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".

 

#17 is testing different platforms and footers.

View attachment 134412

That's a Live Vibe Rhythm platform on the bottom with a Critical Mass platform on top. I also have a couple other stands and a bunch of CS footers. I was hoping I would be able to quickly narrow down some options and share.
But that's not as easy as I thought. Every combination sounds different, so the Olympus is not immune to footers and stands. But also, nothing makes or breaks the sound either. It sounds really good on the floor too but a good stands helps.

For example, adding the Live Vibe in the mix, gives a little more decay to the instruments but it sounds a bit thinner. I am having a bit of a trouble deciding what I like best. You guys will have some fun with this - I don't think there is one solution that fits all.

Your platform is too small for the Olympus as the footers are on the frame

 

I expect no less than some wooden shoes, a cheese wheel and some Dutch windmills!

Maybe Emile can dress up in a little Dutch Boy outfit?



Steve Z

 

Maybe Emile can dress up in a little Dutch Boy outfit?

View attachment 134417

Steve Z

Might as well paint some black chassis to silver!

 

Very interesting that the platform/footers is that audible. There is so much mass here, with the energizing supply being the only internal vibration source

 

Very interesting that the platform/footers is that audible. There is so much mass here, with the energizing supply being the only internal vibration source

You’d be amazed at the difference with and without. The CS LS Ultra 2.25 are actually designed for loud speakers much heavier even than the Olympus/IO

 

I'll wait for C. Punter's expected exhaustive footer tests on Olympus before I make a decision

 

You’d be amazed at the difference with and without. The CS LS Ultra 2.25 are actually designed for loud speakers much heavier even than the Olympus/IO

Joe from CMS also fabricated a special platform for mine where there is essentially no load limit

 

I'll wait for C. Punter's expected exhaustive footer tests on Olympus before I make a decision

Christiaan doesn’t have CS footers but I get your point. I’ve used the ULTRA TT previously which performed excellent but the LS Ultra 2.25 is in a different league. FWIW the weight of the Olympus/IO is a much heavier load and that’s why I used footers designed for speakers. There is a huge difference when I switched. Plus I had him design a special platform for the extra load Of course as always YMMV

 

You’d be amazed at the difference with and without. The CS LS Ultra 2.25 are actually designed for loud speakers much heavier even than the Olympus/IO

I suspect loud speakers machined out of a solid block of copper aluminium will have a different vibrational profile than most loud speakers we've heard

I'm going from photos only obviously, but for digital audio, I am intrigued that even this design has susceptibility. Looking forward to experimenting a bit when mine arrives (I'm hopeful the ultra low noise backgrounds will make it easier to do these sorts of experiments)

 

Maybe Emile can dress up in a little Dutch Boy outfit?

View attachment 134417

Steve Z

… together with some lightly dressed ladies and smoking weed for the Ultimate Amsterdam edition.

It‘ll of course be signed by Emile with the original *Dutch Boy Paints* brush!

 

My assistant, Phantom the Wonder Dog, is ready for the arrival of Olympus. Diva that she is, she knows exactly where the camera is at all times:



Steve Z

 

My lift has been working out Steve. Olympus should be no problem at all

Ray

 

Your platform is too small for the Olympus as the footers are on the frame

Mine is on Critical Mass platform as well but I use the newly released critical mass LS Ultra 2.5 footers. Killer combination I was using Ultra TT footers but the new LS Ultra 2.25 imo is vastly superior.

Sounds like Steve has had his Olympus.... but I am shocked not to have heard a listening impression?! This is very un Steve like!! (Hope all is ok)

 

Sounds like Steve has had his Olympus.... but I am shocked not to have heard a listening impression?! This is very un Steve like!! (Hope all is ok)

(Hope All Is OK) me too...

 

Sounds like Steve has had his Olympus.... but I am shocked not to have heard a listening impression?! This is very un Steve like!! (Hope all is ok)

My understanding is that Steve has a silver Olympus with I/O. If so, it either shipped this evening or will be shipping any day now.

Your platform is too small for the Olympus as the footers are on the frame

Steve is right. My platform is too small indeed.

As I have mentioned to Steve privately, I won't be using CMS in the long term. I was just testing what I had on hand to get a feeling of how the Olympus reacts to different platforms / footers. So far, I have two preliminary results:
1. The Olympus reacts well on platforms/footers; and
2. What worked best for my Extreme was not the best combination for my Olympus.
Given that my Olympus is still burning in, it's probably not the best time to start an intensive study on racks / footers just yet.

 

My understanding is that Steve has a silver Olympus with I/O. If so, it either shipped this evening or will be shipping any day now.


Steve is right. My platform is too small indeed.

As I have mentioned to Steve privately, I won't be using CMS in the long term. I was just testing what I had on hand to get a feeling of how the Olympus reacts to different platforms / footers. So far, I have two preliminary results:
1. The Olympus reacts well on platforms/footers; and
2. What worked best for my Extreme was not the best combination for my Olympus.
Given that my Olympus is still burning in, it's probably not the best time to start an intensive study on racks / footers just yet.

Could you please be so kind to update all of us how this burn in improved the SQ while we are waiting for our own Olympus?
Thank you

 

(Hope All Is OK) me too...

all is good.my O/IO ship this week. The O has been done for a while whilst they awaited delivery of the IO chassis

My comment to Nenon was based on the photo he supplied. My own information is based on my experience with the Extreme. I'd be very surprised if I didn't find the same with the O/IO. Also based on the combined weight of the O/IO Joe has fabricated a special platform where that total load wont impede the platform . Stay tuned. Finally I was also pointing out to Nenon that CS footers are not meant to be used to supprt platforms but rather should be sitting under the O/IO and ON the platform to get desired results

 

all is good.my O/IO ship this week. The O has been done for a while whilst they awaited delivery of the IO chassis

My comment to Nenon was based on the photo he supplied. My own information is based on my experience with the Extreme. I'd be very surprised if I didn't find the same with the O/IO. Also based on the combined weight of the O/IO Joe has fabricated a special platform where that total load wont impede the platform . Stay tuned. Finally I was also pointing out to Nenon that CS footers are not meant to be used to supprt platforms but rather should be sitting under the O/IO and ON the platform to get desired results

Will the weight of the Olympus exceed what my stock CMS Maxxum filter would ideally support? It will top racked, where my Extreme currently resides (in my Avatar photo)

 

Will the weight of the Olympus exceed what my stock CMS Maxxum filter would ideally support? It will top racked, where my Extreme currently resides (in my Avatar photo)

simple answer is NO. I spoke to Joe. However the O/IO is stretching the limit. Likely yes it's OK however it might cause indentation in the top of the platform. Hence the special platform on order which I should have next week as well

 

Will the weight of the Olympus exceed what my stock CMS Maxxum filter would ideally support? It will top racked, where my Extreme currently resides (in my Avatar photo)

I would encourage you to consider the LS Ultra 2.25 between the O and platform. Mine is also top racked