Computer Audio
There are a lot of ways to get music ON to your computer these days. For example, iTunes, Windows Media, Media Monkey, RealPlayer, Winamp etc.
Sonos  
Now you have your music at the output of the Connect. It
has an analog out ready to feed your preamp or receiver with RCA jacks. But even better
than that, it provides a digital out via Coax RCA so you can take advantage of a more
serious DAC.
You control what is playing with the Sonos Control
($350) touchpad. It provides a marvelous interface for Internet Radio and the music you
have saved on your computer.
You can also use your computer, your iPhone/iPod Touch or an Android device to control the Sonos system.
Music file formats for Sonos
click on table for more details
Bryston
BDA-1 DAC Run the digital out of the Sonos ZP-90 into the
Bryston BDA-1 ($2200) DAC. The Bryston is considered by most hi-fi fans to be the best
sounding DAC out there! The Bryston can shake hands with your Sonos, your CD player, your
Cable or Satellite Box, and other sources with digital outs! The Bryston connects with your preamp or integrated
via XLR or RCA outs. There’s no better DAC out there! Naim
SuperNait Integrated Amp (with on board DAC) Another fine option is the Naim SuperNait integrated amp ($5000, 80x2 with built-in DAC). The SuperNait shakes hands with coax and toslink
inputs to drive all but the largest speakers out there to full glory! Click here for review.
Grand Integrated Amp from Peach Tree Audio (with on board
Sabre DAC)
Peach Tree has introduced a dynamite new product, the Grand Integrated. The Grand Integrated is essentially four superb components built onto on chassis. $4300 Power Amp: This integrated amp starts life with a GIGUNDO 400x2 power amp built in! Now here’s a great start! With 400x2 you have enough power to handle literally ANY speaker you’ll ever own! While most companies spend time talking about the romance of their sound, they often come up short in terms of good old horse power. Grand Integrated leaves that question in the dust. I warmed up the Grand Integrated on some hungry Magnepans. Holy impact and dynamic range! Those 3.7s just jumped up and danced! Preamp: Next, the Grand Integrated has a fine high level preamp built in. You can listen through the solid state section or the built in tube option! The choice is yours. It does have a preamp out so you can add a sub or another amplifier. No phono fellas. DAC: Grand Integrated has an edge of the art Sabre DAC on board, ideal for cleaning up the jitter your computer, Sonos, Apple TV or even CD transport throw its way. Inputs include USB, Two Coax and Two OPTs. Headphone Amp: You late night listeners and young parents (and grandparents) have not been forgotten! In Summary: When you load this much muscle and quality on to one chassis, you can literally appeal to any high end customer. You’ve got enough power for your speakers. You’re all set if you’re a tube or solid state guy. You’re taken care of whether you listen through your computer or almost any other digital source. Your serious headphone habit has been accommodated. Heck, even if you’re an analog guy, just put Rega’s new A2D phono preamp ($175) in front of it and you still get all the other afore mentioned bennies. It’s a great sounding piece at a very fair price! And it's made in California!!!!
iNova from Peach Tree Audio (with on board
Sabre DAC)
Peach Tree’s new iNova is a killer integrated amp with on board Sabre 9016 DAC! $1800 It has a newly designed 6N1P tube in the class A preamp and an integral iPod Dock. They even let you by-pass the tube if you choose to- if you’re a solid state guy. Having the integral iPod dock means you’ll be hearing the Sabre DAC from the iNova- instead of listening to the limited audio of your iPod itself. Some iTransport devices will run $600 ALONE- just to produce a digital out from your iPod! iNova also gets the most out of Sonos and Apple TV- both are computer based systems that are not a walk in the park to clean up. iNova is a big step up from Peach Tree’s former Nova integrated, which earned rave reviews from the audio press. iNova uses a superior DAC, the afore mentioned new tube, and a beefed up power supply with larger faster capacitors for deeper, cleaner bass & dynamics. iNova even has two sets of preamp outs- in case you want to add a powered sub or a larger power amp- iNova can be used as a preamp DAC! When you consider the iPod interface is worth $600, the DAC itself is worth another $500ish, you can begin to see what a bargain the iNova is!
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