Hi- The SB3 and the Olive aren't meant to address exactly the same market. I've got experience with both.
The Olive is meant to give high quality digital audio to someone who doesn't want to integrate a PC into their audio setup - that is, a digital music hub as independent stereo system component. Basically, w/out a PC and without any knowledge of ripping, you can stick a CD in an Olive and it will automatically rip in the format you want to the Olive's HD and tag the files. Literally as easy as placing the CD in the unit. In playback it functions in much the same way as an iPod. It can also double as the CD player/transport of your audio system and stream internet radio, all without a PC. The SB3 (and transporter) are more in the niche for someone who has a lot of music on ripped to a PC (or NAS) and wants access to it - both in other rooms and to the stereo system. To clear up some out of date information: 1. The Olive can also be multi-room over an its own WAN (there is even a special add on device for mulitroom access.) 2. In addition, the new firmware (installable by direct download to the unit) allows for connection of both USB and NAS HDD (either directly to the Olive or over a home network), so HDD space is no longer an issue. 3. Files can be moved over your network to and from the Olive, but copying files from the Olive to PC is possible only during an intermediate stage when files are first ripped, not after they have gone through final import into the system. 4. I listen using the Olive sitting about 1 foot from it. I don't hear any noise when playing files from the HD, only when inserting a CD. Finally, the Olive also allows for direct recording of analogue sources, which are digitized and recorded to its HDD. I've used it to record about 100 LP's and it does a great job. The recordings are excellent (using the built in level control and it's default settings) and the software also does a good job of splitting the LP into individual tracks. Each unit has its advantages and disadvantages. I think the most important issue when deciding between the 2 types of systems is the issue of whether you do or don't want your music listening to be PC dependent. For those who don't have problems including a PC in the audio equation, the SB3 and Transporter are probably a better solution. For those with a desire to eliminate the PC from their audio system, the Olive is probably a better choice. Thanks, Danny -- firedog ------------------------------------------------------------------------ firedog's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=11550 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21135 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
