What is new with the Memory Player?

I totally understand why the Reed Solomon reducing software, the hard-drive based transport, the flash memory, etc would produce a theoretically cleaner signal path. What I don't understand, at all, is the price! Why would these average-to-good build quality Memory players cost $10K.....even if the unique software value is worth $2-3k, the rest of the product is $2k at best (assuming 100% margins).

How do the dealers (audiooracle, etc.) out there create a value prop that holds up? I'd be interested to know. This hi-end cd market is fairly saturated and fairly soft. And the Memory Player has a garage-like website. It all adds up to an entry point that should be well under $10k....way under. No offense, cuz I'm excited to hear one...sounds like a great idea.

Ted, I guess when a cheaper competitor comes along we may see whether Nova needs this price. Since the first Mac came along with a price of $1995 when they had sought to get it in under $1000 I have found business decisions curious. Had Apple asked $1000 I doubt if MicroSoft would even be around today. Perhaps if Nova Physics had come in at < $5000, or with the dac at $7500, they would have ended competition.

I am interested in learning more about the Memory Player, but am having trouble finding info/navagating Nova Physic's website.

-Can custom playlists be made from stored music?

-Will the stored music be "network" accessible...can you play music in various zones (wirelessly?), from the MP's hard drive (as with Sonos, Olive, Slim Devices, etc.?)

-What about larger hard drive storage options?...I presently have over 700 cd's and would want my entire music collection to be RUR "ripped" and stored.

...and what about backing up the RUR data to an axternal hard drive?

-Do they have a dealer network or offer an in-home trial?

-From what info I could find, it seems that there is a transport only version (for use w/external DAC) and a full-blown player with internal tube DAC. What are most current owners using...if transport only, what DAC are you using?

If anyone has more insight, please share what you know. Thanks.

Scottr, can't wait to read your impressions/opinions!

I'd be interested to hear how this unit compares to the much lower priced Zero One products. Granted, the technology is a bit different, but the basic use of computer HD as a transport is the same if I understand correctly.

I heard the transport/DAC combo at RMAF where Clement Perry was promoting it. It is very good, but at $10k I think there are a lot of excellent options.

I heard it at the NYC Entertainment Show a month ago. I was so excited to hear it and figured it would be a revolutionary experience. It was not!

The player may not be the culprit but it did not produce the music even when compared to the Moscode room. I believe this was a missed opportunity to impress me and my friend who is an IT guy. He had some good observations when he looked at it so we have decided to wait for competition to catch up.

The bottom line here is that you still need to make sure of the other parts in the chain after it. It was set up with an all digital system including amplifier that looked futuristic.