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

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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".
 
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Actually have a very busy day at work today with back to back calls. I was in a huge rush between meetings to unpack and check that everything was okay. So pretty much the few minutes I had, I shared with you guys on camera.

After dragging it downstairs I connected it to my system:
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It's playing... I popped in a couple of times for a few minutes. I definitely heard an improvement between the first time, the second time, and the third time I stopped by for a little bit.

I will do some proper listening tonight and provide some first impressions. Since that's the first Olympus in North America, I understand I carry big responsibilities!
 
While waiting for the first US report, our own Edward @EuroDriver has made it to Tokyo for the Tokyo International Audio Show 2024, that is taking place this weekend.

Tokyo International Forum
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The Olympus made it just in time. Looks like this truck has the perfect Olympus-size!
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The system:
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Edward giving a tech talk of the Olympus project to these Japanese Audiophiles
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Olympus is playing with its analog output:

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Looks like a fun show!
 
As per relevant ratings:
QUOTE
We’ve compared a few output options with a panel of listeners, using AES/EBU to LampizatorHorizon with RS1003, Lorenz ITT C3g and Telefunken RGN2504. RCA outputs, with the remark it'smuch more difficult to rank XDMI versus USB, we settled on the following ratings:
• Stock Extreme using the USB interface: 100%
• Extreme + Olympus I/O with USB card mounted: 150%
• Extreme + Olympus I/O with XDMI mounted: 200%
• Olympus with USB card mounted: 175%
• Olympus with XDMI mounted: 275%
• Olympus with Olympus I/O with XDMI mounted: 300%
UNQUOTE

So Olympus via USB is supposed to be 75% better than Extreme , however the first report from Lukasz is that they are on the same level more or less, no ?

AES/ebu was supposed to be much better, if i recall correctly. Waiting to hear someone who is trying that interface.
 
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So Olympus via USB is supposed to be 75% better than Extreme , however the first report from Lukasz is that they are on the same level more or less, no ?

I’m pretty sure what Lukasz is referring to is USB is USB in a broader sense.

We have improved Olympus’s USB playback quality significantly meanwhile. That specific “old post” refers to a time where the bulk of the computer hardware was mains powered. Now everything is battery powered. Interestingly the onboard USB ports perform significantly better than any add-in card now. Additional we have developed a new USB driver for the Olympus, finished just a few weeks ago, which makes an even larger difference. It’s far superior to USB from the Extreme.

But, it’s still USB..
 
Can we then say that USB on the Olympus is clearly better than USB on the Extreme? Please note that not all of us have a Lampizator DAC already prepared for XDMI.
 
The comparisons I’ll be interested in:

1. Oly > usb > Aries Cerat dac
2. Oly > Xdmi digital aes > Aries Cerat dac
3. Oly > Xdmi analog out > Aries Cerat Pre

And eventually,

4. Oly > native XDMI > Aries dac

I’m expecting #4 will be best, but hoping #3 will be very close.!

I’m also curious to hear reports comparing Horizon native Xdmi to the Taiko analog out to Pre. ( can the Horizon be used as a Pre only?).
 
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I’m pretty sure what Lukasz is referring to is USB is USB in a broader sense.

We have improved Olympus’s USB playback quality significantly meanwhile. That specific “old post” refers to a time where the bulk of the computer hardware was mains powered. Now everything is battery powered. Interestingly the onboard USB ports perform significantly better than any add-in card now. Additional we have developed a new USB driver for the Olympus, finished just a few weeks ago, which makes an even larger difference. It’s far superior to USB from the Extreme.

But, it’s still USB..
Emile, didn't Lukasz just receive the latest version of Olympus and posted his review yesterday ? So i guess he compared the latest USB implementation of the Olympus to that of the Extreme, no ?
 
I believe it is after 4PM on another Friday in Oldenzaal. Neither the Order Status page nor this thread has been updated to give any hint of what we might expect for further shipping plans. I , along with virtually all those on the list, have been quietly waiting for some update. I know you are very busy, but it wouldn't take very long to at least let us have some indication of where you are in the process. The lack of transparency is certainly in great contrast to the open conversations we have had with Taiko in the past. Please.
 
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I believe it is after 4PM on another Friday in Oldenzaal. Neither the Order Status page nor this thread has been updated to give any hint of what we might expect for further shipping plans. I , along with virtually all those on the list, have been quietly waiting for some update. I know you are very busy, but it wouldn't take very long to at least let us have some indication of where you are in the process. The lack of transparency is certainly in great contrast to the open conversations we have had with Taiko in the past. Please.

We have 8 silver finish Olympus servers ready but are STILL waiting for their accompanying I/Os to return from the anodiser, so we’re now building 8 more black Olympus servers. We have machined another 36 more Olympus chassis meanwhile, but the mayor bottleneck remains to be the anodising process.
 
Please note that not all of us have a Lampizator DAC already prepared for XDMI.

The comparisons I’ll be interested in:

1. Olympus > usb > Aries Cerat dac
2. Olympus > aes/ebu > Aries Cerat dac
3. Olympus > Xdmi analog out > Aries Cerat Pre

Hi Wil :)

If I may, just a slight correction to your point number 2 :

2. Olympus > XDMI digital > aes/ebu > Aries Cerat dac

Cheers,

Thomas
 
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So his report is rather confusing...only he knows what he meant by saying that the USB of the Olympus is on the same level as the USB of the Extreme...

Perhaps we shouldn't over-interpret Lukasz's impressions :)

He probably just meant that the USB interface is really great on the Olympus :)

After all, the Taiko Extreme remains a benchmark in terms of USB transport/source.

But the Olympus' design places it a good notch above. Which is only natural, given that they're not in the same category.

The Olympus being now Taiko's flagship.

Cheers,

Thomas
 

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