win200

That always seems to be the case, doesn't it? I mean, we're still waiting for high-end pre/pros that feature HDMI, let alone high-definition audio decoding.

Excellent. It seems like the most prudent option at this point. Are tracks distributed by the hi-rez download services 24/96 or 24/192? I would loooooove to be able to listen to the RR HRx discs, but it seems like there are precious few setups that can accomplish that. Their recommended Lynx/Berkley combo seems a little involved. It seems like the two options that do 24/192 and connect directly to a computer via firewire are the Minerva and the FireFace.

I think I'll probably get the DAC1 USB. That way, I can get 24/96 over USB for the time being. I mean, 100% of what I have on my computer at the moment is standard resolution 16/44, so I won't be missing out on anything unless I start to download hi-rez stuff. Then at some unspecified point in the future I can get a device such as the MADIface (which I looked at and can't even begin to understand). I take it this combo (Mac connected via USB to a DAC1) would result in a satisfactorily "audiophile" sound? This seems to me to be as relatively high-end as one can go without making a big price jump to something like the Minerva.

I would probably lean towards the FireFace, despite the fact that I think the thing is ugly as sin. I think my basic prerequisite for a DAC is that it handle 24/196, and preferably over Firewire. I couldn't tell from what I read about the Brick whether or not it handles hi-rez in any form. What "additional hardware" would be required to get a coax stream out of a Mac? I just kinda like the look of the DAC1, and the basic model is "only" $975.

Yikes! That's definitely out of my budget. Is there another DAC you'd recommend under, say $2,000? I've been looking at the Benchmark, but I'm not certain that that does 24/196 via USB.

Regarding the Minerva - where does one find the unit for purchase? I explored their website, and didn't see any stateside distributors listed.

Hmmm. Sounds like a Mac might be in my future (which I swore I'd never do). My current Windows computer is a laptop, so no internal sound cards, which seems to rule out all the best options (I've researched Lynx, which seem to be fantastic). I also like to avoid ambiguity, as I've got one of those anxious minds that can't help but assume that something's not working quite right, so knowing that (with a Mac) I'd be getting bit-perfect output no questions asked would be a load off. I'd drive myself crazy with a PC.

This whole notion of 'bit-perfect' output has me a little worried. I'm about to pull the trigger on a sound card, and never realized that some have bit-perfect output via coax and some don't. Is there a card you could recommend, Chris C.? In general, I'm just curious about your system/setup, which I would hazard a guess is pretty close to a reference point for computer-based playback. In essence, I need a benchmark to attempt to copy.

So just to clarify, JRiver can read Apple Lossless and can import files as Apple Lossless? (Thanks a million for answering all these questions... I feel soooooo helpless!)

So you would recommend listening via J River and ripping via EAC? Is it possible to convert all my Apple Lossless files to AIFF, or is that unnecessary?

I'm currently on a PC utilizing iTunes, importing files as Apple Lossless files using the iTunes program. Is this less-than-ideal? I have no problem whatsoever moving to a new program if there's sound quality to be gained, or to another import format as well. I just import via iTunes because it's easy and automatically adds the files to my library. Will other programs (like Sonic Stage) recognize Apple Lossless files? Any advice here would be awesome - this is all kind of daunting.

Excellent; I think that's what I'm going to go with. I've seen a couple of mod outfits that work on the DAC1 - has anyone had any experience with a modded Benchmark?

Well, seeing as though I don't have $30-90k sitting around right now to sink into a CD player, maybe I'll concentrate on a computer-based system. Given that wireless doesn't support 24/196, I'll forgo that for the moment. I'm willing to be inconvenienced in order to experience the best sound possible. I take it that the Benchmark DAC1 handles 24/196 via coax?

I would also highly recommend Signal Cables. You can get pure silver cables for a relative song, and they have other lower price increments which are extremely competitive. Also, they have more of an "audio jewelry" look compared to Blue Jean Cable, if you're into that. I'm in the process of converting all my cables to Signal Cable.

I'm also curious about Musical Fidelity's X-DACv8, and how that would compare to the Benchmark. Also, I've been thinking of upgrading my CD player from a Cambridge Audio 640c to an 840c... if I get a nice DAC, would just be superfluous?