Help Me With Everything Needed: Computer Audio

You could take a look at my secondary system. Instead of the SBT, connect a mac mini or macbook and you're all set. The SBT is better for internet radio as you have access to the Linn stations (320 kbps) and it's less $ than a computer.
On the mac mini used for my main system, I just use a stock USB cable to connect to the DAC. The main system sounds better, but I'm happy listening to either setup

I'm not a veteran in computer audio, more like a new recruit but I've gotten thru some basic training. Here are my thoughts:

1. Apple something (laptop, mini, ?). Their headphone out is analog and digital. For digital, you use a Toslink cable that has a mini on one end or an adapter that fits over a normal end. That gets you a pure digital stream without going thru their cheap internal DAC.

2. DAC: You'll have to describe the sound you like and go with peoples recs. Maybe you can find a seller that allows a demo period. The DAC I use was highly modified by a tech friend so it wouldn't do any good to name it. I like listening to internet radio (have Pandora on in the background now). GIGO applies. Some songs suprise me with how good this can sound, other songs...not so much. My DAC has what I would call "relaxed detail" so that even the poorer sounding recordings don't annoy. Something to think about.

3. Cable: I'm using a custom made silver/teflon coax one. I like it better than the plastic Toslink. I haven't heard glass Toslink yet. Of course, you won't have a choice of coax/Toslink if you go the Mac way.

Good luck.

For a dac, maybe the Havana is not a good idea after all. I am looking for something neutral with bass weight and crystal highs. I listen to classic jazz, rb and rock

I understand wanting a NOS DAC, but if you are really going with computer audio, you might want to consider on that does 24/96. I think the Havana only does 16 bit. 24/96 downloads are becoming more common and are often much better than 16/44.

I actually go against much of the thinking on the PC, using a dedicated Netbook with a 250GB disk and Windows 7 Starter and no anti-virus software. That means there are not many processes running. I use J River and the CPU usage is seldom more than 5%. Then, you can use a USB to SPDIF converter that controls the timing (async USB) like the M2Tech Hiface or Evo, Halide Bridge, Empirial Off-ramp between the netbook and the DAC. When using USB, the async mode is critial to reduce jitter.

If you just want to get your feet wet to start, consider the HRT Streamer II for $150. It is a USB dac that uses asynch USB. Probably not your final solution, but a good way to get started and you can probably resell it pretty easily. It is remarkably good for its price.

On a PC, J River and foobar are probably the most common players. foobar is free but it is a realtively simply user interface. J River is not free, but it is very flexible and support async USB very well. I would stay away from iTunes on the PC.

I set mine up about a year ago after much research and question asking. Here's what I ended up with:
1. Mac mini (new) with an ipod touch as remote control. I have a usb keyboard attached to the mini and a wireless mouse. Once a month or so I hook up a monitor to see if anything requires updating other than that the mini is pretty unobtrusive (check my system).
2. PS Audio DLIII (new) actually bought it here but it had never been used.
3. Monarchy Audio DIP, this was a later add on and brought the sound quality up dramatically.
I use a cheap mini toslink cable to the DIP with a ZU digital cable (forgot model) to DLIII.
Currently using itunes with music ripped as AIFF files to an external hard drive. I'm just too lazy to look into another software program to manage the music as it sounds pretty darn good right now.
With more than 5,000 songs on the hard drive, my favorite way to listen is call up all songs and shuffle. I probably do listen more to the Mac than my cdp, but if I want to listen critically I use the cdp. The Mac is just so freakin easy to use.
Good luck however you go and keep us posted on your progress.