Computer/DAC combo sugestions

Steve, there is much more to say about it than is possible in a single post, therefore the best way to get informed about it is to go to the Computer Audiophile link and read, there is a huge amount of information there back to the first CAPS computer. In my opinion, that is the place to go to for computer audio, which is evolving fast. I know this is highly subjective and, for some, ideological too (Mac or Linux against Windows), but there are certain things coming out of the fog: Macs, Amarra and AudioNirvana are no longer the only way to go, Windows and Windows players such as JPlay and XXHighEnd are just as good or better; computers need to have as clean a power supply as possible, and battery power is ideal for that; depending on the DAC, USB-to-S/PDIF converters such as Empirical Audio and Audiophilleo, especially if battery powered, are improvements

Sorry, I pressed the wrong key ... over straight USB, S/PDIF or Firewire connection. You can build your own computer on the cheap (I have done it for years) and have a totally silent, fanless one dedicated exclusively to audio and thus stripped down (i.e. to just eight or nine services working in Windows, no anti-virus, no internet connection, etc), just like an audio component. This I find fascinating in itself.

Steve, have you compaired the w4S with the ps audio perfect wave updated dac, I would be interested in your thoughts

Vladimir,
I've been reading about Zuma on the Computer Audiophile Site, but little has been said about SQ and what one could expect from such a system. Thus the question.

Kedoades,
Sorry I've never heard Wyred for Sound equipment. From what I've read from other posts, they favor the PWD II. It is a great sounding DAC and with the Bridge a fantastic server.

Sgr, I expect the Zuma to be better sounding than the CAPS 2, the previous CA design because of better isolated USB, cleaner power supply and especially because of battery power. Chris Connaker and others have said that CAPS 2 was better than Mac Mini and even better than the famous and expensive Aurender S10.