Greetings:
My traditional old 2 channel music system, (CD player, amp, speakers) has started to break down and I'm in the market for a change. I really like the idea of streaming music since it was introduced to me.
I own a simple Toshiba Satellite laptop computer connected to two external hard drives full of music that I currently download to for storage. I want to connect this to a new integrated amp that I have not purchased as of yet. I'm looking at the Bryston B100 or the Moon i3.3 integrated. I want the result to be a basic system of a laptop, integrated amp and speakers - a very simple system. My most important characteristic I hope to achieve is the best sound quality that is reasonable under these circumstances.
I know that if I had a desktop computer, that a co-axial cable between it and the integrated would give me very good sound, but all I have is a laptop. The Moon integrated has a USB out and also an optical, while the Bryston only has the toslink. Would the USB out give me inferior sound as compared to the optical? Or, because I'm not talking very expensive equipment, I really should not notice an appreciable difference.
I have good quality audio files to begin with, Flac and Wav, so I want to give them the best sounding chance possible under the limits that I've given above.
It might also help to know that I won't be using wireless at all.
Also, if there is a better streaming scenario that you could offer that would give me great sound please let me know.
Thanks so much and I hope someone can help me and possibly give me some other great ideas. The giving of your time and your expertise is very much appreciated.
Praxis
