ShanghaiT

"Specifically, I am not understanding what a streamer does that a MAC/PC could not do and it appears that being locked down to one vendor's particular software is not a good thing." Regarding your initial assumption on the software: With the LINN products ( and probably other UPnP streamers ), you are not locked into a vendor's software. In fact, the beauty of the LINN products is that there are some very well executed programs from 3rd parties to control the units. ( currently using Chorus for my Ipad, Iphone ) After using a few external DACS being fed from my MAC and IMAC, I finally made the switch to the Streamer/NAS config and have zero regrets. Aside from the above mentioned benefits from other posters, the sound quality coming from my Akurate is simply breathtaking. When I went to the store to choose my setup, I did a blind test, and was able to pick out the Akurate 3/3 times.

Last week, I set up my Linn Akurate in a just a few hours using a Synology 710+ NAS and it was relatively simple. No additional software ( i.e. Twonky ) to install. As of September of 2009, it comes preinstalled with Synology's own media server software. I am also using a MAC along with my IPAD to control everything. The Synology control panel was very MAC friendly. If you are using itunes to control, Synology even has an option to be a itunes server. ( If you plan on playing 24bit/96, imo steer clear of itunes/Amarra ) I had been recommended the QNAP, but am quite pleased I went with the Synology instead.