Lordy - figured you'd all be off down the pub by now so thankyou for the replies!

i think sqeezebox is the way forward for me as the potential for multi-room functionality if one of my key drivers here.

my plan would be to base the hard drive in the back bedroom with the PC and either run cables or go wireless (any comments on either option would be welcome, we are currently renovating the place, plasterer has been in but the floors are still up if cabling is the best option)

i presume wireless would be the PC side of the operation and cables would be required from squeeze box to dac-amp-speakers? from this you can probably tell i'm looking at un-compressed RIPing

as for the PC - i have a very PC savvy mate who also builds, so potential to custom build, and save a few quid, is there but that MAC sure is puuuuuurdy!. I'll have to see what stretch we have in the renovation budget! One question though - earlier posts discussed the benefit of 'fan free' cpu's etc - is this something i really need to worry about

Julian - thanks for the offer - we'll be down saarf late January, if we drive i may well PM you and swerve by yours on the way back to the frozen North.

Thats me for now, off till next week, will catch up with you all then.

Thanks again and have a good one!