USB DACs - Do you get them?

[Craig]

I forgot about the iPeng/iPhone remote solution. That's probably the way to go if you already have an iPhone/touch unit.

The Wadia CD players with the digital inputs make a nice CD/SACD/DAC/Preamp combo for stereo and now have an option for USB input as well.

What is DLNA ?

 

[JonFo]

...
What is DLNA ?

DLNA is Digital Living Network Alliance

And when applied to audio, it enables standards compliant devices, like receivers and preamps to play back music from remote network-connected servers.

The control of that playback is done either within the device itself (using its own GUI) or remotely through what is know in DLNA-Architecture as a 'Control Point'. iPeng is an example of a control point for handhelds, and Twonky Media Manager is an example for laptops/desktops.

Windows Media Player 11 and 12 are both DLNA enabled, and there are a ton of third-party software and hardware DLNA servers as well.

The cool thing about this: no need to have a noisy PC in the audio room if you don't want one.

 

[Audiophiliac]

When PSAudio releases the network Bridge/Lens and the iPhone/iPod Touch app. or their own tablet controller for their Perfect Wave Dac (PWD), they might have one of the best solutions out there for the "high end crowd".

 

[amey01]

DLNA is Digital Living Network Alliance

What's the difference between this and UPnP?

 

[JonFo]

What's the difference between this and UPnP?

Hi Amey, they are closely related and DLNA builds on UPnP A/V. Mostly, what they add is a standard test suite and certification of interoperability.

Which I've observed is still sorely lacking, but getting better all the time.