2. pc-audio
  3. 1285114989

Advice buying a Music Server? Just Olive 4HD?

Hi All,

I have a custom tube preamp/amp and a Rega Apollo for my CD collection. It is wonderful, but I dream of having my CDs all ripped onto a simple and quiet device, that wirelessly synchronizes music from my macbook when I rip it / download.

I do not want a Squeezebox + DAC [I do not want to have to use a computer with my stereo and I do not want two components, just one simple device].

I do not want a RedWine Audio IPOD, although this represents almost what I need [easy music synching with my library of Apple lossless files, easy UI, improved acoustics, etc.]. Here the sound is not quite what I want, and the storage is limited by the iPod.

It seems like the Olive 4HD is the only thing out there that has plenty of storage, WiFi for easy music synchronization, and high quality DAC componentry. But $2500 seems crazy.

I don't need the Olive CD transport [I can rip on my macbook]. I don't need internet radio. Is there really no $1000 solution to this problem? The Olive 3HD just makes me think that I'll want a better DAC, so please don't point me there.

Thoughts?
thanks,
Keith
kbigelow
tobuns
28 posts
 
I just got an appleTV too, the one with a 160GB hard drive is on clearance for $150 shipped. Unbeatable! I control my tunes with my iphone, but you can buy ipod touch and have a great user interface (using the remote ap) without the need of computer, or optionally, use the computer and send the tunes to appleTV. I think it sounds good playing my apple lossless files, but I'd like to add a DAC later to take it into "hi-fi" territory.
Since the device is small and controlled over wi-fi, I've just hidden it behind a piece of furniture and run a set of interconnects to the rack, you don't even see it!
I synced it over ethernet the first time and it took only two hours or so. When you add or remove music or art to your main computer they'll get synced over wi-fi automatically, and it's pretty quick.

The downside for me is that it's really tied into the itunes software universe, if you don't like that program then it's not a good choice.
kbigelow OP
2 posts
 
Thanks everyone! It sounds like the AppleTV + DAC is a good foray into a music server for the near term [1-3 years].
All my best,
Keith
kbarkamian
647 posts
 
The Apple TV makes things very easy IMO. Its the most enjoyable thng I've done to my system in a very long time. I'm sure you'll be very happy with one.

Get a good DAC and an iPod Touch for a remote, even if you're OK with a TV in the room, and you're good to go.

Hopefully Rega's DAC will be out soon!
edge22
31 posts
 
I have had my Apple TV for a couple of months and love it!

I would recommend getting the 160GB hard drive version that is being phased out. This older version is also capable of streaming, and when I first synced the Apple TV I was initially disappointed with the sound -- it did not sound quite as good as my CD player going to my DAC. However, I realized that what I initially heard was streaming (that is, I began listening before the songs were synced to the Apple TV harddrive). After the songs were synced on the Apple TV hard drive, it sounds every bit as good (and possibily better) as my CD player going to my DAC.
ozzy's avatar
ozzy
7,424 posts
 
Question on the Apple TV. Is there a way to add more storage? 160 GB is very small. I am currently using a Squeezebox Touch with a 1TB external Hard drive.
More to discover