Olive's Symphony

We're pretty sure it'll work just fine with your collection of summer jamz, but Olive just introduced the Symphony, a new wireless digital audio center that connects to your stereo that's designed specifically for listening to classical music. The Symphony comes with an 80GB hard drive for storing music, a drive for ripping CDs or burning CD-Rs (it uses a lossless codec so you don't have to sacrifice sound quality), and built-in 802.11g for streaming audio to up to five other rooms in your house (or from your computer), and special software for managing classical music playlists. Hits in mid-August with a retail price of $899 (and if you send them your CDs they'll even preload one with your music for free).

[Via MCPW]

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I rather get a squeezebox2 by http://www.slimdevices.com. It supports most music format, wireless and open source server.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I like the idea of Symphony, it seems to eliminate the computer compeletely.The Squeezebox is a simple media bridge and always requires you to have your computer turned on.

[Nate MC @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

The lossless codec is FLAC, it also does AAC, OGG, MP3, WMA, WAVE, and AIFF.

But 80gb isn't near enough storage.

[Ben Nham @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I might get it if it dropped in price, and it really offers special support for classical music (i.e. composer/orchestra/conductor ID3 tags and so forth)...the only reason I'm still using an iPod is because it's th eonly player that actually supports the composer field.

[Jim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Actually, the price is not so bad. Yamaha, Integra, or McIntosh take between $2000 and $5000 for a similar solution. I also love classical music and it looks like they really understand the problems the standard metadata causes. Their software seems to address those issues.

[TxdoHawk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Relatively cheap compared to the competition or not, $899 is a lot of money for such a device, at least in my opinion. You can build a hell of a computer for that price, and it will do a lot more than just play/stream music.

[Justin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Whoa, where'd they get that UI? Someone get Apple Legal on the horn...

;)

[Steve @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I guess the price discussion does not make a lot of sense. Computer freaks can definitively build a solution with similar features much cheaper, but audiophiles don't want a computer (nor do they want to deal with the headaches that come with one). The DAC and output quality will not be comparable anyway.

[Goose @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I like the idea that you don't need a PC anymore. The navigation really looks very much iPod like. If it is as easy to use I will get it.

[pnuding @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Uhm, this looks awfully familiar and has been on the german market for about a year.
Have a look at http://www.hermstedt.de/english/hifidelio/hifidelio.html

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

You're not kidding about the hifidelio. Cambridge Audio has a similar unit too called the Azur 640h with a 160 gig hard drive. http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/categories.php?CID=17

[yuppicide @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

What specifically for listening to classical music?! I hate classical. It's the one genre I hate most.

[chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I dont get it? isn't this just a rehash of the hifidelio product that has been in europe for a year? looks identical

I'd say check out the sonos product, its cheaper (once you count that you still need an amp wit this), does more... and the way i read it the wireless units only play mp3 and wma... no flac etc. looks like an over priced HD to me.

[T . W . G @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Hi there,

it IS the new hifidelio pro from the german company hermstedt.
They've just rebranded it....
The hifidelio is available in Germany for over a year now...

Thomas

[JonesH @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

nr12: so don't. Noone forces you to listen to classical music, nor to purchase this device.

Also, it's funny that you said "the one genre ..." since classical music is a (ill deviced, but still) collective name for a lot of genres (baroque, reinessance, romantic, wiener classicism and so on).

[JonesH @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

nr12: so don't. Noone forces you to listen to classical music, nor to purchase this device.

Also, it's funny that you said "the one genre ..." since classical music is a (ill deviced, but still) collective name for a lot of genres (baroque, reinessance, romantic, wiener classicism and so on).

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

The datasheet for the wireless units shows that they do support FLAC. The primary benefit to this system is its support for classical music specifc metadata. That's something no one else is doing and definitely gears it to that niche market. The question is how much of that extra metadata is accessible to view and search by on the hardware (and not just the Mac Playlist software). While a system like the Sonos is great, many classical fans want to search by more specifc items than just "composer". If this system allows them to do it, it could be the clear choice for such customers.

[aaron @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I just called them and according to the (friendly) sales rep the US version is a joint-venture between them and Hermstedt. The product is very successful in Europe (see long list of awards on the Olive website) and it would have been a shame not to let us have it as well. Olive claims they are responsible for the modifications for the classical music market as well as the complete multi-room Sonata solution (might be true, you don't see these features on the Hermstedt website).

[jack @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

The Symphony seems to work with all types of music, only the (Mac) software is specified for classical music (maybe someone at Olive should rethink the branding strategy). So if you don't listen to classical music this device is still pretty neat. I have the Sonos, and I regret that I paid so much money for it. Audio streaming from a computer is just not the same, especially the speakers and amp don't deliver on their promise.

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

It looks like they will start shipping this week, and yes, I'd rather spend a little more in order to get "Hi Fi" audio quality, as opposed to "Lo Fi" from such things as: "a hell of a computer" or the supposedly similar device called "Sonos". besides, the price is not bad if compared to real "Hi Fi" solutions (sorry, not talking about Sonos). BTW, they say it's "Hi Fi" not only for classical music, but for Jazz, etc., and that their software is what was specifically made for Classical music (with more fields for classical than the average playlist).

[Chad Frisque @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Readers should be aware that although the Olive Symphony is probably a great a product, with an 80Gig and the future 160 Gig version, it will only allow a limited number of WAV files to be stored. Most files will have to be compressed allowing only MP-3 format playback - Bad sound. In addition, the user interface is suspect and looks very similar to an Ipod. The organizational factor is only as good as the meta-data they are using. If their meta data is not good, it will be hard to tell Mahler from Bruckner.
For a truly revolutionary experience, check out www.fortunaclassical.com. Link to the Maestro experience to see:
***A fanless unit - no ambient noise
***400 Gig expandable storage - more room for music
***Future hand-picked pre-loaded bundles to start your collection off right
***A user interface that allows you to see and hear all of your music

For more questions - Call Chad at 858-527-1565. We are in California and will be happy to show anyone our units.

[Chad Frisque @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

If any product is using the right Meta-data with no compression, the sound and funtionality should be superb. The meta data is transferable and will be applicable to all music (jazz, pop or country - including classical). The problem with most systems, they use Gracenote Meta-data, which is user input and has many flaws (WA Mozart is entered 14 different ways meaning 14 different files). Also, the interfaces are monochromatic and do not contain the liner notes. That might not matter to a Jazz listener, but a Classical music lover wants to read the translations and the artist information. Overall, if you want more than music storage, look for a better system - Maestro. Check out www.fortunaclassical.com