Explain Digital Basics to an Analog person

The Lynx Hilo is the finest Studio device for recording and playback regarding quality and price at the moment.

Build a caps music server (windows 8). Get instructions at computer audiophile.com

This is the "best buy" option for your task at the moment.

If you want world-class results, rivaling your vinyl, then jitter is the primary thing to tackle, both in ripping and playback.

1) Record hi-resolution digital from LPs - you need a GOOD A/D converter - the Ayre QA9 is the only choice IMO

2) Play CDs (Redbook, SACDs) - A CD transport, coax digital cable and a good DAC. The CD transport should be based on a high-speed CDROM reader with clocking from memory for lowest jitter. There is one from PSAudio and one from Parasound and others.

3) Play hi-resolution digital files from a computer through my stereo - the best result with ANY DAC is to use an outboard USB converter with high quality power supply to achieve the lowest jitter and then feed a good DAC with a high-quality digital coax cable. Most DACs with built-in USB interfaces will likely disappoint you.

Good DACs are not cheap. If you want the best performance on a budget, start with a NOS (non-oversampling DAC) like the Metrum Octave, Metrum Hex or Chinese DACs like the Chamelion. These will not match your vinyl probably, but will not be harsh sounding either. Good non-NOS DACs that will do hi-res start at $4-5K IME.

To get stellar results, the the best server currently is a Mac Mini with Amarra playback software on it. If you are not used to Mac, it has gotten very close to the PC for usability, so fairly easy to pick-up. I recommend the Oct 2009 mini combined with a 5 amp Hynes power supply. The hard disk should be replaced with a solid-state-disk for around $150 and the memory upgraded to 8 gigs. The whole server with Amarra will run about $800.

Other recommendations:
http://www.empiricalaudio.com/computer-audio/

http://www.empiricalaudio.com/computer-audio/recommended-systems

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

I'm not a digital person either, but if you want something to accomplish most of your goals on a budget, which is what it seems, why not just buy an OPPO for about $1100, which will allow you to play every disc format, and play your computer stuff through its digital inputs. Then you need a USB phono stage to allow you to record LPs to your computer. That's the cheap way. Frankly though, unless you go the route Steve recommends, I don't think your results will equal your very nice turntable. Good computer digital costs good money. Personally, I would just play your records and buy a very nice CD player. Computer audio just seems like a lot of work, IMO.

Make your life easy
1) buy an Oppo 105 as your SACD player, DAC and DLNA renderer
2) use the PC build of your choice as a media player with JRiver Media Center software as DLNA controller feeding the Oppo.
3) plan on large sucking sound in your wallet every paycheck as HDTracks tantalizes you with continuing hirez releases and in the near future DSD downloads take off.
4) kick your heels up in your easy chair knowing that the next step up will cost you 3x as much.

Goals
Record hi-resolution digital from LPs.
Play CDs (Redbook, SACDs)
Play hi-resolution digital files from a computer through my stereo

Buy the new Tascam DA-3000. Record your vinyl in DSD (DSF) format, then transfer the files to a computer. Find a good DAC that can accept DSD from the computer, and you are done. :-)

Best wishes,
Alex Peychev
APL Hi-Fi