[Watchdog]

Due to my wife mixing up all the CDs in their cases, I've gone to a system of putting all of her music on an iPod which she uses to listen to music through a stereo system, connected via the dock.

I've been thinking about another source for a spare bedroom in the house and I'm considering either a small DAP like the Karma or another iPod, versus a shuttle PC with a good sound card like the EMU 1212M.

Obviously the DAP will be smaller and won't hold as much music, but I'm wondering how much of a difference in sound quality there would be. Would a PC with a good sound card like the 1212M be that much better than a Karma via the line out?

Has anyone compared these back to back?

 

[bangraman]

Go halfway between DAP and PC and consider a Slim Devices Squeezebox. Its got a remote, a clearly visible display and a passable optical out too. Analog out is as good as DAPs.