Just starting out

Music servers are easy to use, at least some of them. The problem with these is generally sound quality. It can be improved significantly by adding a digital reclocker.

If you want the best possible SQ, this will not deliver it. The best SQ is currently from a select group of USB to digital converters. You will need a computer, like a Mac Mini and playback software like Amarra to make these sing. Then need feed a decent DAC, like a Wired for Sound DAC2 or Metrum Octave.

Use a transformer-based preamp like these http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=89744.0 and you will get a good result. Use an active preamp or receiver, and all of the great SQ will be buried.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

what is issue with active pre-amp? thanks

Active preamps all add noise, distortion and compression. The only good thing is they usually have stronger drive than a DAC. Just get the right DAC with strong drive and use a transformer linestage.

Once you have a low-jitter source, you will easily hear what an active preamp does to this source. Many times, the gains in tranparency and detail from low-jitter are lost if you use an active preamp.

Audioengr: May I ask why you believe a transformer based preamp is better than a resistor based preamp?

What is the difference between active and passive pre-amp?