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[simmonspa]

Hello JRiver forum folk,

I'm a newbie, in fact I haven't yet purchased JRiver as I'm still evaluating how best to setup my hifi 'stack'.  JRiver looks about the sexist and best reviewed GUI I've seen, so I'm hoping this can be the front of my new system.  I'd appreciate your advice on upgrading my system to digital. Here's what I'm planning:

I have a Cyrus integrated amp (6vs) and Spendor S5 speakers.  I'd like to replace my Cyrus CD7Q cd unit with a digital streaming solution, and I'd like that to run fanless/quiet.  Ideally I will put a NAS in a cupboard, and rip 500 CDs to FLAC (and stream from a digital source - maybe google music or spotify), and I have ethernets already in the walls to transfer to the listening room (lounge), and I'll run JRiver or JRemote on an Android Google Nexus 7. 

Two questions that would help me digitize my hifi stack:

1. I assume I can run JRiver on a CAPS windows box, or a Vortexbox linux kit, or something derived from one like Wyred4Sound.  Does anyone know of pros/cons of running JRiver on these kits, and are they capable hardware for JRiver?

2. Do I need an external DAC to wire up the chosen kit to the line-in RCA sockets on my Cyrus 6SE integrated amplifier?  A lot of the DACs I see don't seem to have white/red RCA cables, what's the best cable/conversion/connectors?

Your advice much appreciated, I can't wait to start ordering the kit!

[simmonspa]

Ok, I'll answer some of my own question now, for those 25 people or bots who've viewed!

It looks like I can run JRiver on a small intel box or a CAPS, so that's good news.  With the latest linux JRiver, I could go install on a vortexbox device (eg: small green computer or http://www.vortexbox.co.uk/ ) though reading JRiver linux forum this is not yet stable for a couple of months.

As to my other question, how best do I hook up JRiver on hardware like CAPS or vortexbox, to an existing line-in integrated amp like my Cyrus, I'm not sure what's best.  It looks like I could use a USB DAC or external DAC, but does that just feed RCA to my amp?

[mwillems]

Ok, I'll answer some of my own question now, for those 25 people or bots who've viewed!

It looks like I can run JRiver on a small intel box or a CAPS, so that's good news.  With the latest linux JRiver, I could go install on a vortexbox device (eg: small green computer or http://www.vortexbox.co.uk/ ) though reading JRiver linux forum this is not yet stable for a couple of months.

As to my other question, how best do I hook up JRiver on hardware like CAPS or vortexbox, to an existing line-in integrated amp like my Cyrus, I'm not sure what's best.  It looks like I could use a USB DAC or external DAC, but does that just feed RCA to my amp?

As long as your external DAC has a line level output (as opposed to a headphone or other amplified output) it doesn' t matter what the jack looks like.  Stereo or phone jack to RCA adapter cables are plentiful and cheap, the important thing is that the DAC (external or otherwise) has a line level output. 

For example, the ODAC is a tiny external USB dac that has a line level output and great sound: http://www.jdslabs.com/item.php?fetchitem=46 

A Fiio e17 is also a reasonably priced DAC, but needs a $10 attachment to put out a line-level signal:

http://www.amazon.com/Fiio-E17-USB-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B0070UFMOW
http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-L7-Line-Dock-Cable/dp/B004QVNS0S/ref=pd_sim_e_3/188-7246431-2691368

If all you need is a two-channel DAC, the market is pretty thick with nice, relatively cheap stereo DACs with line-level outs.