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".

 

My experience has been to keep the network on a separate phase, dedicated circuit, opposite the rest of the system. I've always done it like that. I know when I installed the Torus WM unit the folks at Torus liked that approach...

Thanks for the input John and Markus! I was worried about ground loops forming which I hear can result in insidious degradation when it comes in the digital domain. Though the digital hash/noise from the network gear might be worse.

 

I always put everything on the same phase. I have had massive ground loops when the preamp and amp were on opposite phases. However, no experience with network gear. Since it is all galvanically coupled, I would have the same concerns. Issues may not present as audible hum at the speakers.

My entire stereo rig along with network gear is run through one Shunyata Everest.

Sparkies always like evenly loaded transformers. Typically they are not audiophile types, although there are exceptions.

John T, are you adding dual mono wood boilers to feed those hungry dual mono Mephistos? What sounds better, oak or maple? Ash?

 

LOL!!! Better tonality when I burn maple! Hickory is my favorite across the board...

 

I always put everything on the same phase. I have had massive ground loops when the preamp and amp were on opposite phases. However, no experience with network gear. Since it is all galvanically coupled, I would have the same concerns. Issues may not present as audible hum at the speakers.

My entire stereo rig along with network gear is run through one Shunyata Everest.

Sparkies always like evenly loaded transformers. Typically they are not audiophile types, although there are exceptions.

John T, are you adding dual mono wood boilers to feed those hungry dual mono Mephistos? What sounds better, oak or maple? Ash?

I could see how dividing the pre and amps could create serious issues. Network on the opposite phase is supposed to be quieter. Torus didn't want my network associated with the isolation transformer in anyway. Separated. I think they indicated it can introduce noise. It just so happened that's how I always have done it...

 

LOL!!! Better tonality when I burn maple! Hickory is my favorite across the board...

Try adding a bit of hemp

 

Hickory for the Blues.
Hemp for Reggae.

 

Two questions for @Christiaan Punter or @Taiko Audio:

1. With the DCD and Router/Switch not being galvanically isolated from the O/IO - how important is it that they closely share the same AC ground?
How many people have the DCD/Router/Switch on a separate circuit vs the same circuit as the O+I/O?

2. A Roon extension is available to allow volume control of my preamp from Roon (it connects to Home Assistant and triggers an IR blaster to send Vol up or Vol down signals), allowing me to control volume directly from Roon without switching apps or grabbing the remote.

Any known detrimental effects from running Roon extensions? The Home assistant instance does poll Roon for song/playback position and status on an ongoing basis, though probably no different than having another Roon client connected to the Olympus Roon instance...

As MarkusBarkus mentions, it's best to use the same phase. Further, to avoid ground loops, it's best to use the same AC ground. Generally speaking, I find that using the same single ground for the entire system yields the best coherence and focus. Conversely, when sourcing ground via different cables and from different spurs, this tends to have a blurring effect. This is not an issue for galvanically isolated devices like Routers, which are frequently located in other rooms and on different circuits. When you have multiple 100% identical spurs, the outcome can differ, and there are other exceptions, as no two situations are alike, so it may be worth experimenting.

Regarding Roon extensions, basically, the more Roon does, the more network traffic it generates, and the more audible its effect. Then again, with Olympus, the Router, Switch, and DCD, we have various measures in place to minimize Roon's influence.

In cases where I disabled Roon volume control for a DAC, this has often been audible, even at 100% volume. However, in such cases, it is hard to determine whether the impact is due to Roon traffic or processes within the DAC. A preamplifier could behave similarly or differently, but neither Emile nor I have a preamp that allows this, so we have no first-hand experience with it.

If or when you decide to test this, I would be interested to hear the results.

 

Hickory for the Blues.
Hemp for Reggae.

Maple for pancakes

 

@Taiko Audio
A blue sky wish...

It would be helpful if the O senses a sudden loss of mains, it would automatically go into shipping mode. A ~30 second delay....
This would be in addition to setting shipping mode in the app.
Mn

 

@Taiko Audio
A blue sky wish...

It would be helpful if the O senses a sudden loss of mains, it would automatically go into shipping mode. A ~30 second delay....
This would be in addition to setting shipping mode in the app.
Mn

Nice idea! I'll make a note.

 

Welcome Olympus!!!

 

Welcome Olympus!!!

Congratulations!

 

Welcome Olympus!!!

Good Deal Francisco!!