2. digital
  3. 1358511197

Meridian sooloos, Olive 6HD, ??

Confused with choices. What music server to buy? Budget $2500-$4000 new or used. Looked at Olive and Meridian. The exterior of the Olive 6HD disc slot has the aesthetics (puke green) of a Fischer Price toy (what were they thinking?). I want a screen and disc drive to copy my large CD collection to build-in hard drive and ability to add backup hard drive. Plan to use iPad Mini for control. Keeping my SACD player for my large SACD collection but ideally would like to copy my SACD's to disc and put SACD's in storage with my CD collection but not possible with current SACD copyright restrictions.
airegin
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,424 posts
 
If you are comfortable with CDs/downloads and with the cost, the Meridian is the slickest, easiest and best sounding system today.

If you want more flexibility and opportunity for expansion/change, a PC-based or Mac-based system would suitable. For that, you would need appropriate software to control operations, manage the collection and provide a GUI for your iPad.

I am currently using a PC system with jRiver and iPad and streaming files up to 24/192 (stereo) and 24//96 (5.1).
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Mac mini late 2009 will deliver better SQ with Amarra or PM and may be cheaper too IME. It can be further improved with some published tweaks and replacing hard disk with SSD. About $1200 total outlay.

Ripper should be either dbpoweramp on PC or XLD on Mac. Makes a big difference.

You will need a good USB interface and DAC to go with it. This is where you can even outperform good vinyl if you make the right choices.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
saeyedoc
83 posts
 
The new Olive One coming out looks like it may be a good alternative. They're dropping the proprietary format. Can get it with or without HDs and looks to be under $1k to start. They've already responded to complaints that it was only coming out with built in amps and no digital out, they are adding digital output.
malcolm02
43 posts
 
I'm still waiting to get more details on "HP Connected Music powered by Meridian":

http://www.meridian-audio.com/hp-connected-music.aspx

Not yet clear, but it suggests you could effectively have a Meridian Sooloos on a $500 laptop.
More to discover