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'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!

 

Good to know things are moving at Taiko and Olympus with IO starting to ship. Hope more reports will come soon.

Steve, we are awaiting for your first impressions!

 

Good to know things are moving at Taiko and Olympus with IO starting to ship. Hope more reports will come soon.

Steve, we are awaiting for your first impressions!

Me too. We’ve been hearing about Olympus which has been amazing so I’m looking to hear that extra 25% that IO brings to the table