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music server

Im very close to taking the plunge to a music server to store and play all of my CD collection for either a main system or dedicated headphone system. I dont want to have to be hooked to my computer per se.. but can make occassional connection as needed for upgrades etc.. i see products from Olive and Cambridge that are priced right and i kinow that some outfits like Red Wine / Reference audio mods provide modification packages. I consider myself an audiophile with the quality of sound being important, though not hard core.. music servers make so much sense .. thoughts / recommendations? I undoubtedly will use the server with my headamp senn 650 to start.. then experiment with my 2 channel system.
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Showing 2 responses by ckoffend

ckoffend
684 posts
 
I have the Cambridge 640 and find the following the best features:

Built-in CDP (and a fairly good one at that)
Does not require computer connection to play from its internal hard drive
Allows for uncompressed music storage on its internal hard drive
Able to burn uncompressed CDs within the unit itself
Good system for playlists

When it is connected to your wireless system, it can also play tunes stored on your computer. Additionally, when connected it automatically finds the CD information (ie. song list, etc. . .) which is nice when you are burning discs to the hard drive.

I have found that it is great when I borrow discs from friends (I record the whole disc to the drive). For my own music (which I already own) I have a tendancy to just record to the HD my prefered songs or cuts from a disc. This process is extremely easy.

FYI - I had this system up and running in one hour. I have tried another music server system (cheap, but all computer based) and after a couple of weeks spending time on the support forums for that system, I gave up and sold it.

If you are not the most computer adept person, I recommend the Cambridge.

Sound quality is quite good, better when digital out to a DAC or digital out to my Audio Aero Capitole (which has digital inputs).

Other equipment:

Mark Levinson power amp (summer time)
BAT VK 60 monoblock amps (fall thru spring)
BAT VK 5i pre-amp with bat amps
Cary SLP 2002 pre-amp with ML amp
Audio Aero Capitole CDP normally (using a Prima as a spare while I have the Cap. in for tube changes)
Wilson Duette Speakers
DAC - Kora Hermes (sold recently, already regretting since my Cap. is in the shop the Cambridge sounds better through a DAC)
ckoffend
684 posts
 
Again, I think the Cambridge is a great unit for those that are not highly computer savvy. I also looked at the Olive units (did not listen though) and from what I recall reading, they too, are quite simple to use without requiring too much computer savvy. I cannot comment any more than what I have read on the Olive systems in terms of sound quality (good, bad or otherwise).

I can tell you that my Cambridge is used by everybody in the family, from my wife, my 11 year old son and with his help, my 7 year old daughter. Which may not say much as kids now days are more computer savvy than most of us.
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