Hello 5by5
I’m computer/file based for audio (see my sig)
It seems in general that the preferred laptops for audio are made by apple.
Apple computers do have some advantages compared to Windows and Linux and these are primarily ease of setup for bit perfect audio replay and 24/192 capable as standard with the newer OS.
However, any make with any OS is theoretically capable of providing bit perfect replay; a lot depends on how comfortable you are with computers and which OS you are familiar with. This also influences in what format you rip your music files.
It seems you have Flac files so a windows based system would be the most obvious choice. Windows 7 will allow you to access the core audio drivers but natively you will be restricted to 24/96 resolutions although some dacs come with custom 24/192 drivers but they tend to be the more expensive variety.
Given most laptops have USB rather than SPDIF, USB would seem the obvious choice. It is probably best to look for a dac that offers this as its primary method of connection. I personally found USB from my laptop superior to SPDIF from my main PC. In theory, any USB dac which offers some form of galvanic isolation from the computer will perform well with regard to data and power transmitted noise. After that it’s a matter of choosing a laptop with low mechanical noise.
The squeezebox method mentioned above should also be considered and has a very good reputation for sound quality here and on other forums but you will probably find a separate dac (using the squeezebox as server) will be necessary to get the best audio quality.
In my experience most dacs in the sub £500 bracket are equally capable providing the USB transfer is well implemented. It’s more a question of what suits the rest of your system. I preferred the sound of even the basic HRT Music Streamer to V-Dac, NOS and Beresford.
So, basically you will need to decide on which route you take after that your choices of dacs etc become a bit easier.
Single spur balanced Mains. Self built music server with 3 seperate linear PSU, Intel i5, 16 GB RAM no hard drive (various Linux OS). Benchmark Dac2 HGC, single ended XLR interconnects/Belkin cable. Exposure 21RC Pre, Super 18 Power (recap & modified). Modded World Audio HD83 HP amp. Hand built Monitors with external crossovers , Volt 250 bass & ABR, Scanspeak 13M8621 Mid & Scanspeak D2905/9300 Hi. HD595 & Beyer 880 (600 ohm) cans.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.
-Bertrand Russel
John.