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Anyone have any recommendations or information on d/a conversion options that begin with standard computer ports (e.g. USB, firewire)?

Cheapest possible way of getting a good -quality analog output from your computer is M-Audio's Transit USB, which costs around $80. It offers both analog outputs, which sound okay, and an optical S/PDIF digital output (though I note you don't want to drive a separate DAC in your bedroom system).

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile