Ok here goes.
I am entirely new to proper digital music, short of using a cheap rca cable from a headphone-out on an i-thing to an aux-in rca on my amp. I've used this for MP3 (poor sound quality) and streaming radio programs.
Now, I love music, and listen to heaps of it. I use cd's, radio (including streamed), vinyl, and now have ripped it all onto a hard drive (flak etc).
I have a new house, and am lucky to be setting up a new (high end for me) 2 channel stereo system. To paint the picture, it runs 100w valve Monoblock amps into lovely Osborn Epitome speakers.
Now, when we were building our extension, I frantically ran around throwing cat6 cable in the walls. In the new stereo room, there's a cat6 coming out where the new stereo gear is, and another 2 where a tv will eventually go. There is also another 3 of them which come out in a second living area where it's own stereo (possibly to become surround in future) and to sit. Others go to each bedroo and study for to/computers. All these cat6 cables end up in a laundry cupboard, where (when I get the timeline day!) they'll neatly terminate onto a hub, then into my modem. I will likely add a hard drive (?called a nas) here too, with all that music!
SO:
I suppose I will need to set up access to high def music (remember I am after best quality) via Ethernet, and also (?lesser quality) via wireless.
I have read that maybe using Roon would be the go?
We have 2 Mac laptops (one very old), and a xp desktop currently. I envisage our next desktop to be Mac.
I'm after highest audiophile quality (that I can afford) at the main new stereo. I will need balanced XLR outputs from the source, which will run via a passive preamp to the (balanced) XLR input tube mono blocks.
I'd love to be able to use the same source (assume dac/streamer) to be able to send a signal back through the network (via Ethernet) to my other stereo and other future stereo/surround system in the other lounge (not just to the main new stereo)
I hope this is making sense!?
SO SO:
I know the "how long is a piece of string" issue here, but am I barking up the right tree? What are my best options in terms of a dac-style balanced output unit that can manage all this? Am I missing anything?
