Olive O3HD Music Server from engadget.com

[Eric5676]

Question: Is it just me or are their products a little overpriced? I can buy a 2TB Western Digital Black Caviar hard drive top of the line for $165 right now vs. what they're charging for their 4HD unit. Now I realize of course that there's a lot more going on with their units besides just the hard drive.

I've also seen some intermittent hearsay about less than stellar customer support.

How are folks' experiences around here with them?

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by Eric5676

Question: Is it just me or are their products a little overpriced? I can buy a 2TB Western Digital Black Caviar hard drive top of the line for $165 right now vs. what they're charging for their 4HD unit. Now I realize of course that there's a lot more going on with their units besides just the hard drive.

I've also seen some intermittent hearsay about less than stellar customer support.

How are folks' experiences around here with them?

The high cost is a question you could ask of most audio products. The 4HD is significantly less expensive than most all in one units especially when you consider the quality of the DAC's. Of course you could put together a PC/Mac plus storage solution for less but that is not what many of us want in our audio racks.

I have found there customer support to be impeccable. During working hours they are always available to answer questions and work thru issues.

I recently had an issue with my units display and the it was replaced and my music transferred to the new unit. If I have any issue they did ship it back to me FedEx Ground.
Jim

[Eric5676]

Originally Posted by Still-One

The high cost is a question you could ask of most audio products. The 4HD is significantly less expensive than most all in one units especially when you consider the quality of the DAC's. Of course you could put together a PC/Mac plus storage solution for less but that is not what many of us want in our audio racks.

I have found there customer support to be impeccable. During working hours they are always available to answer questions and work thru issues.

I recently had an issue with my units display and the it was replaced and my music transferred to the new unit. If I have any issue they did ship it back to me FedEx Ground.
Jim

^^ Good to know.

[KahunaCanuck]

As mentioned yes, you can definitely buy cheaper, but what I bought it for was ease of use...it obviously sounds good as well! I haven't had to test the customer service...I would buy one again for sure!

[Dj_AmTraX]

At $999 with only 500gb and NO digital out is a failed IMO. I can do better with a MacBook at $999.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by Dj_AmTraX

At $999 with only 500gb and NO digital out is a failed IMO. I can do better with a MacBook at $999.

Mike
You do need a external DAC for the MacBook, you do not for the Olive units. So add at least a grand to your MacBook.
Jim

[Eric5676]

Originally Posted by Still-One

Mike
You do need a external DAC for the MacBook, you do not for the Olive units. So add at least a grand to your MacBook.
Jim

But if someone has an external DAC like I do in the form of the Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 (awesome!) what do you think about my options?

I like these products a LOT in terms of concept. In my case, I'd have to spring for the 4HD to get that digital out and at $2500 I can't make myself do it.

All of my gear is in one room. My main PC is a Windows based high end gaming PC that isn't terribly quiet and is a bit of a power hog so in a perfect world I'd like to have something where I could have my computer music integrated with the disc players and the rest of it and not have to have this gaming PC on when I want to listen to that music.

So what are some options for me without preferably having to spend a mint to get the job done right?

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by Eric5676

But if someone has an external DAC like I do in the form of the Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 (awesome!) what do you think about my options?

I like these products a LOT in terms of concept. In my case, I'd have to spring for the 4HD to get that digital out and at $2500 I can't make myself do it.

All of my gear is in one room. My main PC is a Windows based high end gaming PC that isn't terribly quiet and is a bit of a power hog so in a perfect world I'd like to have something where I could have my computer music integrated with the disc players and the rest of it and not have to have this gaming PC on when I want to listen to that music.

So what are some options for me without preferably having to spend a mint to get the job done right?

There is no perfect answer here.

If you purchased the Olive 3HD you really do not require a digital out as the 24/192 capable DAC's in the unit are very good.

As you note you already have a well respected DAC in the Wyred unit which has multiple digital inputs including USB. You could put your music on your main PC, keep it away from your listening room, add a SonoS unit and wireless bridge to access the music on your PC. Put the SonoS unit next to your Wyred DAC and send the digital out from the SonoS to the Wyred. Voila' all your music at good quality for about $600. ($350 or less if you use web interface or and iPod for an interface rather than the SonoS touchscreen)
Jim