Hi, guys, I need some expert opinion on this matter, as I'm a total luddite. I'm building a system from scratch (if you've read my posts in the Entry Level: I'm deciding between Pathos Classic MK III or Leben CS600 integrated amps, coupled with Devore Gibbon speakers, most likely.)
At first, I was leaning toward Cambridge Audio 840C as source, using it also as a DAC for Squeezebox. Then I started trolling around in the various forums, and I thought about using the Transporter as source. Then, since I also need to get a new PC, I thought maybe I can kill 2 birds w/ one stone, and have a custom-built quiet PC with Lynx L22 sound card with 2TB as source, connected directly to my amp w/o running it through an external DAC (I heard a lot of good reports on this, that it also eliminates excessive jitters...) The system would almost be identical to the following, except that I'd have the Lynx L22 instead of M-Audio soundcard:
http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/std/sku=digital_audio_workstation.html?id=VGhJLyE6
I'm willing to experiment, since I need a new PC anyway, and if it doesn't sound as great as expected, I can always use it for what it is, and attach some quality active speakers to it and it'd still be a killer computer audio system and media server. Then I can bring my amp away from the PC area (my original and eventual intent, anyway) and run the music through Transporter or Squeezebox via Cambridge Audio 840C (which sounds like the safest option to me right now.)
But still: I'd LOVE it if this quiet PC media server could work out as a great source, and so I turn to you guys for advice, warnings, etc. (Struts & Elk: are you reading this post?) 
Hi, guys, I need some expert opinion on this matter, as I'm a total luddite. I'm building a system from scratch (if you've read my posts in the Entry Level: I'm deciding between Pathos Classic MK III or Leben CS600 integrated amps, coupled with Devore Gibbon speakers, most likely.)
At first, I was leaning toward Cambridge Audio 840C as source, using it also as a DAC for Squeezebox. Then I started trolling around in the various forums, and I thought about using the Transporter as source. Then, since I also need to get a new PC, I thought maybe I can kill 2 birds w/ one stone, and have a custom-built quiet PC with Lynx L22 sound card with 2TB as source, connected directly to my amp w/o running it through an external DAC (I heard a lot of good reports on this, that it also eliminates excessive jitters...) The system would almost be identical to the following, except that I'd have the Lynx L22 instead of M-Audio soundcard:
http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/std/sku=digital_audio_workstation.html?id=VGhJLyE6
I'm willing to experiment, since I need a new PC anyway, and if it doesn't sound as great as expected, I can always use it for what it is, and attach some quality active speakers to it and it'd still be a killer computer audio system and media server. Then I can bring my amp away from the PC area (my original and eventual intent, anyway) and run the music through Transporter or Squeezebox via Cambridge Audio 840C (which sounds like the safest option to me right now.)
But still: I'd LOVE it if this quiet PC media server could work out as a great source, and so I turn to you guys for advice, warnings, etc. (Struts & Elk: are you reading this post?)