The moral of the story is as follows: do not ignore your computer, if you want to use it as your transport. Everyone that is still usig their MacBooks, Mac Minis or regular PC desktops / servers to play files - you don't know what you are missing !
Mike - there is more to come from the Audiophile Optimizer software and Uptone Audio linear PSU. If you gonna use your CAPS only for playing music (not for CD ripping or internet surfing) install the Audiophile Optimizer in Core Mode. This will turn your CAPS into an appliance, with no Windows desktop - only with Jriver. You will be able to use it without the monitor altogether - only with an iPad.
BTW - the computer Mike has just put together can be bought ready built, fully configured, with 24 months remote support from Lampizator, as a 'DSD Komputer' server: http://www.lampizator.eu/Fikus/KOMPUTER_-_MUSIC_SERVER.html
Mike's is even better, as it uses the Teradak ATX linear PSU instead of HD Plex single rail linear PSU (but I'm sure you can order ?ukasz to built you one with Teradak too). Mike's built will also use the Uptone Audio linear PSU to power the Jcat USB card, as the Trinity DAC uses USB +5V power (Lampis don't).
my old server will be used as the 'ripping' station and landing spot for incoming files from the web; it's already back upstairs on the network and today i'll be setting up the 50 disc Kodak disc feeder to get the big boy ripping process started. so my new CAPS v4/DSD Komputer will be music only and my son will install the Audiophile Optimizer in the 'Core' mode as you mention when he recovers from the rest of his work. and I have a VAIO SSD laptop for web surfing in my room.
even now I can switch 'players' (dacs) from JRiver Remote on the IPad. the only issue is to make sure that I hit 'stop' for the current music file I'm playing before I change players (choose a different driver) in Jremote.
I could not agree more on the cost-benefit of the server upgrade. in the context of my system it is a laughingly dramatic upgrade, and I suppose it will be getting a bit better too.
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