I agree with Drubin and, actually, the rest. Steve and Al will forget more about their craft than I will ever learn.
As to what Drubin stated, while at the Newport Audio Show I witnessed some great sounds from many digital sources, all of them different and some at odds with each other based on what I've read here and at other sites.
Everyone had valid points, great systems that I could easily live with and they varied from something as simple as a PC notebook running through a Schiit Bifrost to Channel D Audio to the W4S music server to just a KORG to you name it and it all sounded good, if not great. USB, coax, and whatever all worked fine.
What couldn't be assessed was any kind of valid comparisons in a controlled setting so first impressions are just that. The best you can do is ask around, decide on a system, and go with it. The old trial and error route.
By the way, I'm in the same boat as you. Good luck.
All the best,
Nonoise
As to what Drubin stated, while at the Newport Audio Show I witnessed some great sounds from many digital sources, all of them different and some at odds with each other based on what I've read here and at other sites.
Everyone had valid points, great systems that I could easily live with and they varied from something as simple as a PC notebook running through a Schiit Bifrost to Channel D Audio to the W4S music server to just a KORG to you name it and it all sounded good, if not great. USB, coax, and whatever all worked fine.
What couldn't be assessed was any kind of valid comparisons in a controlled setting so first impressions are just that. The best you can do is ask around, decide on a system, and go with it. The old trial and error route.
By the way, I'm in the same boat as you. Good luck.
All the best,
Nonoise