Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

For those who just started reading up on Olympus, Olympus I/O, and XDMI, please note that all information in this thread has been summarized in a single PDF document that can be downloaded from the Taiko Website.

https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/taiko-audio-downloads

The document is frequently updated.

Scroll down to the 'XDMI, Olympus Music Server, Olympus I/O' section and click 'XDMI, Olympus, Olympus I/O Product Introduction & FAQ' to download the latest version.

Good morning WBF!​

We are introducing the culmination of close to 4 years of research and development. As a bona fide IT/tech nerd with a passion for music, I have always been intrigued by the potential of leveraging the most modern of technologies in order to create a better music playback experience. This, amongst others, led to the creation of our popular, perhaps even revolutionary, Extreme music server 5 years ago, which we have been steadily improving and updating with new technologies throughout its life cycle. Today I feel we can safely claim it's holding its ground against the onslaught of new server releases from other companies, and we are committed to keep improving it for years to come.

We are introducing a new server model called the Olympus. Hierarchically, it positions itself above the Extreme. It does provide quite a different music experience than the Extreme, or any other server I've heard, for that matter. Conventional audiophile descriptions such as sound staging, dynamics, color palette, etc, fall short to describe this difference. It does not sound digital or analog, I would be inclined to describe it as coming closer to the intended (or unintended) performance of the recording engineer.

Committed to keeping the Extreme as current as possible, we are introducing a second product called the Olympus I/O. This is an external upgrade to the Extreme containing a significant part of the Olympus technology, allowing it to come near, though not entirely at, Olympus performance levels. The Olympus I/O can even be added to the Olympus itself to elevate its performance even further, though not as dramatic an uplift as adding it to the Extreme. Consider it the proverbial "cherry on top".

 

Just to be sure. So the grounding post next to the ac is chassis ground but not regular home ground post. Thanks

 

Taiko Audio – Head Quarters in Netherland (more pics)



Additamentum:

I hesitated for a moment before writing the following.

Emile is a remarkably honest person.

Having heard a few behind-the-scenes details, take my word for it : Olympus production is moving as fast as humanly possible.

One thing’s for certain: you’re in for a treat.

The Olympus truly lives up to its name!

 

Roon 1525..sounds amazing
Finally a good update

Interesting, I just did the upgrade.

Directly after the upgrade it did actually sound a bit worse here! After a reboot of the Olympus it sounds the same as before again though. So I’m a bit in the dark here.

We have developed a few “dials” we can adjust to rebalance things if anything drastic changes in Roon, but I’ve not yet come across a scenario where this was necessary (we can actually make these available in the future as part of a BMS app extension we’re working on).

An exception is that sometimes Roon enables a debug mode for a period of time, with verbose logging enabled, to find a solution to a more persistent problem they’re encountering. Like for example the playback queue interruptions (which appear to be largely gone now, in fact completely for me). If they do this there’s an audible impact we cannot compensate for, as this usually goes accompanied by an increase in disk activity, which we only have one option for to “immunise” the system for, being the I/O.

 

Just to be sure. So the grounding post next to the ac is chassis ground but not regular home ground post. Thanks

I’m not sure I understand what you mean with home ground post, but the ground post is chassis ground yes.

If you connect a ground cable to this post which connects to your home safety ground it would be in parallel to the ground conductor in your powercord.

 

@SwissTom , it was an absolute pleasure meeting you and thank you, also on behalf of the crew, for the large bag full of delicious Swiss chocolate, it’s completely gone already lol!

 

Interesting, I just did the upgrade.

Directly after the upgrade it did actually sound a bit worse here! After a reboot of the Olympus it sounds the same as before again though. So I’m a bit in the dark here.

We have developed a few “dials” we can adjust to rebalance things if anything drastic changes in Roon, but I’ve not yet come across a scenario where this was necessary (we can actually make these available in the future as part of a BMS app extension we’re working on).

An exception is that sometimes Roon enables a debug mode for a period of time, with verbose logging enabled, to find a solution to a more persistent problem they’re encountering. Like for example the playback queue interruptions (which appear to be largely gone now, in fact completely for me). If they do this there’s an audible impact we cannot compensate for, as this usually goes accompanied by an increase in disk activity, which we only have one option for to “immunise” the system for, being the I/O.

For clarity, I always reboot after a Roon update so I can't comment on sonics before the reboot

 

Is there something in the Reboot process I don't understand?

I upgraded Roon, pressed and held the front underside button until the middle light went off, and then pressed and released that button. Middle light came back on (and heard a faint click).

But now Roon "can't find server."

 

Is there something in the Reboot process I don't understand?

I upgraded Roon, pressed and held the front underside button until the middle light went off, and then pressed and released that button. Middle light came back on (and heard a faint click).

But now Roon "can't find server."

Give it a few minutes

 

Is there something in the Reboot process I don't understand?

I upgraded Roon, pressed and held the front underside button until the middle light went off, and then pressed and released that button. Middle light came back on (and heard a faint click).

But now Roon "can't find server."

Try closing the remote instance of Roon (swipe up). Re-open. Or reboot your ipad, then open remote Roon.

 

Tried all of the above, including Re
boots a couple of times. Should I completely power down and restart the server?

 

Tried all of the above, including Re
boots a couple of times. Should I completely power down and restart the server?

It won’t hurt to try that

 

Do you see the server on your router?

 

Tried all of the above, including Re
boots a couple of times. Should I completely power down and restart the server?

Suggest:
1. Restart the T router
2. Front O button as follows... a quick push of the front button. Look inside (on top) for 00 on the rear left.
3. A quick push of front O button and wait a minute...
4. Restart Roon

 

out of curiosity, my MacBook Pro has build 1525 as does the Olympus but my iPad shows version 2.0 build 1496...is that the current version for the iPad

 

Roon 1525..sounds amazing
Finally a good update

Good to know! Thanks. I'll update Roon when I get home as I've been avoiding those without hearing whether it actually degrades the sound. BDT Cascade upgrade is sounding fantastic on the Olympus BTW.

 

Suggest:
1. Restart the T router
2. Front O button as follows... a quick push of the front button. Look inside (on top) for 00 on the rear left.
3. A quick push of front O button and wait a minute...

I should’ve mentioned this is for the Olympus server

 

I should’ve mentioned this is for the Olympus server

It is.
I should have said, O button under the front.

 

Tried all of the above, including Re
boots a couple of times. Should I completely power down and restart the server?

Just seeing this, @wil. I will give you a call shortly.

 

out of curiosity, my MacBook Pro has build 1525 as does the Olympus but my iPad shows version 2.0 build 1496...is that the current version for the iPad

My ipad shows Build 1516...

 

My ipad shows Build 1516...

How do I update my iPad as it does not show as an update available?