MBA project - audiophile computer transport

Okay--maybe we are getting somewhere. First, I realize the 360S is not the greatest--but it is consistent for my comparisons. So what is really being compared is the iPod off the Wadia dock, wmv files off an XP computer (yes, please tell me how to bypass the kmixer--this is something I was not aware of--I'm assuming it's in the sounds and I just need to disable those codecs--but I would appreciate the post here--others may benefit from it as well), and the 37 transport. The Wadia dock and the transport clearly best the server. On the server I do have the gain to max--and yes, it sounds like bits are being truncated from lower than max gain, but I can assure you that it is not caused by the volume being set below max.

I do want to stick with wmv files over wav or aiff due to their size. In theory it's lossless, so I should not lose any fidelity if things are done right. I have actually played around with wav files and not found the fidelity to change, so I think the problem is elsewhere.

Another question--would be the SPDIF out. Perhaps a different soundcard with SPDIF? Any suggestions of a reasonable priced one would be appreciated. I can go USB or have plenty of slots to install one in the computer (I assume the later would be better from a transference of data standpoint--but I'm not a computer guru--so I don't really know).

From my perspective, the fundamental problem with PC audio is getting the source file to the DAC with minimal introduction of jitter. Toslinnk, SPDIFF, USB - they all have inherent structural problems. The best use of any of these has been the asynchronous USB approach used by Wavelength and a few others.

What I think is the best path is I2S. Some of the best mods and reclockers involve the use I2S for the transfer of the digital stream (Steve N can vouch for this). PS Audio's new Ultra DAC will use an HDMI connection to pass data in "native" I2S format without a mod. Granted, only their CD player will use the connection immediately, but it's the easy play for the future I think. Sources that can make an I2S connection using an HDMI port will bypass a lot of problems in my opinion.

Now, what I really want is a Sonos box that uses an I2S connection. That would make me happy.

The best use of any of these has been the asynchronous USB approach used by Wavelength and a few others.

Add, this is my opinion. But one I think many would agree with.

I guess the question for me is do I really want a dedicated computer purely for audio.

My answer would be "yes" if the computer, without a doubt, gives me a better audio experience in terms of sound and ergonomics.

Without hearing how the computer sounds with the rest of my system, I would evaluate your computer based on how you augment the software and hardware in order for it to deliver a better signal than the computer I already have.

And, as I use a laptop as my source at the moment, my only ergonomic issue is having wires connected between my dac and my laptop. If you can come up with a wireless solution, this would be good. Perhaps a wireless touchscreen LCD panel of some sort.