Gateway FX 550 PC used as server with Monarchy DIP, xDAC and Cayin Tube Intergrated. Digital cables are Nordost. The B&W 685's really suprised me-best speakers I have ever heard for $600. (Squeezebox w/Benchmark Dac used in separate dedicated sound room - pics/description posted in Done For Now forum). I upgraded from prior Sony ES Receiver and Paradigm Atoms (hooked to PC w/no DAC). I didn't realize how bad that sounded until I put this system together. The prior soundstage was absolutely undemensional and uninvolving.
Also use PC for some video playback with Rotel RDV1080, DVDO iscan.
Sound is pretty sweet. I used EAC to rip CD's and was using Foobar2000 for playback but just downloaded JRiver Media and am pretty happy with it so far. I have an awesome local FM Jazz Station, WSHR - Ronkonkoma NY, practically in my back yard, and I spend hours listening while I play with my photography (I am an amaeture wildlife photographer) on the PC. Running Vista (love it, no problems AT ALL). PC is Intel quad Core 3.2 Ghz, 4 Gigs of PC5200 RAM and twin Sota 10,000 RPM Drives (180 gigs each) in a RAID Array, with Hitachi 1 Tera-Byte HD for music and Seagate 500 Gig HD for photo's. (I had always built my own but decided to have Gateway build this one and no complaints). Upgraded computer powrcord to a Shunyata Diamond back and really started having fun listening.
I do play a CD once in a while but the ability to just put together playlists and enjoy the music is pretty cool qith the PC.
The imaging is awesome - sounds like there is a center channel in front of me instead of a monitor.
System edited: Upgraded last month and now using Firewire output of PC into an M-Audio Firewire Solo; spdif output into Monarchy DIP, into DAC. Night & day difference. Also added Antique Soundlab Headphone amp to one of the outputs of the Firewire for headphone listening (Sennheiser 650's). Until I get the Dynaudio 25's to replace the B&W 685's, I'm pretty much done.
System edited: I added the Walker Audio Reference HDL (didn't work in my main system so they were lying around), I know a bit overkill adding a $600 tweak to $600 speakers but a very good improvement to the sound.
