PC audio out USB to external DAC

Mike - Sounds like you've done your homework. My friends who have tried the Squeezebox route have been less than thrilled as well. I've tried the Airport Express and did like it as a digital stream through the mini-Toslink cable into my DAC. Waveterminal does it better though, but wired of course. Which DAC will you be using (or does the Meridian have a digital-in)? Should the HAG not make it for you there's plenty of alternatives. If budget is not a big consideration, I'd be looking at Empirical Audio's stuff to implement PC Audio. I had a Waveterminal Brick that I enjoyed very much. It is a USB-only DAC that uses a single 12AU7. It definitely had a very relaxed sound without a trace of digital harshness. I'd be curious to hear his much more expensive Cosecant DAC. I look forward to hearing your results with the HAG. With a Meridian 508 to compare to, it'll be very interesting to hear how things pan out for you. You probably know also that it is critical how you Rip your files to the hard drive; Preferably as WAV or in a lossless format, and make sure to have "error-correction" checked if using iTunes. If you rip music as compressed files I doubt you'll ever be happy with them if you are very discriminating.

Marco

You can use a device like an Airport Express (new version just out),

Jax, I see the new Extreme (which does not have a digital out) is supposed to start shipping next month but haven't seen anything about a new Express. Did I miss something?

Jax, I see the new Extreme (which does not have a digital out) is supposed to start shipping next month but haven't seen anything about a new Express. Did I miss something?

Nope, you didn't miss anything...I did! My bad, I scanned that email from Apple quickly and didn't read the details. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!

Marco

Check out the CEC DA53 DAC which has a USB connector and does the job quite well.

Marco,
I've been reading some great things about the Waveterminal,I may have to pick one up for a head to head comparison with the HagUSB. The Meridian unfortunately does not have a digital input, that would make things too easy! I have a Bel Canto DAC2, with full mods done by Empirical Audio. I recently bought this dac to use with the Squeezebox, which of course I no longer have. Yes, Steve's gear there at EA looks like the ideal equipment for audiophile PC audio, if you can swing the cost. BTW, when I got the modded Bel Canto DAC2, I connected to the digital coax out on my Meridian 508.24 to hear if there was an improvement over the stock Meridian. While the Bel Canto sounded good, the Meridian clearly sounded better without it. In all fairness, I was using a new (not yet broken-in) Blue Dragon coax interconnect from Moon Audio, so my initial impressions my not be accurate. I'm looking forward to seeing how the DAC2 does with the digital input from my PC. Thanks for your thoughts on ripping audio files, I am currently using Itunes in the Apple Lossless format. I can't say that I'm pleased with the way the Itunes compresses the songs that you purchase from them though.
Regards, Mike