Meridian sooloos, Olive 6HD, ??

The HUGE advantage with using a computer rather than a server is:

1) you have control over the playback software
2) you have control over the ripping software
3) you can add a device with a good master clock and not depend on the crappy clock in the server
4) if you buy Amarra, you can have one of the best EQ systems on the planet, totally transparent. This can change your $10k speakers into $100K performers.
5) control over the format of the files
6) ability to import files of any type, not just albums

Ease of use is fine, but is it really worth sacrificing all of the above? I think not.

If soem server actually did it right, then I would have no issues here, but it does not exist IME.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

I have the Olive 04HD and it sounds great,mine has a black disk slot surround but I could live with the green .Have checked the Bryston BDP-1?
George

Yioryos. Thanks for your comments. I stand corrected. Is the new Olive 6HD available with black and/or silver disc surround choice as well? Appealing to a younger market segment by loosening the buttoned-up attitude is fine, but few choose to wear white to a funeral or drive a neon green car - but some do. As Apple PR slogan suggested on thousands of billboards coast-to-coast "be different." Apple for all their "different" culture remain rooted in silver with their top offerings. To paraphrase Ford, "any color you want as long as it's silver." Unless of course it's Nano or iPod.

Hi Airegin
I LOVE the Olive 04HD,I am listening to it right now.
I don't have the 06HD,I wish I could afford it then,when I bought the 04HD BUT the 06HD does not give you digital out,where the 04HD does,even though the build in dac in the 04HD is good to my ears. I just bought the Bryston BDP-1/BDA-1 combo.I only received the units mid of this week,Last night I bought the Analysis Oval digital 1m AES/EBU digital cable and soon will hook up everything. The Olive 04HD will stay as my party machine and the Bryston combo will be my kit for the main rig.
Forget the colors and get either one or the other and enjoy the tunes.
Only small issue is I lost recently the Maestro interface because I upgraded to Firefox 18.0.1 version,I emailed Olive for support. No big deal I am sure it will be resolved.
Regards
George

This is a fact: most audiophiles want a computer audio device that is as easy to use as an CD player. Very few people enjoy server maintenance, software installations, firmware updates, calling tech support, etc. I want a toaster, not a science project. As much as I hate to, I'll sacrifice some quality for fewer headaches. One day there'll be an elegant appliance designed for ultimate quality and ease of use. Until then, I'll continue to enjoy CDs through a world-class DAC.