Regarding sound cards and file formats:
I took sound cards out of the picture. All CDs are ripped via lfac to the server, and handled through a SB3 into a Pio94.

no compliants \:\) Sound quality is as good, possibly better if your CD player had an inferior DAC and it was fed analog to your receiver.

Mark
Pio 94,SB3,BD30,A35,Pio 48AV.Pronto 7000 controlling all. Getting ready for 22s, 150 & QS8s.