Music server manufacturer Blue Smoke returned to CES this year as part of the Rockport Technologies suite in the upper echelons of the Mirage. The company's product is the $6,995 Black Box music server where they focus on creating an optimal environment for digital music on the hardware side and assume the customer will choose a Windows compatible music player and interface. For their demo, Windows Media Center was used with a Dell touchscreen (seen on the right) and keyboard/mouse combo for the control functions. A MSB DAC, located under the Black Box in the photo above, converts the data to analog.

<I>Stereophile</I> scribe Kal Rubinson examines the small forest of connections on the back of the Black Box.

Wadia introduced their iTransport/Dock at the 2008 CES a couple years back and, it's no understatement to say, <I>changed everything</I>.

Remote control for the Wadia 171iTransport and 151PowerDAC mini with hard buttons for volume and track navigation.

Wadia started life decades ago as a strictly high-end digital company, and though the iPod is the main attraction these days, has not forgotten their roots.

With 1TB of internal music storage, backup management program and Shoutcast internet radio capability, the Cary Audio Design Music Server appears to be a screaming deal at the estimated $2000-2500 price range. You can also add additional music storage via USB and control everything with an iPhone or Touch running their app.