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".

 

I wouldn’t have an issue with this and it seems pretty straightforward but a lot of people are not comfortable doing stuff like that.

At least it can be performed by the dealer so no need to send the DACs back to Cyprus.

 

My question is simply this: Why has my TaikoAaudio network, which was stable as a rock for months, decide to go bizerk and shut down intermittently only since I installed TestFLight 2.4.7.1? This has still not been addressed after several days while making sure that the Taiko Audio network is active (unless it drops in the middle of the night) and my TV passwords kept current and refreshed for the team to see anytime. I am readily available by email, phone, morse code, smoke signals, and carrier pigeon but....crickets. Very frustrating. If I knew how to change the router channel, I would, or do anything else required at my end. I don't need my XDMS playlists (even though I put work into them) since the Olympus will use Roon. But is a stable TaikoAudio network with Roon only too much to ask?

 

I think you would get better answers through the alpha users group on the Taikp channel at Discord or to submit a ticket direct to support@taikoaudio.com

This has nothing to do with the Olympus thread

 

My question is simply this: Why has my TaikoAaudio network, which was stable as a rock for months, decide to go bizerk and shut down intermittently only since I installed TestFLight 2.4.7.1? This has still not been addressed after several days while making sure that the Taiko Audio network is active (unless it drops in the middle of the night) and my TV passwords kept current and refreshed for the team to see anytime. I am readily available by email, phone, morse code, smoke signals, and carrier pigeon but....crickets. Very frustrating. If I knew how to change the router channel, I would, or do anything else required at my end. I don't need my XDMS playlists (even though I put work into them) since the Olympus will use Roon. But is a stable TaikoAudio network with Roon only too much to ask?

Can you define “Taiko Audio Network”? Are you talking about the router itself or just the WiFi?

 

Just a few more Olympus sales away

How's the Olympus production line going ? first shipment batch close ?

 

What Aries Cerat is doing is so highly speculative at this point, that is really not worth discussing before we have more details.
If that USB card module needs to be swapped out, this does not look more complicated than replacing the StarTech NIC on the Taiko Extreme with the Taiko NIC.
Aries Cerat sells through a dealer's network, and so dealers can help where necessary. I do that all the time.
It was mentioned that Aries Cerat gear is heavy but people may not realize what heavy means. The Ithaka DAC, for example, is over 350 lbs. That may put things into perspective

 

These network issues do not sound good! Hence me delaying my order until I "thought" things were stable. Not a good situation...

 

These network issues do not sound good! Hence me delaying my order until "thought" things were stable. Not a good situation...

Have you considered buying a guitar? Makes sound reliably. An acoustic guitar.

 

Have you considered buying a guitar? Makes sound reliably. An acoustic guitar.

Yes like in Animal House when Belushi smashed it!

 

Yes like in Animal House when Belushi smashed it!

Even then it will make sound reliably, if not well.
However, similar treatment of your network equipment may result in connectivity issues.
Make wise equipment choices based on your expectations, environment, and beer and donut consumption.

 

Even then it will make sound reliably, if not well.
However, similar treatment of your network equipment may result in connectivity issues.
Make wise equipment choices based on your expectations, environment, and beer and donut consumption.

So are you saying keep the corkscrew away from sensitive network gear?

 

I think you would get better answers through the alpha users group on the Taikp channel at Discord or to submit a ticket direct to support@taikoaudio.com

This has nothing to do with the Olympus thread

But its OK to post Cherry Blossom pictures in the thread as well as NBA basketball posts (which you conveniently removed) that have nothing to do with the Olympus thread????

At least marty was on topic........

 

So are you saying keep the corkscrew away from sensitive network gear?

Best to keep that away from all sensitive areas. Power outlets too.

I don’t know John, I’m running out of material here. How long before the Taiko cast and crew return to the stage?

 

I am hoping every final test of a new Olympus turns into a few hour blissful listening session for everyone at Taiko. Well deserved.

And/or they are prepping an announcement of a new product from that previously mentioned ~17 products currently being worked on via that road/treasure map mentioned long ago..... (no inside info here) ... just trying to fill in some space for @Tuckia and @John T

btw, thanks to not only all at Taiko but to their families as well as as clearly candles get burnt on both ends and that needs true team support

 

"Brevity is the soul of wit" and keeping us sane!

 

Dear all, we just finished the BMS App Manual!

The Battery Management System (BMS) App is your main gateway to the Olympus Music Server’s charging circuits. Communicating directly with the server via Bluetooth, it requires no network skills and provides an easy and reliable method to connect to the server and configure its settings.

The manual can be found on the downloads page of the Taiko website:
https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/taiko-audio-downloads

A Music Library Migration Guide and Olympus manual are also in the works and to be released next.

 

Dear all, we just finished the BMS App Manual!

The Battery Management System (BMS) App is your main gateway to the Olympus Music Server’s charging circuits. Communicating directly with the server via Bluetooth, it requires no network skills and provides an easy and reliable method to connect to the server and configure its settings.

The manual can be found on the downloads page of the Taiko website:
https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/taiko-audio-downloads

A Music Library Migration Guide and Olympus manual are also in the works and to be released next.

Just curious about the charging time setting. If Olympus needs to be charged all the time while playing music, what is the point of setting the charging time for it?

Is it still charging when powering off?

 

Just curious about the charging time setting. If Olympus needs to be charged all the time while playing music, what is the point of setting the charging time for it?

Is it still charging when powering off?

There are 2 separate BPSs, one charging all the time, the other can be managed by the app. I think.

 

Do you have any theories as to why using the Taiko router wifi would sound better than using one's home wifi + port forwarding?

I do have theories but there are some inconsistencies/variables.

1) the router integrated Wi-Fi default configuration is set to the old 802.11b standard with no transmission power boosting (0dB). This uses much less power than the WAN RJ45 port, so you could theorise it’s simply a function of power usage, as that’s influenced by having to process data.

2) You could easily verify this yourself by changing the protocol to 802.11N which transmits on both 2.4G and 5G or 802.11AC which transmits on 5G only and/or boost the transmission power. This would the increase the Wi-Fi module’s power consumption and decrease the advantage over using your home Wi-Fi.

You can find these settings in the same section as where you can change your Wi-Fi channel, see pages 25-28 in the Router’s user manual:

https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Taiko-Audio-Router-Manual-V23.x80569.pdf

 

My question is simply this: Why has my TaikoAaudio network, which was stable as a rock for months, decide to go bizerk and shut down intermittently only since I installed TestFLight 2.4.7.1? This has still not been addressed after several days while making sure that the Taiko Audio network is active (unless it drops in the middle of the night) and my TV passwords kept current and refreshed for the team to see anytime. I am readily available by email, phone, morse code, smoke signals, and carrier pigeon but....crickets. Very frustrating. If I knew how to change the router channel, I would, or do anything else required at my end. I don't need my XDMS playlists (even though I put work into them) since the Olympus will use Roon. But is a stable TaikoAudio network with Roon only too much to ask?

If you want stability you have to stick to Roon.

XDMS is in alpha stage, which is the stage preceding beta, which in turn precedes stable. You can expect good stability from beta versions with just some bugs, and rock-solid stability from stable releases, but not from alpha.

I understand the enthusiasm of jumping on the alpha program of XDMS when reading gushing feedback from testing participants, but I strongly recommend to exercise restraint if you don’t possess an above average level of computer operating skills.