New Olive 4HD Music Server

Perhaps it is a 'bum unit', but what does that say about a a company that doesn't check their stuff before sending it out? Also, I wasn't trying to burn a CD, the 4HD didn't recognize the CD I inserted and wouldn't eject it. I had a lot of trouble re-booting the thing and finally getting the CD out. This happened about 10 times while I ripped 175 CDs. I was just looking for a simple and elegant solution to a lack of storage space for my 1000 CDs. I don't think I want to test out another one of these Olive units.<br />

Hi Green,<br />

<br />

Yes I will need luck.<br />

<br />

I hope when I receive my Olive 4HD, all the software AND HARDWARE BUGS ARE IRONED OUT.<br />

<br />

I live in Australia and will purchase one from distributor and if something goes wrong, I am covered by consumer laws.<br />

<br />

Would not import directly for a potentially demanding piece of expensive equipment.

All I hear from computer people, I can build a PC or Mac for half the price for the same sound quality result etc.<br />

<br />

I am sure that could be done. <br />

<br />

I also note that that there is nothing in the wider market (and I don't mean niche) of a company like Sony, Apple, Microsoft, Pioneer, or smaller companies selling packaged music servers (other than Ipods and other portable MP3 players) to the consumer market.<br />

<br />

My opinion is that audiophiles (people willing to spend more than $US1,000 on a piece of hifi equipment such as speakers) are a very very small minority and not worth a mass market product so far.<br />

<br />

Or that packaging a music server is not the great commercial enterprise it is.

I have an Olive 4HD. I have owned it for about 5 weeks now. When I first got it, it was a bit quirkiy with it's controls. I had to power down and reboot a couple of times. Just a hassel, no data loss or anything like that. Then about two weeks ago they did a software upgrade. It was as simple as pressing a few buttons on the touchscreen, and in about five minutes it was done. It all works much smoother now, and seems to rip faster, although that is probably just my own mis-perception. The sound has been great from day one. I have a Monarchy NM24 DAC which I have been using for about 18 months. It has been great but there is no question the Olive output just sounds better. I waited for quite a while for someone to do a test of the Olive. When they came out with the 4HD I decided to go ahead and jump. I am so glad I did.

Hi Piinob,<br />

<br />

At least Olive allows for software upgrades similar to Windows and Apple OS.<br />

<br />

(And beta testers).<br />

<br />

Firefly0071

Green, the software upgrade cured my eject problems. I still have about 6 CD's out of 1500 or so that the machine absolutely will not read. I plan to rip them to my Computer and transfer the files.

Hi Piinob,<br />

<br />

What's wrong with hte last 6 cds?<br />

<br />

Firefly0071

Firefly, I do not know why it will not read them. One is part of a set of three, the other two in the set read just fine, but this one just doesn't read. The others are the same way in that they play in my CD players, just do not read for some reason or another. They could be somehow damaged that I do not detect. <br />

piinob

Some CDs have copy protection back in the days before the ipod was popular.<br />

<br />

Just a possibility.

You know I have nort thought of that, but it may be the problem. When I get home this evening I will try them in my Computer to see. Thanks. Piinob

Most of the discussion above about the Olive 4HD concerns ripping and playing standard CDs, a function the Olive carries out well after the recent upgrade, especially through my Bel Canto DAC3. <br />

<br />

But the distinction Olive claims for the 4HD is its ability to download and decode high resolution files, which is a primary interest for this Computer Audiophile site. Unfortunately, since the recent upgrade, the Olive 4HD will not decode without unlistenable noise and static 24/88 files (which is most of HD Tracks offering), 24/192 files (from Linn, for instance) or the 24/48 files from B&W. The Olive does play 24/96 files properly. Results are the the same when I use the internal DAC on the Olive.<br />

<br />

A couple of posts on other sites have confirmed that this is not a problem peculiar to my machine, but a decoding problem in the Olive software.<br />

<br />

Does anyone have any experience to report about high-resolution material on the Olive 4HD? --fm

Hi Fitz Music,<br />

<br />

Which other web sites are you referring to?<br />

<br />

Benny

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<br />

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On the previous generation Olives there was a "hack" you could do so that you could see the actual "music" folder of the Olive over your network, and copy the files from that folder for backup or editing purposes onto a PC. No problems then with proprietary encryption.<br />

<br />

Here's the link: http://rootcellarnews.com/AEOliveTelnet.html<br />

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I don't know if the OS on the present generation is setup in a similar way, but if it is, that small hack will work. All it does is change the file permissions to allow the files to be viewed and copied. <br />

<br />

I did it on an Olive Musica and it worked fine. <br />

<br />

If it isn't what you need for an Olive 4, I'm sure you could get someone in an Olive or Linux forum to help you figure out how to change the file permissions so you can back up the files directly from the music folder on the Olive hard drive.

There is a lot to say about the Olive Opus.<br />

<br />

I have therefor started a special dedicated FORUM for the OLIVE products. (OPUS 2, 4, 4 HD etc.)<br />

I invite every (potential) buyer of an Olive product to visit this FORUM, and make it into a central Olive-User place.<br />

<br />

http://olive.setbb.com<br />

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You are all welcome!