Need Advice On A Network Music Player

"Is this a viable option from a Windows PC?"
It should be. you may have to install an extra driver or something. I use Windows based laptops at my office and several months ago I did play one flac
file directly into my dac (I didn't have the V Link at that time) and it worked well.
Your next post states that you have heard good things about the Bryston, but that the price of High Res downloads gives you cause for pause. I haven't heard the Bryston although people have raved about it. Note that it costs well over $2G, about the price of 7 squeezebox touches or 3 Marantz NA 7004. The Marantz or the SBT would leave you a lot more $ to buy music with. You could easily afford that whole Stones catalog with the money you would save.

Additional thoughts about the sbt and the Marantz. I've been spending quite a bit of time with both of them (in different systems in my house).
The sbt is really a hard to be value. I use it as a transport into my aforementioned PS Audio DAC. The High Res files from HD Tracks really do sound great. I prefer the sound of the Marantz by just the slightest of margins.
The interface of the sbt is a real bonus.
You had posted that you had a problem with a logitech problem in the past and that was turning you off the sbt. I had had a problem with a non functioning earlier version of the squeeze box many years ago and had a terrible experience with Slim Devices (the company that developed the product and was then purchased by Logitech) customer support. I too was reluctant to purchase the sbt but after reading many satisfied users on this forum I took the plunge (what the heck, $300 bucks).
I had a problem with the power supply, and then they sent me the wrong replacement supply. This was annoying, but their customer support was very responsive and ultimately sent me the right unit and offered me a credit towards another logitech product. Now that it works it is a lot of fun. i use it more for internet radio but as mentioned previously it does play high res files very well, both from usb and from my computer.
The Marantz has a nice sound but I can't recommend it because it is very buggy. The usb drive will stop playing flash drives and give a "no connection"
signal. These drives play just fine on the sbt. Marantz keeps claiming it must be a network problem and doesn't respond to the fact that these drives play on the sbt (same network) and I don't understand why a network problem should impact a drive that is directly connected. Marantz did send me another unit today for me to try and this one outputed no sound whatsoever, despite being hooked up to exactly the same connections as it's predecessor. When I reinstalled the first unit, at least I get audio, until it stops playing the flash drives.
btw, I have heard similar stories about the Cambridge Audio player, in terms of bugginess.
Again, I get fantastic results by playing the same files direct from my laptop
to a V Link (reduces jitter) and then to my dac. I really don't need any of these devices, because one can also get Internet Radio from a pc as well. The sbt makes it fun to surf for stations, and also will be useful when you want to start adding NAS drives.
In summary, if I were you, I would swallow your reservations about past problems that you may have had with Logitech, get the sbt, and spend the savings on more music. In a few years, these players will be more reliable, and players with quality similar to the Bryston will probably be more realistically priced. Upgrade at that time if you like.

Richard,

Your observations on both units are greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for the perspective.

Nightfall
My Marantz replacement unit now works (there was a button on the remote for digital out). It doesn't have the problems playing high Rez files that the original unit had. I am going to live with it for a few more weeks and then perhaps report on final thoughts comparing it vs SBT.
They both are a lot of fun, sound great and it is nice to play high res files without having to turn on the computer.

Richard,

I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts after spending the time with both units. Also, you mention it being nice to play high rez files without having to turn on the pc. Aren't the files stored on the pc's hard drives?