Quote Originally Posted by Ajani
To hopefully help answer a few questions in this thread:

I've owned 2 computer based audio setups...

1) A Mac Mini connected directly to my Stereo Preamp, using a 52inch LCD Projection TV (as the monitor) and iTunes/apple front row to select songs... This was the best option in terms of a visual interface... So easy to select music... but the hangup was that all the computer sounds came through my stereo... so whenever someone came online (MSN Messenger) or the computer stopped to do 'processing', I'd hear the stupid sounds through my stereo...

2) An HP Notebook wirelessly streaming my music to a Squeezebox Classic, connected to my stereo... The major advantages of this system are a) my computer does not have to be in the same room as my stereo and b) My stereo is not my computer's soundcard, so I don't hear all the MSN Messenger sounds etc... just the music I want to play...
Note also that the second setup has a much, much greater potential for audiophile-quality sound.

You can take the digital signal out of the Squeezebox and run it into a high-end setup, like I do (DEQX pre-amp, crossover and room-correction). That will rival or surpass any CD/transport you could get at several times the price.