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’m planning to use the Wellfloat Babel that I presently use between a Diaza and Extreme. Though, I’ll probably replace the Diaza with an IKEA bamboo cutting board as I believe all the copper in the Oly is not a good match with the Diaza? So, concrete floor- bamboo- Babel- Oly.

 

Wil, if the Babel is sitting between the Diaza and Oly I wonder if the Diaza will work ok? I plan to use Wellfloat products under the O/IO. I will experiment with Diaza under the Wellfoat.

 

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?

Well, I had a small distraction but back on the track now.
I haven't really kept a log of what changes I've noticed, but It surprised me every time I sat down to listen.
Looking forward to reading the initial feedback of those who will receive the Olympus this week!

 

Well, I had a small distraction but back on the track now.
I haven't really kept a log of what changes I've noticed, but It surprised me every time I sat down to listen.
Looking forward to reading the initial feedback of those who will receive the Olympus this week!

While waiting I would like to hear from those who had their Oly , any comments between USB , SPDIF & AESEBU outputs ?

 

Mine shipped

 

Mine shipped

What number were you Steve?

 

9

I think I was the first O/IO order in silver but I may be wrong

 

9

I think I was the first O/IO order in silver but I may be wrong

Thx Steve and CONGRATS! I'm 11 and should ship next week.

 

My guess is it will go quickly now

 

If the best sound is produced when the battery power is disconnected and at the same time the sound quality is directly proportional to the voltage and this to the percentage of charge, I hope that the app allows blocking the battery charge while listening and it will also be very important to know from what percentage of battery charge, a deterioration in SQ begins to be perceived. If this percentage is 10% the thing is not serious, but if it is, let's say, 70%, then "Houston we have a problem"

Further to Christoph's earlier post, the BMS will indeed continuously charge the system battery, so, that part is set and forget. The XDMI battery is charged in user-defined cycles, by default during the night. Although the sound quality is related to battery charge, the only aspect to keep in mind is the minimum recommended charge treshold, as specified below.

• The minimum recommended Voltage for the System Battery is 13.6 V.
• The minimum recommended Voltage for the XDMI Battery is 12 V.

From these voltages and above, the magic happens

On a full charge, the battery will have enough charge for the longest of listening sessions, before it drops below this voltage.

More info on this topic can be found in the BMS App Manual and Olympus Manual, which can be found in the Downloads section of the Taiko Audio website.

https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/taiko-audio-downloads

 

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

I will most definitely be doing such tests, as soon as a unit can be spared to send my way for extended listening evaluations! For now, I'll patiently wait in line

Meanwhile, I can already add that I heard the Olympus Server versus the Extreme in Oldenzaal just recently. In my opinion, It is no comparison. Even with USB, Olympus is considerably better, but Olympus with XDMI simply outperforms Extreme in every possible way. Not just in "analog"-like refinement, emotional involvement, fluidity, and flow, but also in terms of expression, liveliness, bass precision and -tunefulness, and dynamics.

 

https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/taiko-audio-downloads

That is interesting. I have tried many battery formulations and a few brands of Ultra Capacitors and much prefer the latter on digital circuits.

Batteries are often too slow on digital circuits. Same for linear power supplies - many of the more powerful motherboards will crash on linear PSUs, simply cos they can't keep up with the current draw rapid fluctuations.

But as always - there's more than one way to skin a cat. Maybe Taiko have found a solution around this problem. Who knows.

Before I heard the Olympus, I also worried about roundness, slowness, or lack of dynamics. As I quickly found, the Olympus is actually faster, more expressive, and more dynamic than the Extreme.

Emile mentioned that he has tried countless other options, including ultra caps, before settling on the battery solution as currently implemented as it simply performs and sounds best. These are not standard batteries, by the way, but very specific Lithium Titanate Oxide batteries that are not available to consumers.

 

Just a generic addition relating to power cables. It is my experience that they not only affect the sound of the connected and powered component, but also, via the power distribution block, the rest of the system. This is another reason why power cables will always make a difference, even when connected to the DC supply of a belt-drive turntable platter motor, to name just one of the outrageous examples that I have encountered.

 

Emile reported 30 plus years of projected battery life @ 90 or 95%. It’s buried in one of these threads somewhere. Amortize the cost over that span and you have an audio bargain. Should net a favorable benefit to cost ratio. (As the enabling choir sings - buy it, just buy it, you have only three days).

Correct! 30 years for a drop to 95% of their initial charge capacity. As Emile added, "They may outlast us all".
This info can be found in the Olympus Introduction and FAQ document. But please note that some of the information in there is no longer up to date. I plan on aligning it but currently other tasks have priority. The Olympus Manual, however, is fully up to date!

 

Hong Kong Audiophiles are invited to hear the Olympus at the Hong Kong AV show this weekend. The Olympus made it just in time, today was Extreme playtime, while Saturday and Sunday will be Olympus playtime - we are looking forward to hearing some impressions from the show!

 

Here are some pictures from the Hong Kong AV show, showing the Olympus playing in the Volent Audio demo room.

 

The Hong Kong Hiend AV Show is held on Fri 9 to Sun 11 Aug.

Volent Audio, the Taiko Audio official dealer in HK got the Olympus Server in the late afternoon on Fri 9.

Ben Lau, boss of Volent set it up as fast as possible and the Olympus has taken over and become the main source of the Volent room since today (Sat 10) afternoon.

Big thanks to the Taiko team and Volent Audio/Ben Lau for their hard work!

 

More photos to share with you :

 

More photos to share with you

Any YTs?
Thx

 

USB out and not XDMI ?