Damn Apple..a fence sitter's dilemma

Well, that's helpful, and succint.

Thanks, Mmike84

BOTH Apple Lossless (ALAC) and FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) can reconstruct a bit-accurate copy of the original file....so in that sense there should be no difference between them.
Decoding / CPU overhead? Perhaps an un accounted for factor.

My I-Mac sending Lossless thru an Airport Express makes good music. No Wires! Yeah!

Hi-Fi is one of those areas where fact and opinion mix and in some cases are interchangeable. 'In My System' has become code for IMO (In My Opinion). It is a pure opinion zone where few absolutes exist.
Even talking about how much power speakers like my Maggies take is grounds for feverish debate. MORE! shouts one group. Tubes! shouts another. Less is MORE! yells somebody else. Every possible variety, combination and permutation of gear has its fans.

IOW (In Other Words) take everyones advice, except mine, of course, with a grain or so of salt. Find out whatever actual facts are out there and try to winnow thru the reams of opinion to find the germ of truth you can make work in YOUR system.

Your original combo? Mac Mini and Firewire DAC? Sounds fine in concept to me. But what do I know? Later, if you get the urge to add Video, shell out a few more bucks for an APPLE TV. This'll give you the video option and also be wireless.

Thinking forward is always a good idea, but in this case, I've never even heard of this new interface and am certain almost nothing exists to service it....let alone audiophile grade equipment and some of the 'fringe' stuff it'll take a couple years or so to get thru the pipe.

I use an Apple TV w/160 gb storage, connected to a Peachtree Nova via optical cable, controlled using an iPod touch. It makes beautiful music (to my ears). I have 6000 plus songs at my fingertips. What a kick! Forget CDs, they are a thing of the past. Go for the Apple and use Apple lossless format. You won't regret it.

YMMV = your mileage may vary
ROFLMAO = rolling on the floor laughing my a$$ off
IIRC =if i recall correctly
LOL= laugh out loud

Nice system.

Here are my recommendations:

Under $1000 for a Dac, buy the Marantz NA7004 or the Wavelength Proton

Over $1000 the Ayre QB9

You can pick up a used Mac Mini on Craigslist for about $200-$300.