unitiserve as transport

A few recent posts have raised questions concerning the benefits of the unitiserve, particularly in contexts where one is less in need of its ripping function. In this regard, I think it is important to differentiate the various functions of the unitiserve, and to convey my initial comparisons at a demo a few years ago which led me to purchase a unitiserve. First, I compared the SSD unitiserve, playing files from a NAS to a Sony laptop with an SSD drive, both outputting to a Benchmark DAC. The difference in sound quality in all registers was quite notable, all in favour of the unitiserve. Second I compared the Unitiserve/Benchmark combo playing files from a NAS drive with a Linn Akurate and Meridian Soolos, from the same NAS drive. Here, the sound of the Unitiserve/Benchmark combo was clearly more musical with better timing and air than the other options. So I opted for the unitiserve primarily due to its abilities as a digital transport - that said, the convenience (not having to mess about with a laptop used for other purposes or optimising a dedicated PC for audio),streaming (now to an additonal unitiqute and Sony bluray player), ripping facility and in depth tagging were added benefits - particularly as, having had about 1,200 CD's ripped for me by a commercial company, I found that rips via the Unitiserve to be markedly better, so have been slowly reripping my CD collection.