SAVE THE SOUND.
1.877.296.5483
Indeed, the Symphony is a music server. With hard drive, networking capabilities and processor. However, it is in perfect disguise as it works, sounds and looks like a high-end HiFi component.
Probably even Q would be amazed. The lead engineer responsible for perfectly disguised gadgets for James Bond would have bowed to the Symphony. Not only to him it is a sheer mystery that there is a music server behind this elegant design.
If the word "server" is mentioned, most audiophiles will look the other way. Too complicated, too much computer, too little sound. Indeed, the combination of PC and stereo system has up to today been a flawed compromise. And when a solution finally combines high fidelity with intelligent computer technology, it usually is well above $2,000. Symphony changes the game. With the $899 price tag it is in a amazingly low price category for complete music servers that play, archive and burn CDs. Its superior sound as CD player however makes the Sympony a true bargain. It reaches fidelity levels that compete with an audiophile player like the Marntz CD-7300. With fine nuances even in chaotic music tracks and considerable depth it brings music to life: Chrissie Hynde's voice sounds nicely velvety, Sting sounds expectedly exotic-melodious, S-sounds do not end up in fizzling. Even the usual chaos of a Depeche Mode remix can be distinguished.
[...]
Appropriate for PC skeptics
Not only with regard to sound - coming from the CD or the hard drive - the Symphony convinces. The intuitive navigation does not bring up fear of PC crashes or confusing application. The two-level jog-shuttle makes navigating through the concise menu a snap. The outer wheel changes a level up or down, the inner wheel browses the selection, the four buttons next to the screen activate the item.
Even the recording of a CD onto the hard drive is easy. After you insert the CD, the album and track title appears in a few seconds. The internal CD-database does not need any internet connection, it is fed with so much data that Symphony even recognizes the most exceptional CDs. To get updates the Symphony goes automatically online.
On the 80GB hard drive fit about 120 hours of uncompressed music. This should be enough room for all your favorite tracks. From now on you won't have to dig through your CD-shelve any more, just access them in one central place. An extra feature will make the heart of vinyl-lovers jump higher: LPs can be recorded via the analog input directly onto the hard drive and are so digitally conserved. In addition, the Symphony works also as a CD burner. Select the playlist you want to burn, insert blank CD and the recording starts automatically. It won't get any easier than that.
The Copyright laws only allow Symphny to burn audio CDs, not MP3 CDs. For the same reason you can only copy music from your PC to the Symphony, but not the other way around.
[...]
The Symphony is not only a toy for computer novices. Even PC freaks will enjoy Symphony to the fullest. Hook up an iPod via the USB port for example, and update your music. The Symphony also acts as a center (hub or router) for your network, wired or wireless. The network components used are of first-class quality.
[...]
Conclusion
Mission completed! Olive successfully tackles the high-end audio market. The Symphony marks a milestone, even for a category that is so new to the market: excellent sound, simple navigation and ease of use at an amazingly low price. That is the right signal to the market: you can have both, high quality and low price!