New DAC recommendation $1K, hopefully tube.

Without getting too technical, the airport express does exhibit a fair amount of jitter, and the Havana's strong-point isn't jitter reduction; it also doesn't have balanced outputs and it's digital input selection is limited. That being said, I have one (in addition to a Bel Canto DAC3) and love it. I'm running it from a Mac Mini and use the Bel Canto USB link (although there are many usb to spdif converters) to go from usb to spdif in the Havana. In general, i don't think airport express is the way to go for a server setup, unless it's for more casual listening. If you can find a used havana and get a good usb to spdif converter, it will keep it around 1000. The biggest difference, no matter what DAC you get, could be getting away from the airport express.

If I were to get a Havanna, I'd have to get a Monarchy DIP as well to reclock the SPDIF. I think if I would pick them up used I'd be able to spend less than $1K.

Add a couple hundred dollars to the Monarchy DIP and I can get a Mac Mini and use either USB or optical out.

Either way, I'm just trying to come up with some options since I'll be relocating the DAC1 to the desk.

FWIW, I had the Benchmark and in my system, the Havana was better. I know people feel the Benchmark and Bel Canto sound similar, but in my system the Benchmark was just too analytical. The Bel Canto has better sound-staging, better bass, and is less diffused than the Havana in my system, but I kept the Havana because it does breath a special organic quality into the music that I want to hear sometimes. It's not goopy or syrupy, but isn't hyper-detailed.

I too have been considering the Havana DAC for use with
an AppleTV connected via glass Toslink.

Have any of you Havana owners tried the AppleTV with it
to see if jitter is an issue??

Thanks!

I only used my Havana with an AppleTV and it was great. That said, I did find a big improvment by using a really good TosLink cable, and I am imfamously anti-crazy-cable improvments. But in this case it made a very big differnce.