Olives are good units. The target market for Olive is users who want computer audio without the feeling of having a computer. Server as an audio appliance, as it were. In theory, they basically operate like a CD deck or a phone, and you don't feel like you're working with a computer, but an audio component. All HW and SW player, server, and DAC components are contained inside the unit.
Made for the living room (cosmetics are high level) and it's only one box, so it also saves space and eliminates lots of cables and wires. So you pay for convenience and looks.
Sound is good. You can spend less than a particular Olive unit and get better sound, and better sound than their best unit for less money than it costs. But you probably won't get the looks, convenience, and all in one box convenience for less than what Olive is offering.
It all depends on your priorities, you willingess to fiddle with a computer/server, and your willingess to add a DAC into your system, which is what most computer audiophiles do.
