music server

Thanks all. My needs are pretty simple.. be able to load all music on a hard drive, hit shuffle,not have to worry about changing a CD, and not succumb to the awful sound of digititis. I see this as to be used primarily in a stand alone system with a Ray Samuels headphone amp and seen 650s.. with possible later migration to my two channel system with tube gear and Duevel loudspeakers. I want as little time spent hooked up to a computer as possible. That why the Olive, Cambridge or even the Yamaha look most interesting to me. I would consider mods or a DAC to improve over stock sound at some point.. but I want to start with a quality product and go from there. 160-250 GB HD would be enough to get me started. I'd consider adding a additional external USB drive once I grow beyond..

How much are you looking to spend? I think the sonos is very useful for casual listening, but the sound is lackluster. I think if you're willing to do some tech stuff to customize your setup, that a mac through external DAC is a pretty sweet setup. Take a look at using a Keyspan TuneView remote to control iTunes, or if you have a bluetooth phone there's salling clicker and the like. If you get a newer mac with Front Row you can just use the included apple remote. I'm running a 1 TB NAS to a mac Mini to a Benchmark DAC 1 (thinking of switching DACs though) and the sound is pretty stellar.

I have the Cambridge 640 and find the following the best features:

Built-in CDP (and a fairly good one at that)
Does not require computer connection to play from its internal hard drive
Allows for uncompressed music storage on its internal hard drive
Able to burn uncompressed CDs within the unit itself
Good system for playlists

When it is connected to your wireless system, it can also play tunes stored on your computer. Additionally, when connected it automatically finds the CD information (ie. song list, etc. . .) which is nice when you are burning discs to the hard drive.

I have found that it is great when I borrow discs from friends (I record the whole disc to the drive). For my own music (which I already own) I have a tendancy to just record to the HD my prefered songs or cuts from a disc. This process is extremely easy.

FYI - I had this system up and running in one hour. I have tried another music server system (cheap, but all computer based) and after a couple of weeks spending time on the support forums for that system, I gave up and sold it.

If you are not the most computer adept person, I recommend the Cambridge.

Sound quality is quite good, better when digital out to a DAC or digital out to my Audio Aero Capitole (which has digital inputs).

Other equipment:

Mark Levinson power amp (summer time)
BAT VK 60 monoblock amps (fall thru spring)
BAT VK 5i pre-amp with bat amps
Cary SLP 2002 pre-amp with ML amp
Audio Aero Capitole CDP normally (using a Prima as a spare while I have the Cap. in for tube changes)
Wilson Duette Speakers
DAC - Kora Hermes (sold recently, already regretting since my Cap. is in the shop the Cambridge sounds better through a DAC)

I think the Sqeezebox 3 would be a good item for you check out based on how you've said you'll be using it. You can have your CDs, etc., on an existing computer and still use the computer for normal computer duties. The SB can be either wireless or wired. I'm using it wirelessly with no problem. It's a very well thought out design - very easy to set up and use. I mostly use it to listen to Sirius and other streaming audio. The only weakness is the D/A but it does have an optical and digtial coax output. The D/A is Burr-Brown which has a reputation for being good. It's average or a little above average for a consumer device D/A. If you wanted it to really sound good and demodulate uncompressed digital from your hard drive, pick up a good DAC to run with it. I think you'd like it. The SB is a well-done device.

regards, David

thanks to all.
I can a refurb Yamaha unit for under 400.00/ I thik regardless I will obtain a good quality DAC to use with whatever I by. I was thinking the mod route, but I think Id like to keep the unit stock and I will get more mileage from a DAC. So Im still looking at Olive, Cambridge or Yamaha unit.. though for price I may start Yamaha. I am fairly computer and audio literate.. just want to do something the easy way for a change :) and keep quality.