Matt
So here is what I am running. I use a Bricasti M1 DAC that has a very nice remote with volume control on it. I run XLR balanced out directly to my amplifiers, no need to buy a preamp. I load my music onto a Melco N1A $2000 ( Stereophile Class A ) using a $169 Buffalo BRXL-16U3 burner. I put the burner right on top of the Melco and while I listen to music I burn in new CD's highest resolution in about four minutes. Really opened my eyes as to possibilities after messing with JRiver on my Mac Book. The software is already loaded in the Melco and you control it with free software, I use Music Life loaded on my IPad. I love it. Simple and easy. USB from Melco to the Bricasti. Four Terabytes of storage with unlimited external or cloud based.
So here is what I am running. I use a Bricasti M1 DAC that has a very nice remote with volume control on it. I run XLR balanced out directly to my amplifiers, no need to buy a preamp. I load my music onto a Melco N1A $2000 ( Stereophile Class A ) using a $169 Buffalo BRXL-16U3 burner. I put the burner right on top of the Melco and while I listen to music I burn in new CD's highest resolution in about four minutes. Really opened my eyes as to possibilities after messing with JRiver on my Mac Book. The software is already loaded in the Melco and you control it with free software, I use Music Life loaded on my IPad. I love it. Simple and easy. USB from Melco to the Bricasti. Four Terabytes of storage with unlimited external or cloud based.