[akira]

I'm tired to exchange CDs on tray. Then I'm wondering to go
HDD Jukebox. I will buy a new PC (or Mac), so I can make
free choice. I don't dislike PCI audio card like RME or Lynx,
but I thought it would be better to take audio devices out
from PC. More important point seems to eliminate S/PDIF.
I have reached two Hardwares to output digital
data from PC as follows.

1. Apogee Mini-DAC with USB

Maybe this choice is comfortable for Audio peple. Mini-DAC
has good reputation (AFAIK) as a normal audio DAC. USB feature
has limit of Frequency 48kHz, but it's OK for me for playing
ordinaly CD data.

2. Metric Halo Mobile I/O ULN-2 (Firewire, only for Mac)

Not enough information. I don't know even this can be used
to output iTunes data or not. It must have nice DAC quality
for professional people. However I found nobody uses this as
HDD Jukebox output. Firewire is very atractive for me, but...

Pricewise, there is no considerable difference. Mac or PC is
not a big issue for me. Please give me any advice or your experiences.
Thanks.

Akira