managed to experiment with my trusty Audio Research DAC5 in the following configuration:

1) Mini Mac - USB out to Hagtech interface box
2) Hagtech interface box out to SPDIF input on ARC DAC5
3) DAC 5 direct to Levinson 23.5 power amp

To my surprise, (and as per Lustformusic's Foobar suggestion) I was able to easily adjust volume using the software when surfing around iTunes and Pandora, suggesting no preamp required?

Having said that, it did not sound great - just pretty good, so would appreciate any clarity on how attenuating the digital signal (?) might be compromising sound quality and how to improve upon that.

A friend from Audiogon has told me he has come close to perfected bit perfect rips to iTunes, which can be controlled using an iPad.

That too is of interest if anyone is using an iPad to browse their collection?

Hello Cwlondon, all volume controls including digital are not created equal. Digital volume controls literaly throw away resolution as they attenuate, although dynamics seem to be untouched. Analog depending on the quality seem to retain resolution but dynamics can suffer so it would seem on the surface you may as well toss a coin. I've also used passive attenuators which you can try between your Dac and Amp, some prefering TVC types over RVC attenuators.I had an interesting coversation with John from Bent Audio, he told me if you use both digital and analog attenuators at the same time each padding down the signal and operating toward their upper limits where both loose the least and operate at their best. I do this myself and find it's better than either attenuator types used on their own and dynamics timber and harmonics are preserved. I also see you are restricted to 20 bit because of your Dac of choice, upscaling both bits and frequency will give your digital volume control somthing to loose and retain more bits. I use Saracon or r8brain, the latter is free and easy to use.Please be sure your SPIDIF cable is 110 ohm , DH Labs make a good one for reasonable money but I know there are many others. I hope this will address at least part of of you needs.