Quote:  

stumbled upon this thread.   so   Pandora - 128 Pandora Paid version - 192 Spotify paid version - 320 (not in US yet) MOG - 256-320 Rdio - 256-320 XM - 128 napster - 128 rhapsody - 128   Please let me know if this is not correct    

Why is 320 kbit/s the highest mp3 bitrate? What if I wanted 500? Just curious.

that same option is in Snow Leopard

Oh I am not trying to do amp + amp.  i was just pleased to realize you are not necessarily stuck with the built-in amp in an DAC/Amp combo.  You can bypass the amp via not using the headphone port.  

I wouldn't say these Bose (tp-1a) are pigs. These are good enough for right now But I agree about needing to upgrade. I can tell I need to upgrade the path out of my laptop but I can't tell I need to upgrade my headphones (yet).

So the data is only "amped" when it is coming out of the headphone jack? Sorry if I am over simplifying.

 Basically only using a computer for audio and 90% of time via headphones  ... so   If I get a DAC with a built-in amp like E-Mu 0404 (or something in that quality range) is it possible to also get an external headphone amp?  It is a good idea? Or is it bad to go DAC -> Amp -> Amp ->...

Senor Prog Rock - fixed, thanks

hero kid - done.  thanks

angel shooter - so you think if i went sub $150, I would need to get one that is DAC only? Or can you re-amp a DAC/Amp?  

Done.  Thanks Draca

edited in the Audio-gd FUN - thanks   And I agree about the headphones.  That'll be second. 

So after lurking about this this site for a few days I have come to realize I need a DAC.  My situation: For simplicity's sake lets say I only listen to music via the computer, like say very decent Macbook + 320mp3 -> headphone jack -> "Bose Around-Ear Headphones" So I have been making a...