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

    Ha ha. Thank you Emile for the confirmation. That is remarkable and unexpected. Turned the system on yesterday and listened tonight to the current fully loaded extreme (with XDMS) after being out of town for several days. Wow…it seems the sound only continues to get better and not by a small...
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    Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

    Hi Emile, So to make sure I’m understanding correctly, are you saying that playing files from streaming (e.g., Qobuz) or an NSA (network storage device) will result in equal or better sound quality than from playing files from internal storage? And that therefore you can choose to leave...
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    Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

    I turned on my system (with all the latest Taiko hardware goodies plus NSM) this evening after not having heard it since last week when a few friends came over to listen. They had heard the system two months ago and they were all very impressed by the “new” sound. It was indeed very good and...
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    Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

    Mr. Understatement said "significantly better"...now that's saying something!;)
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    Riviera Labs AFM-100 SE Class A Monoi amplifiers- something new and different

    Couldn’t agree more. There are two very insightful points in your statement that get to the core of what defines audio system performance: “the challenge towards becoming one with the music as presented by an audio system is not the need for more information, it's the mandate to suffer less...
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    He spent his life building a $1 million stereo. The real cost was unfathomable

    Yes the inevitable “What do you think?. And its inextricable link to the justification of the owner’s efforts and pride, and the often requisite polite reply. “But as Fritz cranked the loudest version of the Contours hit I’d ever heard, it was impossible to listen critically. Was the bass...
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    He spent his life building a $1 million stereo. The real cost was unfathomable

    You’re welcome. My pleasure. Glad you could access the link.
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    He spent his life building a $1 million stereo. The real cost was unfathomable

    He spent his life building a $1 million stereo. The real cost was unfathomable. I saw the article headline above in today’s Washington Post and had to read it. In some ways, I wish I hadn’t. [I’m including the link here at the bottom of the post. I copied as a gift so that hopefully others...
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    One Man's Dream - Ken Fritz Documentary

    He spent his life building a $1 million stereo. The real cost was unfathomable. I saw the article headline above in today’s Washington Post and had to read it. in some ways, I wish I hadn’t. [I’m including the link here at the bottom of the post. I copied as a gift so that hopefully others...
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    Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

    Emile, Thank you for clarifying that an XLR analog output will not be available at launch. Will just have to “borrow” some high end RCA cables in order to test the XDMI analog option without using adapters. ;)
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    Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

    I hereby amend my vote to include the waffle maker. Bravo Howie!!
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    Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

    Hi Emile, If we’re starting to count votes, my own preference is to use: (1) balanced analog output to a preamp (I don’t envision not using my current CH Precision L10 anytime in the near future - but never say never); and (2) AES digital output to DAC - specifically to a totaldac sublime.
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    Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

    Great. Thank you for the clarification Emile! Best holiday wishes to the Taiko Team!
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    Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

    Emile, Just wanted to make sure that I’m understanding correctly that the Olympus+Olympus I/O option will be shipped with two daughter boards - one with an analog RCA stereo output, and the other with AES and SPDIF digital outs. Correct?
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    Coming Soon: High End Balanced Interconnect Shootout: Odin 2, Valhalla 2, AQ Dragon, Stealth Sakra V17LE, Ansuz D2 & more?

    JimiinGa, Seeing a master setup expert at work multiple times and hearing the results is believing. I don’t mean to be be oppositional or say that you are wrong, all I can tell you is my direct experience contradicts your statement that “Changing cables/DACS and possibly altering frequencies...
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    Coming Soon: High End Balanced Interconnect Shootout: Odin 2, Valhalla 2, AQ Dragon, Stealth Sakra V17LE, Ansuz D2 & more?

    Two interesting observations based on my personal experience (of course ymmv): 1. It is eye opening to see how even minute changes within a small area can make to the sound of a system. It’s hard to believe unless you actually experience it first hand. And when I say changes, I mean not only...
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    Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

    I just placed my order for the 1x Olympus + 1x Olympus I/O (Extreme trade-in) option. I’ve been with the Taiko team since the early days and they’ve always exceeded expectations in every possible way throughout the journey. Their unwavering commitment to cutting edge technology, audiophile...
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    Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

    Rising standing ovation! Bravo Taiko team. Thank your for allowing us a ticket on this amazing ride!
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    Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

    Guess I need to cash in my retirement account. Who needs to eat! ;)
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    Taiko Audio XDMS - Extreme Direct Music Server Software

    Khyle Levitt installed NSM yesterday. D-Day. I had a chance for an extended listening session close to 36 hours ater installation. With the amps fully warmed up, I was listening with my eyes closed to Mozart’s Requiem from the Amadeus soundtrack - a wonderful piece I’ve heard hundreds of times...
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    Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

    Emile installed the most recent XDMS update/Roon patch early Monday am. Listened this evening after leaving system on since Sunday evening. The only thing left to say, other than expressing gratitude to Emile and the Taiko team, is what the normally unflappable professional golfer Ernie Els...
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    Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

    Yes…the one and only! My apologies for doubting our fearless leader! Onward to nirvana ;)
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    Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

    Thank you Emile. Perfect. I’ll make the request when I return home on Monday. Thank you again for everything the Taiko team does. Kindest regards,
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    Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

    Christian/Emile,, I guess now that even Steve has gone to the Roon dark side, I’ll be one of the last willing holdouts not using Roon - at least until the beta version of XDMS and/or its new successor come out. However, It appears that the update that addresses the Roon latest headaches also...
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    Coming Soon: High End Balanced Interconnect Shootout: Odin 2, Valhalla 2, AQ Dragon, Stealth Sakra V17LE, Ansuz D2 & more?

    Ha Ha, Elliot!! Interesting and relevant story: Stirling showed up recently and he couldn't believe how the system sounded "off" from the last time, and asked if I'd moved the speakers and/or changed the system. I couldn't think of anything major, other than upgrading the software in the Taiko...
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    Coming Soon: High End Balanced Interconnect Shootout: Odin 2, Valhalla 2, AQ Dragon, Stealth Sakra V17LE, Ansuz D2 & more?

    Hi. My post was not about changing components to compensate for room flaws. Or about a "quest for sound rather than a quest for music" - although I personally feel the value of a system is measured by its ability to elicit the musical emotion in the recording. Instead, it was simply about how...
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    Coming Soon: High End Balanced Interconnect Shootout: Odin 2, Valhalla 2, AQ Dragon, Stealth Sakra V17LE, Ansuz D2 & more?

    Couldn’t agree more about moving speakers. Mine weigh 560 lbs each. But it’s amazing to experience firsthand what even a minuscule change in the placement of a speaker under the guidance of an expert can make to the sound experience. Just glad I’m not the one who has to move the speakers!
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    Coming Soon: High End Balanced Interconnect Shootout: Odin 2, Valhalla 2, AQ Dragon, Stealth Sakra V17LE, Ansuz D2 & more?

    Please don't shoot the messenger as this may sound crazy to some, but you should really consider modifying your speaker placement to optimize for each cable before doing your listening comparisons. A couple of years ago, we did a speaker cable shootout between two well respected high end...
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    Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

    Careful Steve…I don’t know how many times I’ve said “I don’t see how it can get better than this”, and here come Emile/Ed/Taiko team to prove me wrong! ;-)
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    Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

    AMAZINGLY OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE & AMAZINGLY OUTSTANDING SOUND Two weeks ago, I received my router and distributor to go with my previously installed Taiko switch and NIC. Managed to connect them. Got music. But lost the connection to the extreme shortly thereafter and was unable to regain...

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